Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1947-01-03
Behind the
Scenes In
Politics
BY
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman

Whether or not there is any
biological truth in it, the be-
lief is widely accepted that an
ostrich Attempts to avoid treu-
bic by Kidding it's head in the
sand. OF course, If the ostrich
really does this, it is a very
foolish bird.
A large percentage of the
population at present is fol-
lowing the example OF the
proverbial ostrich. They are
allowing themselves to be
luIled into a false sense of
security while disaster is url'
mistakably approaching. Ra-
dio commentators, newspaper
coIumnists and the whole
company of spokesmen for
the vested interests are now
working overtime at the task
of convincing the people that
we are heading for an unpre'
cidented era of unparalleled
prosperity for everybody.
We are being told that the
now defunct New Deal was
merely a set of unnecessary
shackles upon the American
system of free enterprise.
The condition of the country
lust prior to the New Deal Is
understandably ignored. We
are being told that the need
for public projects to provide
the people with useful employ
ment, purchasing power and
essential services and facili'
ties is no longer In existance,
FORGETFUL
While it should be recog'
nized that public memory Is
short and In times Of prosper
ity, people are inclined to for.
get former hardships, we
should also recognize the fact
that very soon we need not
depend upon our memories to
know the meaning of want,
poverty and Illustration.
We are now in a period OF
comparative full employment.
Jobs are not too scarce, and
despite shortages, our pre-
sent standard of living is a
big improvement over the
mode of living we experienced
during the last depression.
The central truth remains
that the great depression was
caused primarily because the
producers, that is, the workers
and farmers, did not receive in
return for their labor enough
purchasing power to buy back
the goods they produced.
Prices in relation to wages
were too high. Nearly every
one lived on the inStallment
plan, Eventually their credit
ran out. Goods lay on the
shelves while potential Gus
toners lacked the money to
buy. Industrialists would not
hire workers to produce CON-
modities, when the ware
houses were full of unsold
goods.
THE CIRCLE
This vicious economic circle
was broken only by the war,
which with its aftermath of
the need for rehabilitation
offers only a temporary solu'
ton.
We have everythin &
we need to provide perma'
nent prosperity under an in
dustrial democracy. This can
only be accomplished if we
legislate into existence a so
cial plan under which hours
will be short enough to pro
vide jobs for all and wages
will be high to enable all to
live decently. Unless we dc
this we are definitely headed
for a complete economic col
lapse.
If we fail to plan fol
adequate production and dis
tribution of goods and serv
ices a new depression fol
lowed by a new war is in
evitable.
We will not and can no
achive economic stability BY
accepting the assurances o.
the stooges of the profiteer'
who would have us avoid real
ization of the problems facing
us. The coming bust can b.
averted only II we accept al
the silly thing it is, an at
tempt to avoid danger by hid
ing our heads in the sane
while our poSteriorS preSen'