davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05

strike for example, as of this writing, it is
estimated that it had already cost $l,307,-
478640 This same estimate prepared by
Automotive News claims that the Chrysler
dealers alone lost an estimated 1927, 500 600 in
commissions because there were no cars
available for deliveries.
How much this strike cost to the Chrysler
workers in lost wages is not known exactly,
but ii runs into astronomical figures.
WHAT is WHOLLY lmmeasurable in any
w strike, especially the long and bitter ones,
is the human suffering brought on by these
economic wars. 1t is commonly accepted fact
that most workers lack financial reserves that
would take care of them and their families in
cases of long periods of enforced idleness.
Even without strikes, most workers when they
are laid off have to apply almost Immediately
for either relief or unemployment compensa-
ton. Even a cursory study of the relief figures
of any industrial center will reveal that relief
rolls mount rapidly within week or two
after large scale lay-offs in industry.
So, strikers begin to feel the full brunt of
any strike almost Immediately after their
fight begins.
And with economic hardship, comes a
thousand and one problems that makes life
difficult indeed for all those who are COM
PEELED to resort to the strike weapon.
VET, DESPITE these conditions we see work
l. ers ready to fight-ready to engage in
economic warfare against their employers.
The reason for this is simple enough. They
have no choice. Either they fight or accept abb
ject an unconditional surrender at the hands
OF their employers.
Again, let us take the Chryser situation.
The crux of the entire fight in this case-as
in almost 9944% of all strikes - is money
Chrysler workers wanted what amounts to
about 10 cents per hour increase in wages.
They wanted to apply this flat, specified sum
to pension and welfare program. Chrysler
officials refused. So the fight started And
now, as of the moment, it had cost the Chrys-
Ter Corp. many times over what it would have
cost them had they accepted the proposals of
the Union to begin with
True-an dthis Is cardinal difference
the strike cost nothing as far as the Chrysler
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
Democracy Should Be Scared

nOUBTLESS THE fifty or so people
~ who prevented the holding of So
called May Day meeting of the Communist
party last Monday in Timm's Hall on East
Broadway are all good Americans Most
of them, we are told, are ex-G.I's who
fought for democracy in World War ii.
Unfortunately however, their action
in stopping this meeting - no matter how
strongly they may disagree with the opin-
ion that would have been expressed at this
Communist meeting - is not in the spirit
of true democracy, true Americanism.
For to us Americanism and democracy
is synonymous. You cannot separate one
from the other If you do, Americanism
will no longer be Americanism as it has
been handed down to us by our forefathers
and democracy will be but a mockery,
sham behind VIII i h we shall witness
rampant intolerance against all minorities
who may disagree with popular opinions.
Certainly the vast majority of the Ameri-
can people are opposed to Communism.
The people in our midst who profess Com
munism are but mere handful
The very lifehood of democracy is free
uom OF speech, press, assembly ana rell-t
gion When anyone of these basic rights
is denied any one or group of our peo-
pie we endanger the very structure of our
democracy.
In fact, when we start pushing people
around telling them what meetings they
may or may not attend; what kind of
philosophy they may or may not believe
in - and all this in clear violation of our
existing laws we shall degenerate to
the level that all relationships inevitably
sink to.
These are, indeed, trying times. We
must at all times remember that the price
of democracy is heavy.
AT the same time we should never for
get that the blessings of democracy are
great
Remember, too, the immortal Voltaire
who said -. | may disagree with what
you are saying, but l will fight to the
death for your right to say it.
Therein lies the very soul of our
democracy. Without it our democracy will
die.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05

ceIlent job that Tom Burke has been doing
years ago.
The denomination of Michael Damas,
Morton Neipp and Frank w. King to the
General Assembly is another proof that
people generally appreciate honest
conscientious work on their behalf by
their representatives in the State Legisla-
ture. Certainly Messrs. Damas, Neipp and
King have been doing just that and they
deserve, by every standard, reelection to
their present posts in the coming Novem-
Der elections.
Victory in the primary elections, how
ever, is far from victory in our final and
general elections in November. And while
it is tremendously important that all citi-
zens vote in the primaries, the crucial tests
come in November. That is the time when
jobs are filled.
Therefore, it is of paramount impor-
tance that we begin NOW to prepare for
those November elections. Taft can be de-
feated. Ferguson can be elected US. Sem.
atOr from our State. The same holds true
for Tom Burke and to all the others whom
we feel will serve the best interests of our
people and consequently of our state and
nation. SO, don't let up on the oars. Pull
and pull ever harder until Taft and his
cohorts can be eliminated from our public
payrolls and retired to private life where
they belong.
We can win. But we'll have to work
like hell to do so.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
a Greet Senator Defeated

