The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-19

For more than a quarter OF CEN
fury I have had more or less
lately less--aSsociation with the
workers movement. For many OF
the men In ofiicial union positions
I have nothing but the most UNI
qualified respect both for their
unselfish devotion TO the men and
women with whose welfare they
are concerned and for their nm
touchable honesty. / know others,
too many In fact, who could be
hanged to the handiest larnp-post
with no loss OF reputation to
themselves but with inestimablc
good to those, worker and en-
ployer alike. upon whom they
bring TO bear all the viciousness
OF the stick-up man, the thief,
and the lowest type OF criminal.
! have no doubt about the essen
tial youndness and value 10 the
life OF the masses OF the labor
movement ~ such. have also no
decisions about the stupidity OF
some OF Its leaders or about the
crookedness Of others who batten
on the gullibility Of and trade
upon their membership. BY the
same token I have neither de-
lug!ons nor doubts about the I'M
scrupulous tactics, the un-Chris-
tan as well as n-Amcrican prac-
tices, and the complete disregard
for Justice and charity which OBJ
sess the great employers OF labor
In this country. Crooks, double
dealers. and hypocrjtes there are in
the ranks OF union leadership.
Thcse men would have been just
the same II they had been lawyers
or doctors, business men or indus
trialists. But for the most power
full section OF the banking, indus-
trial, and financial world to throw
the accusation Of crookedness,
double-dealing, hypocrisy, and
violation of the laws Of God and
man at labor leaders comes under
the head of the pot calling atten-
ton TO the blackness OF the ket-
tie. The frightful exposures OF
financial and industrial robbery
which we have seen during the
past four years, and the con-
temptuous disregard for common
business decency which the In
vestigation now being conducted
by the United States senatorial
committee on Interstate Com
merce has disclosed In the Van
Sweringen railroad skulduggery
would indicate that II certain Ia
Dor union Leadership has been
pretty dirty, 1t is as white as
freshly fallen snow In comparison
with the acts OF some employers
who by reason Of superior educa-
ton, position and environment
should know and do better.
Background
Because OF the attitude OF mind
and perhaps prejudices--devel-
oped by my association with the
labor movement have RETAINED
from writing anything at all about
the strike In the automobile m
dustry. But without any intent 10
set myself up as a Soothsayer
could see what was going to hap
pen and what has happened. II
the leaders OF the motor car
workers were arrogant 90 the
bosses OF General Motors were in
credibly dumb. The first reply
made TO a request made by the
U. A. w. for conference with
the corporation was answered ny
Mr.. Knudsen. the vice-president,
who said that any collective bar
gaining done must be with the ex-
ecutiyes OF the local plants who
had full authority TO deal with
controversial matters. That an
swer was not only untrue. as sub
sequent developments have indis-
putably demonstrated, but II was
useless 80 far as fooling the union
leaders or misleading the reading
public. Mr.. Alfred r. Sloan, Jr,
head OF General Motors, and for
mer bright light Of the duPonts
Liberty League, made that quite
clear on January 5th when he Is
sued his first statement 10 the
a. M. workers and simultaneous
". a fuli-page advertisement In
Tie leading newspapers OF the
country. Incidentally he made a
liar out OF his vice-president. Mr..
Knudson. Admitting that every
thing Mr.. Sloan said In ms procla-
nation " true:--that the wages
paid by General Motors are very
high, that the labor leaders are
liars from he'll and the truth Is NOT
In them, that the producB OF
General Motors were never IN sucn
demand, that the sit-down stFike
was causing intolerable loss 70 tne
wage-earners. their families ana
the general public, etc, etc. Wnas
does 1t proven Mr.. Sloan Ignored
the issue OF dealing with tne 10
cal managers OF General MOLOrb