Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-03-05
Behind The
Scenes In
Politics
By
Rusch
Toledo.
CIO
Legislative Director

All of us are, or should be
interested in the promotion of
social legislation. There are
many issues which vitality af-
feet the welfare of those who
work for a living. A decent
standard of living for the
American people plus sound
world peace program definitely
depends upon the enactment
of an adequate European Re-
covery program.
American aid for the re-
habilitation of Europe will
provide a market for Ameri-
can products and also develop
the only possible alternative to
domination of Central Europe
by the t o TIA Ii t a ri a n Com
munists.
Failure to create this mar
ket for American goods will
also strengthen the incipient
fascist forces in America.
The civil rights amendments
recommended by President
Truman constitute must legis-
lation if we intend to invest
the Bill of Rights with real
meaning. A limited democracy
which denies civil liberties to
minority groups bellies tn e
whole principle of democratic
government.
Passage of legislation to pro-
vide for increased benefits and
expanded coverage of social
security as recommended by
President Truman is absolute
ly essential to the welfare of
$50 of the American people.
EQUAL PAY
The equal pay for equal
work bill is the only guarantee
we can have to prevent the
reduction of purchasing power
for all those who work for a
living.
Social legislation to provide
health insurance is essential to
public health. The number of
men rejected by the armed
forces during World War II is
ample evidence of the need
for a national program to
m a k e the discoveries and
facilities of modern medical
science available to all.
The housing shortage is too
acute to require any special
plea for support from the
people for legislation designed
to insure an adequate housing
program.
BY this time many people
who did not at first realize
the threat to democracy en-
bodied in the Taft Hartley
law now recognize the full
significance of this slave labor
law.
There are other important
legislative issues.
Those mentioned here are
sufficient to emphasize the
seriousness of the situation.
TO SUCCEED
In order to succeed in get
ting enacted legislation de-
signed to promote the best
interests of the majority of
the people we must elect cam
didates to public office who
are sympathetic to the welfare
of great bulk of citizens.
This cannot be accomplished
unless the average citizen ac-
cepts his responsibility to go
to the polls and vote. Not only
do we miss the opportunity to
correct economic and social
injustice by not voting, but we
may actually lose our very
right to vote.
Once an unscrupulous cliche
of big business stooges get con-
troll of the government the
attacks upon civil rights will
be intensified.
The right to vote was won
to the general citizens only
after a long struggle. To keep
this right it is necessary to
exercise it.
You cannot vote unless you
are registered. The last day
to register to vote in the 1948
primaries is April 4th.
The Board of Elections is
located at 217 Superior st.
They have an adequate staff
to take care of a large registra-
ton. The clerks at the Board
of Elections are entitled to
the opportunity to work. Let
us all solicit our friends to
register and thereby see that
these clerks are kept very
busy.
Remember we must choose
in November among the can
didates nominated on the May
primaries is the best insur-
ance that progressive legisla-
tive program can become an
actual reality.