The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-01-05
EDITORIAL PAGE

writes editorially. The unions protest was
properly heard. 1t should have been taken
into account, But certainly the commissioner
should not have overlooked the fact that a
labor union. after all. is a special interest and
that it is sometimes more concerned with dis
playing its power than with promoting the gen
eral good.
Such an assertion deserves analysis. 1t is
good to note that the condescending BAIT.
MORE SUN agrees that the unions protest
should have been heard. Ii admits that the
protest was properly heard" When it comes
to asserting that the commissioner should not
have overlooked the fact that labor union.
after all. is special interest. the paper
assumes something that is not in the record.
We will grant that the labor union does
represent the special interests of thousands of
employed and unemployed American shoe
workers whose livelihood and existence is be-
ing definitely threatened by the foreign Bat a
interests whose employment horizon is proven
ly limited to the employment of young, mex
perenced and docile children just out of high
school,
There are other special interests in this case
of which the SUN seems either blissfuly un-
aware or content to leave unmentioned. They
the special interests of the Tydngs law
firm. which is willing to go to great lengths to
maintain the status quo and the patronage of
the shoe firm. Jan Bata may be new to these
shores but he has quickly become accustomed
to the corporation practice Of taking legal
work to the law firm of the most powerful and
influential politician in the community where a
business is to be established.
A partner of the Tydings law firm is the
legal counsel of the Bat'a Shoe Company. The
proceedings to obtain visas for the admission
OF the Czech instructors was repeatedly ham
died by Senator Tydings himself The Clio
shoe workers union has charged that the visas
were obtained fraudulently. and the SUN says
their protest was properly heard! We leave
the general public to imagine whether the
Tydngs law firm procedure in the Bat a Shoe
Company is dictated by the desire for pro-
noting the general good TO which the SUN
refers or whether it is dictated by the special
interests OF the finances and trade Of the law
firm of Tydings, Archer. Levy. etc, etc. etc.
etc?
We ask the SUN papers If the special inter
est OF the shoe workers of America are not
paramount to those of the law firm already
mentioned2
The Evening Sun should know that the
promise of the United States Government is
not being broken when it rescnds privileges
which were fraudulently obtained.
Already there are many stories cmanating
from the Belcamp plant on labor conditions
apeed up and general unsafe working eond-
lions. Accidents have happened. Already
there are reports of the Recommendation of
labor and the benevolent despotsm which is
the general objective of the Bat'a Shoe Com
pany. We know the history of anti-unionism
Of the company. The shoe union has full
history of the manner in which only the young
can obtain work and how such work lasts only
until the first flush of youthful high production
is sweated out OF young bodies. Perhaps the
SUN papers will be interested in publishing
he report in its columns??2?
We in Cumberland know the benefits which
come to concerns which hire political Office
holders as their attorneys. The Republic Steel
Corporation has the Cumberland City Solicitor
Heskett as its local legal aid and hasn't paid its
due and owing City taxes for couple of
yearsl
If this is not pandering to special interests
at the expense of the general good, then we
stand to be enlightened
All organized labor and all those who have
the general good at heart should be grateful
for the decision which has been made in the
Bate Shoe Company case. II is a reassuring
sign that the interests of the people are becom-
ing paramount to those of unprincipled poll
ticians.
Let us be thankful for Clio interests in the