Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-03-03
Jobs For Our People

are upwards OF rs, 600 Toledo citizens VINO
are today out of work. There are no jobs
for them. Try as they might, 60 where
they may the answer to them is always:
NO HELP WANTED.
Official government figures further
tell us that unemployment in the entire
lis. hit a new eight-year high last month
when As million workers were jobless
throughout the nation. In Ohio alone the
number of unemployed last year in
creased by 100000 Last week total OF
174.O00 jobless workers were receiving
unemployment o m p pen nsati on in the
State.
Certainly these are figures that should
make all of us reflect for minute as to
iust where we are headed? Are we plung-
ing headlong into another major economic
depression?
From Washington we hear all kinds
OF optimistic reports as to the economic
pulse of the nation. Although even these
reports admit that we can look forward
to what amounts to permanent Army of
Unemployed, numbering around five mil
lion workers. Some economists actually
tell us that the continued existance OF
such an Army of Unemployed should be
considered as something normal
Il
FRANKLY, WE CAN'T see how any
one can consider such a condition as
normal. One must remember that the
shock Of unemployment so far has been
greatly minimized by the fact that many
of these unemployed workers were re-
eeiving unemployment compensation
from their respective states. But these
built up credits are wearing thin. Thou
sands of workers reach the lend OF the
line" when they receive their compensa-
tion for the 26th week and in some states
much sooner. From then on - II they
still have no jobs - nothing remains, but
the city relief rolls
And we can readily imagine what will
happen to these city relief rolls what
will happen to the business communities
when such a condition shall have come to
pass?
All the more reason, therefore, that
municipal, state and federal agencies give
serious thoughts to developing work
programs that will create Jobs for our peo-
Pile. Obviously, dolling out relief is not
q solution Working people hate to apply
for and to receive relief from anyone.
They want jobs. They want to work for
their living It is up to our various gov
ernmental agencies, therefore, to provide
work for our people.
Certainly we cannot accept the in
credible, inhuman premise that our coun-
try must put UP with five million un-
fortunate jobless workers as a "perma-
nent" and normal condition of living.
During the war" UAW-CIO Vice
President Richard Gosser said to City
Council in pleading for action in creating
Jobs for our unemployed I'VE found jobs
for the crippled, for the aged and for any
one able TO move. These people were
creating instruments Of war instru-
ments of destruction Are we to admit
now that when it comes to creating in
struments Of peace instruments for
a happier and fuller life it is impossible
for us to employ even our able-boded
citizens? Such an admission would be
tantamount to admitting the bankruptcy
of our economic system. I'm not ready to
believe that. I'm sure we can find jobs
for our people if we just get down to
business and develop plans for large and
useful public works 1. if we provide
for decent retirement pension systems
for our elderly folks if we provide
sufficient m ployment compensation
for our unemployed"
Il
ALONG WITH Mr. Gosser, we, too,
feel that our country is big enough to
provide a decent living :. decent jobs
with decent wages for all those willing
and able to work. But, if we are to ac-
complish this aim, we must undergo a
radical change in our thing about the
welfare OF our people We must give up,
right now, the antiquated idea that
things will adjust themselves" Because
things" will never adjust themselves un-
less the leaders of this nation are will
ing to bring that change about.
This is the awful challenge we are
faced with today.
Our actions in meeting this grave and
fearful challenge will determine the fu-
ture of our country our economic
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