◆ SpookStack

The neal for leglaletive and pollticei — tion crnu: *' ‘oo strongly phayita’ at this tice, ivery trace Union of oy, alice take: 9) a2uive interest in al) SOp98e loyislation. Up to this session of Con-rcsa the sers.r vere the most neglects | oo. * in 'vrdca from this viespoint. Thia caa be 7 edily under. tect vhen we look at son. 3% of the ovsviete lawa affecting us which are still un the stalul. books. i I have had it pointed out te me that just a little over a yerr aro I was op os to the seamen taking strong political action. Weli, 1 certainly was. Tt must be remembe 4 taoigh that at that time the seamen had taken very little economic action \with the exception of the Spring Strike) and economic action is necessary to any class of workers in order to fit them conscious of the necessity of political action. At lesst that has always been my theory. Teli, we have the necessary back-round now and are well experienced © to enter the political field, eso let us make the most of our opportunities. ‘y ¥ To show the need of such political action by us 4 will quote briefly here en . axtract Crom the radio address given by Congressman “enry G, Toize Farmer—vabor Jeprasentative from ifinnesote. Consressnan Tiogen in his speech ‘ptetod! "POLITICAL ACTION are on a 1 HZCESSARY" "it is apparent, I bulleve, that these industrial conflicts can unly be ended vhen the worsers thensolves are guarautued continuous saployment and tue ricvht to a decent Living at their orn hands, This will require coliective action on their part. It will not only require organization upon the economic field but wili require united action ~.litically as well. During the past few months the value of political action hes been demonatrated. In every cease =nere the rorkers acted intelligently «t the polls last ovexber, they “AVe received sone feir consideration at the hands of the officers of the law when they vent out on atrike. vere, oa the other hand, they follows. the sdviees of the capital Mite press to uta o + of olities, tiey were plucieoued end benten up by the Lirelinzgs * big businezs and the poiit tical state wien out on strixe., Perneps no bettcr ilius- tration of this treatment can be found taan tiat which took place in Chicaro plant of tae Republic Steel Corporetion on Memoricl Day, J tidink it tliustrates quite perfectly the sort of trestment that the workers are bound to receive wherever politial pover is iojiged in the nandz of labor's enemies. This appeei from a resl progressive member of the present Conzress should be stronr enough indication of the ection thet will be necescary for ous to take in the future. Jther Concressmen have rejuected that DT make this ay eal to ali the Delerates sere at our Convention. There is 5 sittle bond of proeressive Senators end Conrr.essen in the pre-sat AGninistr'tion who have the interest of labor at hesrt, bit mont of the tme tha 2EYe been firuting with their becks to the wall, and they ere 29 ontnuabered that o1ey cen wexe very little headway, So it is up to us who are gathered here ct thie convention (to mate it our business upon our return to the various orta from which “e came, to \ spread the ~ordthat a reater interest dn political sctlan is uc dee so baat wien neat rlection tine comes alon, we shal! be able to send many aure Prdruds dt 29Dar were Le etbers of our teeielative bodies. And l-t ua hope that 4:. yecr 1940 wlla see Labor ‘epresonted in Congress by a fieating majority, co that tae sork of tece Geib ong ce Irressmen who are acting now as rlonsvers for. the leber movement shall uot hav “a “4 vain, r ro :¥ ~r a - 40- bite ‘ », |