Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1951-03-09

labor leaders. In addition local and MS&&#& &&&##
regional conferences will be called
to broaden this fight. Pete Zvara
Then on March goth joint conference of AFL,
CIO and railroad brotherhoods representatives will
be called in Washington to further implement and
broaden this nation wide struggle This will be the
first such conference since the birth of the CIO ff
teen years ago.
Following the policy laid down by President
Murray all labor spokesman will call upon all types
of civic, fraternal and organizations-with
special emphasis on housewives - to join in this
great crusade against initiation and improper taxes.
T,FIE ACTUAL KICK OFF in this fight came last
Il week when the UAW-CIO-acting on proposal
by President Reuther voted 100000 to carry
this fight to the people At the same time the UAW-
make similar donations and to join the fight. The
response apparently tremendous. Indicative of
this is President Murray's nationwide broadcast
within week after President Reuther's proposal
became public.
The major ISSUE of course, is initiation - the
rapidly rising cost of living and the governments
inability, reluctance to do anything about it,
Price Stabzer Mike Disable has issued number
of so-called controls that not controls at ALL
Even Mike admits - substantiated by the New York
Times - that these controls would not halt price
hikes. AS matter of fact price-hikes were antic-
pated in every line of consumer goods
This despite the fact that the controls" promul-
gated by Mr. DiSale's office 'froze prices at their
highest levels.
What make this entire situation absolutely un-
acceptable was the situation prevailing in the food
market Because of parity prices these food prices
cannot be controlled. Therefore it became obvious
that the cost of-living in food prices certainly
major factor in the lives of workers and low-income
groups would keep soaring with doing
anything about them.
hinder THESE CONDITIONS the attempt to
~ freeze" wages by the Wage Sterilization Board
constituted direct threat against the living stand
ards of all wage earners How anyone in their
minds attempt to freeze" wages when the cost
of-livng was so fluid" - to popular express
sion? +.
The attitude of Mr.. Charles E. Wilson, mobiliza-
ton car, made things much worse. His off, handed
and almost insulting attitude towards the represen-
tatves OF organized labor was totally nexcusable.
MIR. Wilson took manpOwer controls aWays from the
Department of Labor against the strongest opposi-
ton expressed by labor leaders. Mr.. Wilson refused
point blank to employ labor representative in his
top command Labor was to be consulted and
ignored Mr.. Wilson was going to run the show all
by himself aided only by his hand picked assistants
all of them Big Business representatives. Certainly
Organized Labor could not hope for much from
people like Gen Lucius D. Clay, chairman of
the board OF Continental Can Sidney Weinberg,
New York Banker Eric Johnston, wealthy manufac-
turer and head of the Motion Picture Producers
Association and Cyrus Ching formerly of the United
States Rubber.
The only person who could be considered near
the common people in this echelon Mike
Disable, our former mayor who acts price stabil-
iZer.
DRESIDENT MURRAY was right when he de-
clared in his nationwide broadcast that "rising
prices inequitable taxes on lower income groups
the future of rent control not just labor"
problem. These issues everyone very deep
ly. Especially at time when corporation profits
shattering all previous levels in their fantastic rise
Anyway, the fight is Labor acted wisely
when it decided that this situation has to be laid
before the American people whole We are en-
gagged in defending democracy and not in profiteer
ing orgy. Mr. Wilson will have to learn that the
people are also very much concerned with the fu-
ture OF our country with our livelihood ...w with