The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-02-06
GOVERNMENT THAT CONDONES
LAWLESSNESS is LAWLESS

The 1lmeS-NeWS quotes rrdiih heil .
article printed in The Charlotte Observer
yesterday:
ITO frown upon such performance one does
not have to be pro-General Motors or anti-Lewis
Opposition to it does not involve opposition to col
leetiye bargaining. II does not mean hostility 10
shorter hours higher wages or child labor, or any
other proposal that may arise. Opposition TO the
sit-down strike, which in its essence Is dehance
of government would seem instructive In every De-
lever in law and order and compulsory IN every
public servant. 1t would seem that even those who'll
" sympathetic with Mr.. Lewis c. |. o., and who'll
" inimical to the so-called economic royasts as
a group, would regard the sit-down an illegiti-
mate and indefensible instrument the use OF when
could not be sanctioned or approved - an instru-
ment which raises issues that are basic and involves
threat that may become general. government
which countenanceS lawlesSness is not govern
ment at all
..But IN 10 date no one in this government has
raised his voice to say this publicly, though many
saw il privately-not a member of congress, not
the governor of Michigan, not the secretary of Ia
Dor. not Mr. Roosevelt himself. The reason is OBJ
vous and simple Organized labor is today in poll
tics to such an extent that any measure 1t proposes
receives support wholly out of proportion to ITS
merits; any to which it is opposed IS practically
doomed It's political power is exaggerated, but 1t
has succeeded through propaganda and aggressive
tactics in convincing men in elective office or who
want elective office, that it is very great.
From the White House down, politicians treat
labor leaders with tenderness and consideration
reserved for no one else. Practically immune from
criticism or investigation, they are the real DULLES
of politics. Failure of any public man to so much
as utter a syllable about their sitdown device is
due to political fear and to nothing else. News
papers pretty generally have denounced it and no
detached person has defended it. But from the
politicians from the administration, from the gov
ernnient which ought to be militantly aroused,
there is not squeak. The stage seems reached
where public officials are afraid to open their
mouths in protest against labor leader, no mat
ter what ne says or does for fear that some dema-
gogre will howl that they are for property rights
as opposed to human rights, or that they are for
the biabolical DuPonts or a member of the silly
Liberty League. To such stage of degradation
has american political life been brought by four
years Of propaganda and class appeal. II is humi-
atina to think that in neither party is there today
one anbullied man of power and prestige willing
to take hold of this sitdown issue and tell the peo-
pie the full truth about it. If there such
he might get response that would surprise him. ,"
No matter what may be any persons
opinions of the writings of Frank Kent,
every honest, law-abiding citizen who is
informed as to what is going on in this
country will be compelled to admit that he
told the truth in the foregoing article.
"a government which countenances law
lesshess is not government at all" asserts
Mr. Kent. That is the truth without quail
fication; nobody can successfully disprove
the statement; but the government OF
Michigan, directed by radical politician
named Murphy, and the supposedly great
government of the United States, directed
by the kingpin of radical politicians,
Franklin D. Roosevelt, have both counter
anced lawlessness in the General Motors
strike. The record is before the public.
The national government and the govern
ment of Michigan have not only counter
anced lawlessness; they have encouraged
and aided and abetted an insurrection in
Flint, Mich, organized and led by John
Lewis and his gang.
The Times-News, some days ago, went
into the merits of this case, showing how
the lso-called strikers in Flint forcibly took
possession of, and are continuing to hold,
property which does not belong to them
They have banded together and conspired
to violate the law of Michigan. and have
detied the decisions and orders of tn