Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-04-23
Behind The
Scenes In
Politics
By
Clayton
Rusch
Oledo
CIO
Legislative Director


titled the fields, dug the mines
and built the factories. We
also operate the mines, mills,
factories and stores. We built
the syscrapers from bedrock
to the skies. We built the
bridges which traverse vast
waters. We built the dams and
mined the coal that supply the
power to run our vast pro-
ductive plant.
According to the guarantees
of the constitution, we the
people are the real soveriegns
of this nation. We the people
make decisions through our
elected representatives w h o
determine how this nation
shall be run.
However, there are some
flaws in this theoretically per-
feet set-up. 1t so happens that
we the people do produce all
the wealth of this nation, but
the distribution of the results
of our nation is, to say the
least, a bit lopsided.
Less than 1919 of the peo-
pie own and control over
$50 of the wealth of the ma
ton. In the midst of an enor-
nous need for our products
we find that we have large
scale unemployment except
when the nation is preparing
for war, engaged in war, or
in a rehabilitation program
made necessary by war.
DECENT LIVING
Even when there is full en-
ployment, it does not follow
that the average wage Garner
and his family are able to en-
joy a decent standard of liv-
ing.
High prices and insufficient
income make it possible for
the average worker to main
tain an adequate living stand
ard.
1t is very strange that the
most important section of the
population is short-changed in
the matter of the distribution
of the results of their own
toll.
Yet it is not so strange
when we consider the fact,
that the small group who own
and control the monopolistic
interests are alert enough to
take part in politics. They
pour millions into political
campaigns to elect their spokes-
men to public office. The
workers, on the other hand,
by the large just don't bother
to vote. The result is that
while we have, in theory, a
government of the people,
for the people and by the peo-
pie" we more often than not
have in fact, government of
the people, for the monopoly
interests, by the stooges of big
business in public office.
1t is a fact, sad but true,
that the producers of this ma
tion's wealth do not receive
enough remuneration for their
toll TO enable them to buy the
products they produce.
1t was to meet this problem
that unions were organized.
The gains made by organized
labor show how elective such
organizations can be.
VULNERABLE
There are however, vul-
nerable points. The labor
movement cannot con troll
prices, insure full employment
or prevent passage of legisla-
ton designed to put unions
out of business.
Unless we get the Taft
Hartley Act and other vicious
anti-labor legislation repealed,
it will be exceedingly difficult
for the labor movement to
protect the interests of its
members.
There is only one way to
get anti-labor legislation re-
pealed. There is only one way
to get legislation enacted to
insure full employment, ade-
quate social securityameasures
and protection of civil liber-
ties for all.
We the people, had better
get out and vote. The primary
election is May 4th.
Unless we get out and vote
for the peoples candidates, we
the people will become mere
ly the pawns of those who
order us about and continue
to prosper on OUR labor.
to me. All the ladies who are
willing to take patron cards
for the Local IL Summer