Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1947-05-09
Behind the
Scenes In
Politics
by
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman


tary of the Toledo Industrial
Union Council and a member
of the Toledo City Council
talked last Saturday over Sta
ton WTOL on the CIO Radio
Program. The talk he gave Is
so important that 1t warrants
appearing in print. Parts are
printed below.
When we speak of democ-
racy in this connection we, of
course, mean democracy as a
noun in the English language
the voice of the people. AL
though there may be some La
Dor Unions, not worthy of the
name, in which democracy is
denied, the basic principle of
the American Labor move
ment is to afford the advan-
tages and benefits of democ-
racy to workers in industry.
The growth of mass produc-
ton methods and its impacts
on our economy have brought
many attendant problems in
the lives of all of us. Mass
production has had profound
effect on our lives, our COM
munities and our nation. Not
the least of the problems is
that of what voice should the
mass production worker be
given in the terms of his en-
ployment and consequently in
his very life.
Management and ownership
of industry has looked upon a
free labor movement as an
interloper and a disrupter OF
their plans. They have recog-
nized very late and not too
gracefully the upsurge of the
man in industry to make his
voice heard. They have only
made this recognition where
the undeniable pressure of the
man has made itself felt.
The voice of man will not
be disruptive of plans If 1t is
included in the plans. Mass
production economy can be
ultimately successful in free
society only If 1t is made to
work by of and for that free
society.
Freedom of enterprise is
part of the warp and woof of a
free society but it cannot be
reserved to one section of that
free society because If 1t is
the society is no longer free
but totalitarian. The control
and ownership of industry has
given to those who own and
control a tremendous power
which must be matched by
both consumers and the work
ers in industry.
Now we find Congress and
our State Legislature attempt
ing to shackle by law the free
labor movement of our nation
at the behest of the owners
and controllers of industry.
Many excuses for the savage
anti.labor bills are advanced.
We have all heard the trite
phrases, Labor monopoly
"emancipate the A m eri C an
working mar" mandate of
the> people" and many others.
"Emancipate the A m meric C a n
working man" from what?
Himself? Does Congress and
the Ohio General Assembly
want to emancipate him from
free enterprise of his own
Most people in this nation,
including most of the peoples
representatives in Congress,
have little or no idea what the
proposed legislation actually
contains. An avail lanch e of
propaganda and advertising
promotion has hid the real in
tent and purpose of the anti
labor from the public behind a
screen of nice SCUM d n g
phrases and slogans.
Why don't the press pub
lish the bills in full and let the
public judge them on their
own content? The anti-labor
bills can speak for themselves
If the public is given a chance
to know what's in them.
Actually the bills are con-
structed and designed to de-
stroy not only Labor Unions,
they are merely the mechan-
ism, but what is more impor-
tant democracy in industry;
the workers right to his voice
in the terms of his employ.
ment. If these bills are enacted
and become law, we shall no
longer have a free labor move
ment. We shall have a regi'
menting of Labor into a Labor
front, always the first step
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