Evening star., 1936-07-05
G-MEN ENLISTED
TO GUARD P|CKETS
More Men and Money Held
Needed to End Shipping
of Strike Breakers.
BY REX COLLIER.

BY REX COLLIER.
Department Of Justice officials are
studying with some concern a little.
publicized act. rushed through Con.
gress during its final days, which ex-
tends G-Man protection to strike
picketers and union organizers.
The statute, entitled IAN act max
ing it felony to transport in inter-
state or foreign commerce persons tc
be employed to obstruct or interfere
with the right of peaceful picketine
during labor controversies" definitely
algns the Department Of Justice with
labor unions and against employers
in strikes having interstate angles.
Government authorities in the past
have striven to avoid any show OF
partisanship in labor disputes In
his role as unbiased mediator, Uncle
Sam has been accorded the con.
fidence of both sides in recurring
struggles between the working man
and his bosses.
Additional Men Needed.
Chief concern of the Department
of Justice arises not because of this
seeming change in Government policy,
but because OF failure Of Congress to
provide funds and additional G-Men
to enforce the act. The Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation. after much de-
bate on the hill, was authorized to add
200 special agents during this fiscal
year-but even this increment Is in
SUFFICIENT to keep abreast Of current
work.
The law was drafted by the House
Judiciary Committee after testimony
regarding efforts of imported strike.
breakers to interfere with picketing OF
industrial plants by striking worwkers
1t was inspired by an article, 81
Break Strikes" relating activities OF
Pearl Bergoff, professional strike
breaker, in supplying laid" to employ
ers whose factories are closed by
strikes.
Representative Sirovich. Democrat
Of New York told the House during
brief debate that the bill provides
against the interstate transportation
of strikebreakers, anarchists and
crooks that are sent in to destroy"
striking employees.
Wide implications in Bill.
Representative Miller, Democrat, of
Arkansas. who sponsored the bill In
the House, differed with Sirovich as
to exact scope Of the measure. Miller
expressed the opinion on the floor that
the bill would not prevent importation
of "scab" workers by owners of a
plant whose regular employees are on
strike, He said only persons imported
from outside State TO interfere with
the right of peaceful picketing" would
be affected.
The bill. as passed and signed by
the President. however. applies not
only to picketing interference, but to
efforts Ito obstruct or interfere. in
any manner" with the right of or
ganization for the purpose Of collective
bargaining" Department Of Justice
lawyers believe this wording may have
very wide implications-tust how wide
the courts may have to determine.
The act provides that whoever
shall knowingly transport or cause
to be transported, or aid or abet in
transporting in interstate or foreign
commerce, any person with intent to
employ such person" for the specified
obstructionist purposes shall be
deemed guilty of a felony and shall
be punishable by fine not exceeding
$4,000. or by Imprisonment not ex-
ceeding two years, or both, in the dis
cretion of the court"
Blanton Opposed Bill.
Representative Blanton. Democrat
of Texas. vigorously opposed passage
of the bill, contending there is nc
such thing as peaceful picketing" and
citing instances where "so-called
peaceful picketers had taken brick
bats and broken out the windows OF
factory"
And when the factory owners tried
to get people to work" Blanton de-
clared, these peaceful picketers would
catch them and beat them nearly to
death. That was peaceful picketing
They beat them nearly to death-as
they did here in Washington when we
were building the new Supreme Court
Building; they sent automobile loads
of thugs up there and took men of
their jobs and beat them up because
they wanted to work and would not
join the union"
In reply, Representative Marcan-
tonic, Democrat. of New York, asserted
there have been organized through
out the country professional strike
breakers. many of them with long
criminal records-racketeers of the
worst sort" He said they are trans
ported from State to State and taken
into strike centers.
Who is most likely to cause dis
order, violate the law and do shoot
ing?" Marcantonio inquired. THE
honest worker who Is out on strike
trying to get decent livelihood, or