Kurt Schumacher speaks to the ADBG
"First off i would like to thank the ADGB for inviting me to come speak in front of all of you. It's truly a great honor to be able to speak in front of all of you on the issues that speak to the country, the Freie Gewerkschaften and the working men and women that makes up both of those."
"It is no secret that the we live in times of great precariousness for our economy, for our citizens and for our Republic. Around 6 million of our citizens are unemployed, living in hunger, misery and pestilence due to the persistent refusal of the outgoing Chancellor Brüning to do anything but tightening credit and cutting wages. Not to mention that innocent citizens are the victims of attacks by SA and the Der Stalhelm on a weekly, if not daily basis."
"But there is an alternative to these things my friends. We can solve this period of economic misery by having government actually intervene in the economy. We can give at least give the Germans temporary work trough a public works program, we can ease the suffering by providing relief to our unemployed citizens, we can kick start the economy by injecting some money into it, and we can nationalize some industries to remove their profit motive to get more people employed. This part of the path of recovery for Germany, alongside the fulfillment of the Heidelberg Program."
"And wherever possible the ADBG should come out in force to protect the citizens of the Republic against the likes of the SA and Die Stalhelm. It should fulfill this role as a member of the Iron Front.
It should fulfill this role alongside the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold, whom i also urge to take part in protecting the citizens of this Republic. It's a precarious time for the Republic, so i urge the ADBG and all other organizations of the Iron Front to steel themselves against groups whose actions would seek to undermine the Republic."
"That is all."