VNHE DEFEAT of Senator Claude Pepper,
Il Florida Democrat and staunch New
Dealer, in last Tuesdays primary elections
by George Smathers comes as shock to
us.
1t is difficult to believe that a man of
Sen Peppers stature man who has
labored untiringly through twelve o n G
years in the US. Senate in the interest of
the common people of his state and coun-
try should be defeated by political
nonentity. Especially when that political
nonentity is a reactionary Dixiecrat of the
worst type.
For that's all George Smathers is. AS
a member of the House during the last
term, George Smathers has lin ed up
against every phase of President Tru-
mans Fair Deal program on every ocasion.
On the other hand Sen. Pepper has
long been an outstanding champion first
of Pres. Roosevelt's New Deal and, since
1945, President Truman's Fair Deal pro-
gram
He was well-known to organized labor.
In 1887 he delivered brilliant address to
the National CIO Convention in Boston
and in return received a standing ovation
from the delegates.
The defeat of Sen. Pepper will be
keenly felt by the Truman Administra-
ton and by all those who oppose the in
credibly reactionary policies of the COP
Dixiecrats coalition.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
Inside
Region 2~B
By Charles Ballard
Director Region 2-B JAW -CIO

CEVENTEEN YEARS AGO citizens sovereign
~ Ohio exercising their constitutional right pass laws
the of the Initiative Petition submitted successfully
the voters of the state plan aid people Popularity the
law is known as the Old Age Pension Law.
The Old Age Pension Law is actually not pension law
The Old Age Pension Law provides merely another form of
lief In order qualify for this relief be IS Of
have income of $500 and must be in
need The amount OF aid payable limited to maximum of $50
month plus medical benefits However not everyone
gets the SIS when he reaches the 6 though he has
qualified for the The receives is based
his actual need determined by the Division for Aid to
the Aged
Ordinarily thinks of pension income receives
in his declining which will supplement his life savings
Not under the state aid Ohio The law in this
state provides that if has available sufficient income and
from husband WIFE child other
sbe by la wfor his support then eligible for the
sion from the state This places the financial burden of
porting ones parents the children only makes into law
what natural obligation of children However under present
economic conditions the children hard to keep their
own families living on decent standard.
One seldom thinks of pension a loan However, if
6 has property of value then his from
the state amounts to nothing than loan The state has
lien recipients property with certain statutory
ons to the amount of he has received under the Old
Age Pension Law.
The present require pensioner give his
provides that to the state while retains
life estate himself and his wife The law further provides
that property repair and all taxes
The effect this provision has been in the
majority of instances to force the dve himself
of his home because SIS month cannot high taxes
and salvage enough from the $55 less to live on
When this law passed it marked mile stone in social
progress However the law already oumoded We fighting
for the right of people working in industry to receive reason
able income after 65 they choose retire We
for the right of covered under social security to receive
adequate income after 65 We believe that all persons
working industry by social security not should
be able look forward the day when they retire
fully adequate income without having mortgage their
home
We believe that the time to take another step for
ward by nsng that receive income of Soo
from after retiring We confident that America
capable of taking of its aged We believe that the ci
the Sovereign State of Ohio should again lead the
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05

WlTH THE PRIMARY elections behind
V'us, we can now begin to clear our
d ecks for the coming crucial election
battles in November. There is no question
in our minds but that Joseph T. Ferguson,
the unquestioned winner in the democratic
primaries for the US. senatorship, should
receive the solid support of all Ohio citi-
zens who believe in progress.
AT this point it is well for us to say
that Mike Disable, Toledo's popular Mayor
and our candidate for US Senate in the
primaries, made an excellent S h ow ing
throughout the state. The IA to vote that
Mr. Disable received in Lucas County is
certainly brilliant testimony to his popu-
larity with the voters in our own COM
munity.
II is also gratifying to note that Tom
Burke, incumbent Congressman from the
9th District Lucas and Ottowa Counties),
also made brilliant showing Drawing
more than twice as many votes as the
Republican victor, Mr.. Burke clearly
demonstrated ( h at he has vote-getting
power. In return, the voters who gave MIR.
Burke such a large vote in an election
where he had no opposition indicated with
equal clarity that they appreciate the ex.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
This You Ought To Know
By Pete Zvara

