Evening star., 1937-06-29

leadership and accountability for
funds used, the searchlight of public
scrutiny might we'll be turned on just
how some of the c. l. o. unions are
winning their So-called victories"
which the headlines tell about as
elections" are held
The other day headline in New
York paper proclaimed: &C. 1. o.
union wins bus company vote Trans
port workers get right to bargain,
l,249 to 356."
Letter Tells.
Back Of that election is an interest
ing story which is no doubt duplicated
in many another election Before the
poll was taken among the bus COM
pany employees, this correspondent re-
ceived letter which speaks for itself
in describing what happens before
c. I. O. "election":
My father started to write letter
to you, but asked me to do it for him.
So here goes: My father was motor
man for several years in New York
and when buses came in he went to
. school of the company and now
drives bus He never had any trou-
bic because he isn't the sort of man
who makes any.
The men Who are getting up the
Transport Workers Union. which is
called c. 1. O.. are chasing him and
calling him scab after all these
years.
The thing is that my father and
his family are just barely getting by
good after lots of trouble, They're
asking him fand threatening him, too
every day. because he hates to sign
constitution, bylaws or rules yet, and
you can't tell what it is going to cost
to go in or stay in, or whether thereu
be any sick benefits or death benefits
or anything. (He's been sick twice in
recent years and got good benefits
right away from the employees asso-
citation of the company, and they
loaned him money last year and have
treated him good)
Vaxueness Answers Query.
Now these organizers for the
Transport Workers Union are always
talking about knocking OF the COM
pany, and. although nobody ever saw
them before. they are calling some
of the best men and drivers Of the
company lousy scabs' and are Just
doing everything their own way.
When my father, right here in
our house. wanted to have some idea
whether there would be death benefits
or sick benefits. or when or whether
the money collected would just be
used to make strikes in other places,
and how much he would have to pay
to get in and for dues aftervard, they
said: What's it to you, felloW?' My
mother tainted away. Shed been sick,
anyway.
we all think it's terrible, and so
do about 10 or II other families Of
fine men who have been with the
company a hong time. They all say
that men Of the Transport Union in
New York did not know how much
it was going to charge or what it was
going to give the men.
Talk In Whispers.
''The other night some old employees
of the company called at our house
to talk over what to do. They have
been coming here for years and, still
and all, they were talking in whispers.
scared to death to talk over their
own business. Three of them said
they would never sign for something
they knew nothing about, even if they
were killed.
Maybe you already have heard all
this. but mother said it might be
news to you. Please do not even use
my initials in discussing it,
Small wonder that the c. I. o. wins
elections, it will be said, and yet if
the union leaders deny this kind of
Intimidation and coercion exists, then
why, it viii be asked by innocent by