Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-05-24
Political
Action
by
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman
of the

| OLtttICbI ElIIHJit N'U't't'ILSS
Never before has it been as
necessary as now for the peo-
pie to keep Congress posted on
what they want in the way OF
legislation. We should be
flooding Congress with mail
asking that no anti-labor bills
be passed and that conciliation
service be strengthened.
We have just gone through
a long and difficult struggle
which was forced upon us, in
order TO secure wage increases
to bring wages in line with the
cost of living. Organized labor
prefers to get these increases
without use of the strike
weapon. Yet when manage
ment is stubborn and refuses
to grant just increases, the
strike weapon must be used.
The struggle to secure living
wages is far from completed.
Many groups of workers have
not yet received wage in
creases. Yet even while this
struggle is going on there is a
conspiracy sfoot TO nullify
ALL wage raises. This is
the move for the liquidation
OF OPA.
The removal of price con-
troll legislation will reduce our
wages. 1t will decrease pur-
chasing power and de-
crease demand for goods. This
will cause unemployment, and
q vicious circle will be set into
operation.
HOUSING
Another serious problem at
present is the critical housing
shortage. To this we can add
the severe food situation. The
question OF international rela-
tions as we'll as full employ
ment requires the most care
full attention.
Now all this adds up to just
one thing: THAT WE NEED
PEOPLE IN PUBLIC OFFICE
WHO WILL ATTACK THESE
PROBLEMS IN THE INTER
ESTS OF THE PLAIN PEO-
PIE.
Everyone of the problems
may be listed on the basis of
what will benefit and serve
the immediate interests of the
wealthy, or they can be ap-
preached on the basis of what
will benefit the plain people
the most.
In more direct way we
can see that in the interests of
the plain people we need So
cial legislation to provide bet
ter unemployment compensa-
ton, better industrial compen-
sation, more adequate pen
sions and government spon-
sored projects to provide EN-
ployment at living wages, do
ing socially useful work for
those not employed by private
industry.
THE QUESTION
The feasibility of the above
program is irrefutable. The
question is not the practicable
lily of our program, but rather,
whether we can get the Amer
lean people to go to the polls
and vote for it.
THE PRIMARY TASK OF
THE PAC is TO GET OUT
THE VOTE. To accomplish
this we must have an active
large enough to
scquaint the whole community
with our program to obtain
greater security through pas
sage of social legislation. To
meet this need and TO imple-
ment our program we are
launching a drive to triple
our membership.
In order for PAC to get out
the vote we must have effec-
tive functioning Ward and
Township clubs. We must have
block leaders who will reg
ularly canvass their neighbor-
hoods.
There are openings in PAC
all the way from block lead
ers to posts on the County
Central Committee, Everyone
who Is not now member
see the PAC represen,
tative at his Local or shop, or
come to the PAC office at 425
Winthrop ST., and join now.
Those who are members
start recruiting new
members from among their
circle of relatives and friends.
Our program CAN be put
over. We CAN get out the
vote. In order to succeed
however, WE MUST IN
CREASE OUR MEMBERSHIP
TO A POINT WHERE WE
CAN EFFECTIVELY THROW
OUR WEIGHT AROUND. The
success of our program is
worth the effort. The time to
get started is now; TO-DAY.
Il know of no safe deposi-
tory of the ultimate powers of