Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-08
JOBS

| JOBS
Continued From First Page
ment" the Nations top domestic
problem.
He said the rally called by
the AFL-CIO executive council
is designed Ito breate a little of
the spirit of humanity into the
cold statistics of unemploy-
ment."
SCOTS at Claims
Soothing at administration
claims that last months 1877 900
decline in unemployment points
toward recovery, Mr.. Meany
quipped that "the sky is full
of blue birds, and everything is
going to be all right"
Demanding an end to com
placency" in the Government,
he said you can't eat sta
tistics."
Pointing up the pressure as
poets of the rally, Mr.. Meany
told the delegates to pass the
word at the grass roots and thus
spur "all the voters" to let their
Representatives in Congress
know" in clear unmistakable
language that they expect them
/ to do something" about unem-
ployment.
IF chronic unemployment at
high levels is permitted to go
on indefinitely" Mr.. Meany
warned, America courts the
risk of economic collapse and
impairment Of national Sc
curity."
He charged there is a grow
ing disposition in official circles
here in Washington to accept
the unemployment situation
as a necessary evil"
'fObsession" Seen
The administrations "obses-
sion" with fear of imitation
and the need to balance the
budget has stifled Government
programs to promote growth.
IMr. MeaAy said, accusing the
administration of "do-noth-
ing policy" A.
Estimates of the crowd at the
rally went as high as 1000.
The delegates sat at tables
bearing placardS identifying
the Is cities represented. The
Armory was festooned with
banners reading Get America
Back to Work" and similar
sentiments.
Delegates carried signs de-
manding strong action against
unemployment. "Act or Well
Be Back" one placard warned.
Mr.. Meany said labor's pro-
gram for Federal spending is
based on the principle of wise
investment, not wasteful
spending"
Mr.. Meany complained that
Secretary of Agriculture Ben
son is not doing enough to use
surplus food to aid needy I'M
employed workers.
Secretary Mitchell said "the
Government itself cannot, and
should not. provide jobs for all
the people" The Government,
he added, "can set the climate
for encouraging industrial ac-
tivity."
Citing administration pro-
poSals for aid to depressed
areas, construction of highways,
extension of unemployment
compensation coverage and
other programs, the Secretary
said, II am very proud to stand
on the record of GA million
jobs" and prospects for further
improvements.
He assured the delegates that
the administration has the
same goal-full employment
that the yare pressing.
Blames Congress
Mr.. Mitchell turned the
blame to Congress for several
shortcomings in economic pro-
grams, includin gaid for de-
pressed areas.
Mr.. Reuther warned the ad-
ministration that you can't
hide behind numbers" to con-
vince joblesS workers they are
well of.
He criticized President Eisen-
hover for playing golf and
going quail hunting instead of
solving economic problems. All
the talk about prosperity must
stem from the Presidents con-
sultation of former Secretary
of Treasury George M. Hum
phrey and other rich men, Mr..
Reuther said.
Demanding action to expand
purchasing power, the union
leader said I'VE know how to
make things. but not how to
distribute the things we make"
Only the Federal Government
can correct the ''imbalance" be-