Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-23
Model Defense Bills
Are Threat 10 Labor,
.C.I. Head Warns
Asks Members to Oppose
Sabotage Prevention,
Stote Guard Measures

Warning that they might readily
lend themselves ito suppression of
the rights of labor and the freedom
of American people" Philip Murray,
president of the C. I. O., has called
on members of the c. I. o. and its
affiates to oppose passage of mod
eli sabotage prevention and State
guard bills prepared by the Con-
ference ON Law Enforcement Prob
lens in National Defense for sub
mission to the legislatures of the
48 States.
In a letter to C. I. o. affiliates
he declared that the two bills, while
ostensibly directed against sabotage
and designed to set up home guards.
are aimed at labor's right to assem-
BILE, picket and strike.
The sabotage bill, Mr.. Murray
pointed out, would punish by 10
years Imprisonment any one inter-
fering with defense production, or
allowing defective materials to pass,
and would permit local authorities
to put streets and highways near
industrial plants under martial law.
Could Be Used Against Strikes.
The sabotage provisions of the
bill are of such a nature that they
could readily be used to suppress
strikes, or other union activities
to improve wages, hours or work.
ing conditions" he declared. RE
dictionary local authorities would try
to invoke the penalties of this bill
on the ground that labor union &C
ton resulted in interference with
nation defense production. The
provision dealing with the closing
of the streets would be a simple
weapon for denying organizers &C
cess to plants, and it would de-
stroy the right to the use of the
streets for the exercise of civil
liberties, a fundamental right that
has been affirmed and protected
by recent Supreme Court decisions.
Labor believes in preventing and
Furnishing sabotage in national de-
tense. But this is a matter for the
Federal authorities. AS a matter
of fact, a Federal law recently has
been passed covering the subject.
Moreover, the United States At
torney General already has in
dicated that the Government will
seek amendments to this Federal
law to afford complete protection.
In view of this Federal legislation,
any proposed State legislation at
the present time Is entirely unneces-
sary, and carries with it serious
danger that will do more harm than
good"
Simple Enabling Act.
The model State home guard bill
also could be used to deny labor its
right of freedom of expression and
action, Mr.. Murray charged.
THE proposed bill would authorize
the States to set up State guards
to take the place of the National
Guard, that his been called into
Federal service" he said. "A simple
enabling act for this purpose is I'M
doubleday necessary. However the
proposed bill leaves these State
guard units completely free from
any civil responsibility for their acts,
making them subject to military law
only. This section of the law should
be stricken. In its place there
should be provisions protecting the
rights of the workers and the COM
munity at large against any lawless
action by the State guard units
Such provisions should not only
prohibit private gifts or donations
of any kind, but also require the
State guard to keep a record of its
activities when in service, in order
to fix responsibility. In addition
there should also be provision pro-
hibiting the State guard from vio-
lating any constitutional and civil
rights, or suspending the writ OF
habeas corpus, unless martial law
/ is declared" Mr.. Murray declared.