Montana labor news., 1936-08-06
LEWIS CONDEMNS
SEDITION LAWS
(FP Cartoon by Redfield)

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the United Mine Workers and chair
man OF the Committee for Industrial
Organization, writing in the special
Trade Union number of THE FIGHT,
monthly publication Of the American
League Against War and Fascism, de-
clares that the same forces that are
trying to stifle free speech and a free
press are. behind the terror and spy
system against workers and worker
organizations. THE hope Of labor, the
opportunity for its betterment, lies lar
gely in its right to an open forum, a
forum where it can present from every
viewpoint its problems and their pro-
posed solutions" he writes.
THE criminal laws that are now in
force cover conspiracy between two or
more persons to overthrow the govern
ment or commit an offense against it.
In bills like Senate Resolution 2253,
ostensibly to protect the armed forces
of the nation from disaffection, and
in House Resolution 6427, there is a
link with the predatory or sedition laws
that stifle speech, breed spies, estab-
fish the terrorism incident to uncertain
ty and increase the resources of those
who regard strikes and industrial re-
volt in themselves as a form Of trea-
son.
1T may seem strange to some, who
perhaps have not closely followed the
trend of the labor movement and its
manifold activities, to find that the
house Of labor is engaged in battle
and contention on what appears to be
a formula for the organization of the
unorganized. And yet, mr. Lewis
goes on to say" the implications Of
that formula run very deep, and in
truth enter into the consciousness and
the ultimate economic destiny Of every
American. Because upon that form
ula depend the issues of whether the
workers in America are going to be
content to remain substantially in their
present status, with small, compact fed
Grafton OF labor, representing ten per
cent Of the workers of this country
engaged in industry or whether the
workers of America are going to have
something to say in the future as to
their economic destiny and the des-
TIMES OF this republic of ours
"Whereas there are approximately
ten per cent Of the workers in indus
try organized, the record is that there
are ninety per cent yet unorganized
and subject to continuous exploitation
by every hostile and adverse interest
that selfishly seeks to exploit them.
This Trade Union number OF THE,
FIGHT also contains an article, "Iies
and Allies" by A. F. Whitney, presi-
dent of the Railroad Trainmen, who
calls "for a patriotism which will save
this great republic from perishing on
the rocks OF militarism and imperial
ism" Mr.. Whitney declares, 81 be-
lieve one of the most effective peace
proposals would be to give the people
the sole right to declare war. If only
those who had to endure the extreme
sacrifice of war had the authority to
declare it, there would be far less dis
position to resort to war as an instru-
ment OF national policy"
Jonathan Eddy, executive secretary
OF the American Newspaper Guild,
writing on paid With By-lines," as
serts that glory won't buy baby shoes.
He tells about the organization OF the
newspapermen's union and its fight for
decent pay. The American N~ewspap-
er Guild at the present time has on its
hands one of the most important strug-
giles in the American labor movement
since the great steel strike OF 1919.
In its strike at the plant OF the Wis
consin News in Milwaukee it is pitt
ing its strength and the power OF the
entire labor movement against Hearst.
This number Of THE FIGHT also
includes among many other articles one
by a munitions worker, an article by
Morris Kamman, LAB or Cracks
Down" the story of the Pullman
strike by Leslie Reade; "In Hitler
Land" a first-hand report by a man
who has been there; THE FIGHTS
regular departments, Radio, Movies,
Books and Wall Street, and drawings
by Hoff Cover, Glintenkamp, Loco
wick, Limbach, Alexander, Gellert,
Wolfe and Kruckman.