Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1947-06-20
By
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman

These state and national
anti.labor bills deprive the
labor movement of most of
the gains that have been won
in the last half century.
Many people may raise the
question of why such bills
were proposed for passage.
The answer to such a question
Is painfully clear.
For many years labor lead
ers have shouted themselves
hoarse, and wrote themselves
into writer's cramps in cru.
sade to get the American
workers to back up their eco
nomic gains with political
action.
Despite the effort which has
been made by the official
leadership of the union, the
appeal fell for the most part
on deaf ears.
Too many local presidents,
shop chairmen and stewards
were too concerned about re-
election to their union posi-.
tions, to put forth the neces-
sary effort to do an effective
job of educating the workers
as to the necessity of intelli-
gent political action,
DAMAGE
Well, the damage Is done.
Either we are stuck with the
anti-labor legislation and the
fight from here on must be to
win back our gains, or else
we will narrowly escape this
time and gain a year or two
in which to build a strong
political organization.
If we do escape the conse-
quences this particular time
1t would seem logical to as
sumo that labor would take
advantage of the reprieve to
get organized politically. The
sad fact is that an examination
of the record does not Justify
such a confident or optimistic
assumption.
However, whether we get
an extension or not we must
keep up the fight. We must
recognize that we won the
battle on the economic front
and have either lost or are
losing it on the legislative
front.
The loss of a battle how
ever, is not the loss of war.
Our mistakes are not IRENE
dial as yet. There is however,
no time to lose.
If the reactionaries get a
chance to really clinch their
legislative victory, nothing
short of armed rebellion could
ever restore American indus
rial democracy.
SOLUTION
The solution for the Ameri-
can workers lies in coopera-
ton and unity. Only a labor
movement politically united
can stop the march of the big
corporation toward the totali-
tartan state.
The advantage is still with
us. We still have the franchise.
We still represent the interests
of the public. We can still
turn the tide.
Toledo labor has taken a
step in the right direction by
taking the initiative in formu-
lating the Toledo League of
Labor Unions for Legislative
Action.
Let us all resolve to do all
in our power to make this
attempt at unity successful.
Let us refrain from bringing
up petty issues which tend to
destroy unity.
Toledo can lead the way on
the road w h C h must be
followed If the reactionary on
slaught is to be beaten back.
Before long, if the Toledo
League of Labor Unions for
Legislative Action is to be
effective we must establish
a ward and township vote
corralling organization, which
will do the job for all the
affiliated groups as we'll as
the general public.
We can only hope that the
gravity of the situation will
convince. the workers as a
whole of the necessity of get
ting active politically.
If the Toledo Labor unions
form a united PAC; If the
people support the program; if
the rest of the nation follows
suit; the defeat or repeal of
the anti-labor legislation and
passage of sorely needed social
legislation to assure world
peace and full employment will
be definitely assured.
If we fail to do these things
well why discuss that? We
have just made up our minds
we cannot afford to fail.