Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-07-07
u. S. Chamber
Wants Business To
Educate Employees
BY BRADFORD v. CARTER
For Labor Press Association

HERE we have nation of $50, 900, 900, with
IL the most wonderful newspapers, and
movies, and radio, and mass magazines, and
television and yet "many people" seem to have
"a distorted conception of business and our
economic system"
That's because of "misinformation and lack
of information" 1t seems that in an opinion
poll of workers, in answer to the question
"who did most for you in the past 80 years.
81 per cent of the workers answered unions"
and 43 per cent said "the government"
The trouble, ii seems is that business, for
the most part, has been on the defensive"
So, says the u. S. Chamber of Commerce,
Lets take the offensive" and it has dreamed
up an american Opportunity Program"
which Is, II says, ga program of action de-
signed to explain our economic system" Busi-
ness Is not telling its story often enough to
enough people, says the Chamber booklet, and
as result "misinformation, misunderstanding,
and dissatisfaction Is leading to the road of
PLANNED Economy"
And the booklet lists the legislation cal
ready proposed by the builders of this road to
Utopia" The list: Price controls, public hous-
ing, national health insurance, federal aid to
education, and the Brannan Plan.
This trend, says the booklet, "is counter to
the ideals and ideas which have made this
country leader among the nations of the
world"
How Is the Chamber going to correct this
trend? Well, its series of american .Oppor-
tunity" booklets lists the methods: Employe
meetings, bulletin boards, employe publica-
tions; letters to employees, annual reports,
plant tours, radio and films. The up and COM
ing business man can get all these beautiful
pamphlets, illustrated, for the small sum of
$1.50. And If he follows through, that nasty
old stuff about public housing, and national
health insurance, ETC., will not infect his work.
ers, and they will become fright thinking and
loyal"
Now, our very best people belong to the
u. 8. Chamber of Commerce or Its local coun-
terparts. They ought to know what's good for
us SO let's examine, for example, the kind of
films suggested by the U. S. Chamber in one
Of Its American Opportunity" booklets.
OF the 65 films listed, aside from educa-
tional films by the government and other
agencies, 20 are films made directly by or for
the Chamber, the National Association of
Manufacturers or big firms like Goodyear
Tire and Rubber Kelvinator, Ford and Sea-
board Airline.
Harding College. for those of you who
came In late, Is a little obscure school, but
manages to have "film division" and several
other interesting divisions" among them one
which turns out interesting talks that have
been given by number of midwest firms to
their employees The talks are given on COM
pany time They are Freedom Forums" but
the empolyes have no option about listening
or not listening. They get no chance to ask
questions. And what are the talks about? Why,
about the same trend that the u S. Cham
Der Is weeping over. They all add up to an
attack on the New Deal, the Fair Deal, and
all the social welfare legislation of recent
years.
How can an obsure little school like Hard
ing College afford "film division" and other
divisions" Well, 1t has friends in the chips
people like the heads of big advertising agen-
cies, who talk big business men into providing
the dough; business men who put up the dough
for an outfit like Freedoms Foundation, which
in the name of patriotism spouts reaction.
They are the same sort who put UP the
money for outfits like Rumely's Committee for
Constitutional Government, Ramps Contsitu-
tional Educationo League, and the National
Economic Council, now under scrutiny by a
congressional committee looking into lobbying.
People like the duPonts, heavy givers to the
NEG, which is run by Merwin K Hart, who
with straight face told the lobby probers the
other day that the present Supreme Co -
seated to socialism," should be p
e all p members barred forevs
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