Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1947-08-22
GRASS ROOTS

Is to regain the temporarily lost roau 10
,rogress and increased social benetlts'
when he said that labor's activities must
Of necessity be along political lines from
now until the 194S elections.
Recognition of the immensity OF the
task faced by labor was expressed by the
ITAW leader who said that the poltlcal
iob TO be successful must begin at the
GRASS roots - the wards, precincts and
townships.
Now is the time for the task which lies
ahead of us to begin. Now Is the time Tor
those who work for their living to give
the Political Action Committee their IL
nanciaI moral and physical backing Now
Is the time for labor to awaken to the
seriousness of its problems and to get
down to the job of bringing about rem
edv of conditions which now exist ana
which will grow worse as the months go
on.
Let those who are bitterly complain
ing about the high cost of living-food,
clothing, rents and other basic costs
show their concern and their desire to do
something to correct a bad condition
which promises to grow increasingly
worse. not by words alone, but by joining
PAC.
Let those who see in the present eco
nomic situation in which the workers find
themselves, the initiation which will lead
surely to depression and stagnation, show
their determination to remedy the sltua-
ton by registering and preparing to cast
: thsir votes against the congressional tools
NJ the National Association of Manufac-
turers. the United States Chamber of
Commerce and entrenched big business
Let those who see in the Taft-Hartley
law a bold first step to liquidate the
unions by legalistic means step to the
front and do their bit in their own neigh
borhoods to bring home to their friends
and neighbors the dire possibilities which
this law holds for the entire American
people.
Let those who are now complaining
that labor didn't do what il should have
done to stem the reactionary tide cease
their complaining and go out into the
wards, precincts and townships and organ
ize the opposition TO a political party
which is stepped in reaction and con-
servatism.
Let all who are aware of the serious
ness of the situation which exists in this
nation today recognize that the outcome
of the next general election is going to
smell TO a very considerable extent the
shape of things to come. Let them recog-
nize that labor has az reat task to COM
plete, not only In getting its side OF the
case before the public, but in educating
large number of its own people who still
continue to vote the way their grand
fathers voted.
Director GOsser has expressed the
case clearly and realistically. The most
important thing for labor today is based
upon the political direction in which this
nation is heading. Bargaining rights,
wage increases, contract terms and every
phase Of labor-management relationships
are dependent upon the political COM
pIexion of the people who sit In the halls
of Congress.
Those who have brought about the
conditions which exist in this country to-
day, from initiation to regulating" labor,
have given the workers and the fair
thinking people of this nation the answer
TO the oft-repeated question, what busi-
ness have labor unions in politics."
By all means let us heed the advice
and leadership of Richard Gosser and
other union leaders who urge us to con-
centrate on the political front. Let us do
1t by beginning now to fight politically
for our economic rights and to preserve
our economic gains.
Fifteen months until the 1948 elections
is brief period of time to prepare to win
an election. Begin now by joining PAC.
Volunteer to serve In your wards, pre-
cincts and township. Be sure that you are
registered to vote and get your relatives,
friends, neighbOrs and fellow workers to
register. The road is not easy, but we
can win If every worker accepts his or
her responsibility and works as though
the entire outcome were entirely depen-
dent on them.