Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-09-06
Political
Action
by
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman

Political Action Committee
Ever since PAC emerged
on the American scene it has
been attacked by spokesmen
for the wealthy interests as
n destructive una m er can
menace.
Our program of jobs at liv-
ing wages with adequate So
cial security for all has been
attacked on the propaganda
front by being characterized
as a movement designed to de-
Stroy American institutions.
Our program has been repre-
Sented as system which
would destroy initiative. 1t
has been labeled a detriment
to "free enterprise" On the
legislative front our program
has taken beating.
The attacks on our legisla-
tive program and the charges
which have been hurled at us,
demonstrate the necessity of
looking at the record, and
learning the true state of af-
fairs.
This means we must first
understand what our program
is, and then determine if there
is anything unAmerican about
it, of II our legislative pro-
gram constitutes a threat to
free enterprise.
OUR PROGRAM
Our program is based on
the premise that the citizens
of this nation are entitled to
jobs at living wages, adequate
social security, and a stand
ard of living which will assure
the possibility of good health
and happy life for all.
If such goal is revolution
ary, then the conclusion is in
escapable that our social SyS-
tenn needs some overhauling.
We contend that the work.
ing people constitute the ma
joriy of the population. We
further contend that the laws
of the land should be designed
to serve, and be administered
in the interest of this major
ity. This contention is moth
ing more or less than strict
conformity with the ideal of
American political democracy.
II Americanism means alb
ject worship to outmoded in
Stitutions, if it means blind ad-
herence to obsolete practices,
then some people have queer
idea of Americanism.
Americanism means the
rule of the majority. Ameri-
canism means or should mean
progress. 1t means that we
must discard practices which
retard progress. 1t means we
must put human rights ahead
of property rights.
The right to legally over
throw any political regime
which serves the interests of
the wealthy minority, and re-
place it with a political regime
which serves the interest of
the majority of the people is
clearly set forth in the decla-
ration of independence, in the
constitution, and it has been
referred to by most of our
statesmen and orators.
OUR DUTY
1t Is not only the right but
the duty of American citi-
zens to use the ballot to see
that the people are the SOW
ereign power and that our
government must be "of, by
and for the people"
No one can challenge the
above statements. Well then
what's all the shouting
about?
1t is raised for the sole pur-
pose of beclouding the Is
sue. But why is 1t neces-
sary to becloud the issue?
because our legisla-
tive program which calls for
housing, medical
care, and full employment for
all, with government regula-
ton and control of industries
to assure these detectives can
not be repudiated.
The only hope that the
wealthy interests have of con-
tinuing abuses which create
world wars and cause depres-
Sions and poverty is to confuse
the issue by hurting ridicul-
ous charges at the political
which calls for
an end to their monopolieS.
We are quite willing to de-
tend ourselves against any
charges of being unAmerican;
but what Is more important,