Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1954-01-16

unionists we have definite pro-
posals to place before our fellow
citizens.
"In the domestic field, labor be-
lieves that there are certain de-
cisions which must be made to pro-
mote genuine and prosperous eco
nomic growth. Public policy should
encourage more and better hous-
ing; wider and increased Social Sc
curity and broader distribution of
purchasing power to support ex-
panding business activity through
q widened ability to consume.
Similarly, we believe there
should be sufficient aid to educa-
ton so that it will no longer be
necessary to water down the edu-
cation of our children, to crowd
too many children in too few class
rooms, and to turn an ever-in-
creasing number of qualified per-
sons away from the teaching pro-
fession because Of inadequate sal
aries.
Furthermore, we believe tn a
lasting economic prosperity re-
quires acceptance of collective bar
gaining and more stable relations
between management and labor;
to this end we propose amendment
of the Taft Hartley Act so that it
shall be fair to the public, to man.
agement and to labor.
Firm and courageous public
policies geared to the broad inter-
ests of the whole people are needed
not only to dispel fears of recession
but also to encourage private and
public actions directed toward eco
nomic expansion. We must not let
our efforts be limited to rear-guard
actions against depressions; in
stead, let us concentrate on posi-
tive programs designed to sustain
higher levels of national well-be-
ing.
''To be sure, there are signs of
slippage in the economy today. It
is no news to the farmers that the
upswing in economic activity is CIV
ing away to a downturn. Early in
1868, farmers were caught in a
triple squeeze of declining farm
prices, inflexible retail food prices
and continuing high prices of the
idustrial goods farmers must buy.
The farmer is still in that squeeze
with no practical remedy in sight.
"While full employment has pre-
vailed through most of the year,
now an ever increasing number of
workers feel the pinch of the down.
turn. Hours of work have been
sharply curtailed and earnings have
diminished as a result for those
who remain employed. Thus, by
November of 1853 real weekly
earnings of factory workers were
$1.9O less than they were in March.
MANY of the wage earners who
lost their jobs were women and
older persons who are now relying
on the support of other family
breadwinners. In these situations,
loss of a job by the remaining
family breadwinner will have a
more serious and multiple effect. A
fact to note in this connection is
that while unemployment remained
very low until October, yet be-
tween mid-October and mid-No-
vember some 100000 workers be-
came jobless. This quarter of a
million increase in unemployment
will undoubtedly be increased in
the next two or three months.
"The current business contradic-
ton can be reversed and the for
ward movement of the economy can
be re-acquired by setting up goals
for economic growth. BY way of
positive example, consider the
facts related to the construction in
dustry.
"Since 1850, our population has
increased by some SO per cent.
Since 1850, normal construction