Evening star., 1937-06-27
Postal Tradition Fades
"Cnoosing Fight

/ Of youngstown. Ohio. as to what kind
Of packages would pass through the
picket lines and what kind would not
pass. 1t was agreed that all regular
mail would 60 through. but packages
containing clothes and foodstuf1s
would not, as they were irregular. The
action taken during the situation was
to maintain peace and order and that
We have accomplished.
In view of the dispute as to whether
there was any agreement between
mony before the committee of Fred w.
Justus, postmaster at Massillon, Ohio,
also is significant.
Justus said his post Office required
| that the contents of all packages be
noted on the cover for the conven-
ience OF carriers in case they should
be stopped by pickets.
However" he added "a box Of
candy slipped through and in less than
an hour the head of the local c. l. O..
union called me up and protested the
betrayal of the agreement
In addition to the alleged irregu-
larity OF mail shipments of food and
clothing. the postal officials have ad-
vanced two other reasons in support
of their refusal to make such deliv-
cries.
| The first Is that the steel officials,
in seeking to mail food and clothing
into the plant, have been motivated
by desire to bring the Post Ofice
Department into the picture as =
strike-breaking agency.
| The other is that an attempt to
deliver food and clothing might re-
suit in violence, with consequent In
Jury to postal employees. AS Deputy
First Assistant Postmaster General
Jesse NJ Donaldson put it, "it
wouldn't be beneficial to the strikers
or any one else II a mail employe
should be killed while delivering
mail"
Undoubtedly. there is truth In the
assertion by Farley and Hoves that
the shipment Of food and clothing
to non-strikers through the mails
would tend to break the strike. This
puts Mr.. Farley in an embarrassing
position. in view Of the past rela-
tions Of the Democratic party with
John L. Lewis Regardless Of the
motives Of the steel executives. Far.
ley would be placed, incidentally, ir
the role Of strikebreaker, If he In.
sisted that all mail not barred By
specific statutes must 60 through.
Now that Farley has made 1t cleal
that he Is not going to be placed II
any such position, however, another
question arises. What about the stee
executives and their non-striking EN-.
ployes? Does the refusal to deliver
food and clothing through the mail
align the Post Once Department will
the strikers and against the on-strik
ers? Has Mr.. Farley, in effect, be
come member Of the picket line?
Question Of Duty Arises.
These are questions that can b,
answered only by fair and impartia
finding as to whether there was an!
duty or obligation on the part o
the Post Once Department, undel
existing law, to make deliveries o
food and clothing intrusted to thl
mails for shipment to the non-strik
ers.
II there was such duty, the de-
partment has acted improperly IL
refusing to make the deliveries ant
should have made an effort to sen.
packages Of food and clothing through
regardless of the effect on the friend
ship between the Democratic Donke
and the c. I. O.
The Republic Steel Corp. alread,
has filed suit In the United States Dis
trict Court here to compel the posta
! officials to make the deliveries an
Nh. Farley has answered With "a -