Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-03-19
What's
New!
By
Edward J..
Duck,
Assistant
LHEILOV .
National
A.,s1 7 ,fo
DiUsion

oped at least a partial phlloso'
ply of life. We know what we
would like to accomplish If pos
sible, we have a set of likes
and dislikes, and we have def
mite ideas on everything from
meals to music, pleasure to
politics.
AS actions form habits and
habits character, we develop
"ways" about us. The home,
school, association with others,
the newspaper, the magazine
and the radio, all contribute
toward molding our perspec-
tive, or outlook on life.
The elderly person who has
formulated certain positive be-
Iiefs about labor unions, taxes
and government in general
cannot generally be disSuaded
by any thing short of an eco
romic or social earthquake. He
could no more change his out
look on life than he could
transform his facial contours
without the aid of plastic sur
gerry. Exceptions are few in
deed.
Sorry indeed is the fact that
there are so many of us who
are not among the oldsters, yet
whose philosophy of life Is so
lacking in understanding of the
basic problems of everyday
life.
The sad part of the situation
is that by the time we nave
found the wisdom that comes
with maturity we are helpless
to do much in using that Wis
dom for our welfare and Sc
curity.
Witness, for instance, old
age pension clubs. Who but
the aged belong TO them? Wit
ness, also, the societies for the
sightless and the various handi-
capped groups. There is not
anywhere the proper aware.
ness to the fundamental social
and economic problems facing
us in this age of mass produc-
ton and maldistribution. Pow
erty in the midst of plenty is
possible only because of lack
of a conscious, intelligent eff
fort to overcome 1t.
AWARENESS
Lincoln had the awareness.
He phIased it so bluntly in the
following sentence that even
today it sounds rather shock
ing;
There has never been but
one problem in all civilization
that few would say to the
many, You will work and earn
bread, and we will eat it. "
Lincoln was not referring to
the baking business when he
made that statement, nor was
he communistically inclined. 1t
was merely the simple, abrupt
analysis of the relationship be.
tween the wage Garner and the
person who employed many for
his own interest and profit
the age.old story of inequity
between employer and en-
ployee
Honest Abe was not against
Capital. However, he minced
no words at any time in criti-
cizing the abuses of Capital.
He realized the dignity of La
Dor, the futility of the individ-
ual in bargaining with an em-
ployer, and the necessity for
democracy everywhere.
BASIC
The problem of providing
food, clothing and shelter for
ones family and security in
ones old age, regardless of
handicap or infirmity, is the
most basic material problem on
earth. Yet this problem has
never been squarely met by
the majority of us.
We, the people, must recog-
nize that our philosophy of life
must contain the solution TO
the economic and social ques.
tion mark which faces us today
and which will face us much
more starkly when the twilight
hour of our life arrives.
The democratic process OF
accomplishing things has al.
ways been the American meth
cd, although some people have
make mockery of it at times.
The surest and quickest way
of making a brighter, happier
life foI ourselves and our chill
dren, with a kind of security
we have never known, Is by
becoming conscious of our
needs, and voting in all elec.
tions. An enlightened elector-
ate Is the best defense against
poverty, slavery, dictatorship
and insecurity.
We might add that the last
day for registrations is April
5, and an important day to en-
circle on your calendar is Tues