officials are concerned They didn't lose any of
their pay. Some of them may even get good
bonus at the end of the year.
In actuality these ChrySler officlals-JuSt
like company officials in similar situations
everywhere and everytime-used the invest
ments of their stockholders as an out-and-out
war fund to battle their workers. 1t is their
major weapon. The workers suffer intensely
while these company officials go on receiving
their fabulous salaries as if their plants were
in full boom.
60, WE AGREE that strikes costly. Very
~ much so. But how much more costly would
surrender be? Let us suppose that we would
accept whatever offers the high and mighty
corporation bosses would offer us, how could
we make progress +. how could we live?
Well perhaps we could live. After all, even
the slaves existed somehow. But isn't it fact
that strikes and revolts of all kinds on the part
of the common people take place because they
find existing conditions unbearable.
More, these clashes from time immemorial
have taken place because there was no other
way to bring about basic improvements in the
living standards of the people.
We fought for and built our unions because
we had to-
1t wasn't matter of choice.
And noW-as in the past-We have to en-
gage in occasional strikes because the masters
of industr yand business prevent us from
achieving our goals peacefully without suffer-
ing and at times bloodshed.
THEREFORE, when you look at these strikes
Il in that light, the price-even though fear
fully highs not prohibitive. In reality it is a
price that is exacted from us because we are
not strong enough to get what rightfully be-
longs to our people any cheaper.
But the masses of people never really got
anything for nothing The very creation of our
country from a vast continent of trackless
wilderness, inhabited solely by fierce Indian
tribes who resented the intrusion of the white
man to their virgin land was brought about
at terrible expense to our people
How many people died on the endless
prairies and on the treacherous deserts of our
Far West?
1t reached the shores of the Pacific and thus
eliminated the last frontier.
TODAY THE WORKING people are striving
l. to break through the only frontier that is
left for our people. And that is the frontier of
our economic world . a world which, If
fully utilized, could easily bring about tre-
mendous improvements for all those who man
it.
Well, it is not so easy to crash through that
frontier to crash through the barricades
set up in front of our people by those civil
lied savages' who are today the masters of
this vast and relatively virgin continent.
Undoubtedly the cost to advance into this
new promised land is, indeed, fearfully heavy.
But the promised bounty of this new land,
once fully utilized for the benefit of all, is be-
yond comprehension.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
Editors Mail
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
I have been watching the
Journal and omparing the
stories in the Journal and the
Blade as they come out.
Pretty often it seems to me
that you have to read what hap
pened in the Journal to find out
what the truth is. The Blade
either leaves things out or mikes
the words up so even if they are
telling the truth some of the
time you don't know what the
truth is anyway.
So | am glad to be getting the
Journal so / can check up on
things important to my union
and know what is really going
on.
Keep up the good work.
j. j. ON
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
Regional
Views
BY Richard Gosser. Vice President
international UAW-CIO
This Weeks Guest Column Written By

The Staff Secretaries
STAFF member has hours-but they're all in the
"A morning
That is, he is to
time he quit the night before
There is only exception this is organizing
plant or assigned to strike he starts about $50
instead
The of his time day controlled by (a) how long
he stay his feet b how late he find anyone talk
When we hear some union member say Gee wish
could get nice soft job the staa
be thinking about the petals We think of the thorns
An organizer gets than worker
in a shop. His net, per hour, is about rs cents
Naturally he kicks in great deal voluntary strike
funds and emergency situations Recently staff members
chipping in each week the Chryser AND Paskon
strike than the shop worker gives
gency situation in a year.
What's more he's glad to do it.
You see work for union like UAW unless he
completely convinced that the the work i'm
portan and worth that either
income hours
He works while there's something to be done.
The wives of staff members part-tme widows and
many of them are pretty swell about it. They contributing
toocontrbutng the best of their husbands lives to
the labor
staff member is supposed be able to swing from a
strike to organizing drive bargaining
son from session to policy conference from confer
ene election campaign and keep all the threads straight
Often enough they do all of these things and more in
single day-and occasionally seven days week.
Sundays and holidays and evenings union members
Not for saffers.
This is just locally, of thing begins
with Walter Reuher and Richard Goser the
entire organization.
There is big job to be organized
(and the unorganzed too in the UAWCIO jurisdiction
Much of it done by the rank and-fe inside the shop.
But the load falls saff-always
Why do unions staffers so long hard?
Because the payroll from which they paid money
and not be squandeed just make life bed
of for saffers.
That's why girls office who what's going on,
get little bit shrll when hear belitte the
market today what the union for his
when staff member has put in day" on the job.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05

Being American is another way of saying that
you of the luckiest people the face of the
earth Making America what it is took lot of doing
lot of thinking, and believing and dying lot of
hard work As the days go by, and more COM
munties will be preparing to celebrate II Am An
American day. Between and then might all,
with profit, reflect with humility that it is up to all
of make and daughters will be just
as lucky when they say, generation from now, Il
Am An American"
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
Hofs Off To PIoskon Workers

