The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-06-22
By J. srAcHEL

IN recent months the courts have become the
scene where much of the corruption and Gar
istic method in the ALL unions was brought to
light Part of the capitalist press particularly the
scripps- Howard press, devoted much space to
this question. The specific unions involved were
the international Union of Operating Engineers
the Motion Picture Operators, the Electrical
Workers Union the Iron. Workers and Sheet and
Metal Workers Union In the latter we saw how
the Labor Department through Secretary Doak
took a direct hand against the protesting groups
and for the ruling clique.
What is the meaning of all this? Why all the
noise about corruption in the ALL. unions? Is
1t not generally known for many years that there
has existed the greatest corruption in the ALL
unions? That millions of dollars are being pock-
eted by the leaders out of the treasures filled
from the dues and taxation of the membership?
Why all the excitement about the Czaristic and
autocratic rule of the bureaucrats? Why the
noise about the sudden discovery that the labor
leaders are allied with the bosses in every way
against the workers and for this work receive
direct brides, business partnerships ETC.? Have
not these facts been known for long time?
Has not this whole system of corruption graft
racketeering and arbitrary rule, the suppression
of the rights of the membership become the very
cornerstone of the policy of the ALL. unions?
Are the capitalist courts, the capitalist press
the capitalists and their government interested
IN protecting the interests of the rank and file
membership of the ALL?
Hammers Decision.
In order to answer some of the above ques-
tons, in order to understand the real aim of
all these exposures and Investigations in order
to grasp the menace to the workers that lies be-
hind it, it is worth while examining the recent
decision of Supreme Court Justice Ernest E. L.
Hammer against the officers of Local 1875 of the
International Union Of Operating Engineers In
this decision Justice Hammer states:
---.--r------.----z
weakened by internal dssentions the result
of well defined notions of official oppression,
the union and its members may become. a
ready prey of those pseudo labor groups who in
times of distress keenly active in attempts
to lead the workers away from those safe
moorings recognized in the expression of the
ideals of union men by the leaders past and
present of the American Federation of Labor
In these few words Justice Hammer has made
much quite clear 1t is the fear that pseudo
labor groups, meaning of course the red trade
unions, and the red oppositions in the ALL
unions will in the present situation of dis
tress" which means unemployment, wage cuts
ETC., be able to develop the struggle of the work
ers against the attacks of the bosses and thus
lead the workers away from those safe moor
ings (class collaboraton-J.S0" which are the
policies of Green, Vol g. Co. The capitalists
therefore, feel it quite urgent through these in
vestigations to accomplish the following tasks
Cleansing" the Unions
Ito remove from office some of the most
outstanding and already exposed grafters and
racketeers who in their zeal to personally profit
in their business union leaders, followed very
Loyalty the traditions of all good business men
and tried to make as much profit as they could
and who have already pocketed plenty, but who
are already so exposed that they become men
ace to the capitalists in further maintaining the
class collaboration policy in these unions against
the interests of the membership.
ITO lay the precedent for the courts to step
in and make decisions against the rank and file
wherever the workers overthrow their corrupt