Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-02-15
Political
Action
AN ISSUE

Political Action Con1mlttee
AN ISSUE
The present demand of the
CIO for wage rates compar-
able to present prices brings
to light an issue about which
there is much confusion.
This issue is the definition
of the word democracy. A
correct understanding of this
term is important because
both parties to the present
controversy employ the term
and it is obvious that each inn
putes to it a different mean
ing. The Importance of clear
understanding of this term
cannot be overestimated. Two
world wars and many revolu-
tions have been fought in the
name of democracy.
Voltaire, the great 18th
century French playwright,
philosopher and humorist was
being practical when he said,
IF you would converse with
me define your terms"
To begin with there are two
types of democracy, political
and economic. Regarding po-
litical democracy the meaning
of the term is fairly well
agreed upon. It means major
ity rule with free elections of
public officials, and protection
of civil liberties for all.
DISAGREE
When we come to economic
democracy, there is no such
universal agreement on defini-
ton.
To the industrialists and
bankers the term democracy
as related to economic life
means a free hand for the in
dustrilists and bankers to do
as they please, with no re-
straints whatever. This defini-
ton certainly makes a hollow
formality of political democ-
racy w h | C h is necessarily
limited unless based on real
economic democracy. 1t is
however, obvious that this is
the conception subscribed to
by the General Motors Corp.
and other industrialists when
they pirate of their high regard
for democratic institutions.
The other definition of eco
nomic d e me cracy Is sub
scribed to by the labor move
ment, many churches and
fraternal organizations. This
definition is--the right of
every individual to work reg
ularly at living wage with
suffic C lent compensation to
take care Of emergencies and
adequate pensions to retire
the aged. This implies gov
ernmental regulation and con-
troll Of banking and industry
in the interests of the whole
people. 1t is this type of
democray which the CIO-PAC
fosters and promotes through
sponsoring social legislation
and endorsing candidates for
public office who subscribe to
this definition.
TEXTBOOK
A recently written text
book now in use in Toledo
public schools is entitled THE
Story of Democracy" On the
purely political side this book
tells the story we'll. but does
not define economic democ-
racy. II does not show how
the peoples standard OF liv-
ing Is directly related to the
type OF government. 1t fails to
explain the economic founda-
tion required to have political
democracy. 1t does not tell
the whole story.
II Is very important that the
whole story be told. 1t would
be In the interests of the
people If a text book on Amer
can Democracy which tells the
whole story was written and
used in the public schools.
Political democracy is an
impractical dream unless it Is
based on real economic de-
mocracy. To appreciate the
Importance of this issue, it is
only necessary to realize that
at present a great controversy
RACES over the difference be-
tween the industrialist's con-
ception of economic democ-
racy and our conception.
l am sure the readers OF
this column wish to have our
Interpretation become the &C
cepted one. This can only be
done il our program is sup
ported by a large and active
membership.
II you are not member OF
PAC, join now.
Political action on the part
OF labor is needed now more
than at any time in the past.
Without political action we
cannot expect that price con-
troll will be maintained, nor
can we hope for the respect
of our congressman upon