FTNHE MAGNIFICENT display of soli-
Il darity, singleness of purpose and grim
determination of the Plaskon w orkers
throughout their long and bitter strike,
just concluded, is certainly admirable, to
say the least.
The Plaskon workers, fighting b ack
against the fierce onslaught unleashed
them by their powerful and wealthy en-
ployer, the Libbey- -Owen-Ford Glass Co.,
were successful in retaining not only their
old rights, but in fact succeeded in, making
new and momentous gains for the future.
The Plaskon strike, one of the longest
In Toledo's history, teaches us a good
many lessons 1t teaches us that the first
prerequisite of winning any strike depends
upon the solid unity of the workers in
volved. Wherever the workers stick to-
gether, there victory is inevitable
And when we talk about workers stick
ing together, we mean not only the work
ers who are directly involved in the given
strike, but all organized workers in our
community. Certainly this was the case in
the Plaskon situation Organized workers
within and without the UAW-CIO - with
few exceptions gave unstintingly to
support the Plaskon workers. Financial
support forthcoming from these many
unions made it possible for the Plaskon
workers to carry on their fight.
True, In large sense this strike was
nt ha nff airD pf
workers 1t was, in fact, the fight of all
organized workers in Toledo For it was
plain enough from the very beginning that
a defeat for the Plaskon workers would
be very serious defeat for all workers
in our community.
Plaskon was to determine whether or
not there shall be continued peace-labor-
management peace in our community
or rampant warfare. Certainly the defeat
OF the Plaskon workers would have en-
couraged those selfish interests in fl e
hierarchy OF Toledo's Big Business who
have been calling for a showdown" be-
tween our unions and the employers for
quite sometime now
These same selfish business interests
are not so vociferous now since they know
that Organized Labor is standing together
in solid ranks And it is safe to assume
that before another employer provokes
our people into strike action again, hoping
thus to defeat the legitimate aims of our
people, he will think and think seriously.
II must be noted also that this long
strike was rather peaceful No bloodshed
on the picket lines No attempts by the
Corporation to break the strike e with
strike-breakers and professional ugs.
Not even court injunctions.
1t was, indeed, a magnificently dis
ciplined strike.
What far cry from the old days when
picket lines were always d o otte d with
bloody heads, tear gas attacks and - Re-
member Auto-Lite in 1884? - the bodies
OF dead workers!
1t is, indeed, pleasure for us to say
to the rank-and-file Plaskon workers, to
to their officers and to the officers of our
international Union - first of all Vice
President Gosser - and to the multitude
of L o ed workers who supported this
strike: Well done.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
METHOD

The first idea of method is
a progressive transition from
one step to another in any
course.
-Coleridge
The poets line, "Order is
heavens first law" is so
eternally true, so automatic,
that it has become truism;
and is wisdom is as obvious in
religion and scholarship as in
astronomy or mathematics.
Mary Baker Eddy
The shortest way to do
many things is to do only one
thing at time.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05

it would be rather stupid to
deny the facts that strikes
are very costly. Especially
for the workers directly in
volved.
And am not talking of
financial costs" alone. That,
at least, we can measure.
And to a degree, ameliorate
depending upon how much
money is availa bic for
strike relief" in any given
situation.
Tn tho current ChrvsIer
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05
Gems Of Thought

Method facilitates every
kind of business, and by max
ing it easy makes it agreeable,
and also successful.
&C. Simmons
Method is not less requisite
in ordinary conversation than
in writing, provided a man
would talk to make himself
understood.
Addison
Be methodical II you would
succeed in business, or in any,
thing. Have work for every
oment. and mind the moments
work.
w. Mathews
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-05-05

THE MOST FREQUENT objection to strikes
l. that / run into-and l suppose this holds
true in most cases - is the argument that
STRIKES cost too much" Obviously having had
considerable experience with strikes myself,
The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-12-06
NEW ISSUE TAKEN UP,
 TWO CHIEFS
Truman and AttIee Discuss Europe as Prime Center
 Communism Conflict
By JOHN M. HIGHTOWER

WASHINGTON. Dec. 6 = R1 - President Truman and Prime Min ister Attlee opened the third of their Korean crisis talks today amid reports they have agreed that Eur ope is the prime center of conflict with Soviet Communism.
 Some diplomatic informants de- scribed this as the firmest point yet developed in the discussions which opened here Monday afternoon and are expected to continue through tomorrow.
 By implication, the reported agreement affirms the British view and one long held by many high officials here = that the Western Powers cannot allow large portion of their military strength to be sucked into a conflict with Red China.
 Attlee returned to the White House at 11:30 am. for a short meeting with MT. Truman, then was due to go directly to the Na- tional Press Club for his only public address in this country.
 Responsible informants reported that the Truman-Attlee session on the presidential yacht Williamsburg yesterday afternoon was concerned with possible military and diplo- matic moves growing out of the critical situation in which Com- munist Chinese forces have placed JUN. troops in Korea. Among dip lomats talk of possible fighting evacuation-a kind of Korean Dun- kerque-continues although the US. Defense Department has made ef- forts to minimize any such talk at this time.
 The talk of such a possibility has, of course. always hinged on the question of whether the Chinese Reds continue their heavy military pressure and the LIN. forces are unable to establish firm defense line.