The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-23
BY WESTBROOK PEGL,rp

NEW YORK, Dec. q - In hi.
speech promising cooperation ~
works for national defense de,iS.
cred by air last Sunday, Willis
Green, president Of the Aneries"
Federation of Labor, said:
1--WE have no left wing or r;s,.
wing in the American Federstion
of Labor. We have no Comrnnn'
lists, Nazis or Fascists In position.
of influence in our movem.n,"
That is almost 100 per con-,
right, but, unfortunately, it nn,,
be said again that Mr.. Crew.
movement is infested with incorr,'
gible and dangerous crooks .rs
already has been guilty OF exnloit'
ing the national emergency to .v.
tort a vast amount # money from
American citizens engaged in ,h;.
vital job.
Now, is this a charge that -,
be dismissed as the hateful rant.
ing of a labor batter or union hu,t.
err without investigation? Is il nn.
important, If true1
Captives
What is this organization III.
claims the right to take toll ~
every man who drives a mi, ,,
turns a spadeful Of earth in IN.
preparation of military canton.
ments in a time Of emergency,
MIR. Green claims that h. spe,k,
for labor in the broad sense. ht
it is admitted that he speaks tr
only a little more than hal, n,
organized, or union, labor, and i
can be shown that of that mem.
bership Of which he boasts literally
thousands Of men are sullen, an.
CRY captives who Joined his unions
only because union rackete.ry
placed themselves astride III,
roads leading to the works and
made them pay.
l have tried to find some JUST.
fication, some excuse, for III.
greedy, cynical conduct Of Mr..
Green's organization. l have even
given consideration to the idea
that it might be better to say no.
thing about it for the time being
so that the work might get done
somehow. But this is wrong. II
these unions are allowed to get
away with this now as the price
of the cooperation Of a few lead.
ers, we shall concede them an Is.
tablished and recognized right tc
prey on the national emergency
at the expense Of the workmen.
This tribute does not return to tht
men in the form Of old.age pen.
sions, sick benefits or unemploy.
ment allowances. 1t goes into tt
union treasures, and the victims
soon finish their temporary tasks
and disappear.
The Boston Herald prints a let.
ter, similar to many which l have
received, bearing the name Of
man who represents himself as
graduate OF Massachusetts Inst.
tute of Technology. Applying fol-
work at Camp Edwards, he was
required to pay an initiation fee
of SIS to the New Bedford car.
penters' union-$25 down and the
balance in 30 days. Soon after he
had finished paying this tribute TO
a private organization for the
privilege of working on a govern.
ment defense project he was fired.
That made room for another suck
er.
There was no question asked
whether or not the applicant had
ever had any previous experience
as a carpenter" the letter said.
merely a terse question whether
he cared to risk paying his
money.
Beautiful Vacation
1.-THE last two and ohe.hal
weeks we all enjoyed a beautiful!
vacation for which you taxpayers
were paying us a cool $50 \ week
Oh, yes, should any casual report
er happen along he would discern
plenty of activity. Somebody was
always saving a bo'.rd, driving .
nail or shouldering a plank. | mao
several talks with other forernen
and they likewise reported thai
they did not know what to do WIN
their men except to advise them
to appear busy. The attic made .
very convenient habitat tor m'
known hundreds Of men. Il
THE pathetic waste OF time ana
money went hand in hand with INT
waste OF materials.
Lumber and nails were uear
ed as though worthless. In sp'"
Of the deplorably evident loss NJ
reprimand or caution or thre4'
was audibly uttered.
"A short time after I had palo
my union fee in full I was hanoea
a pink slip stating no -?use ls
discharge. Was it only a Gomez
dence that the majority OF the pun
slip receivers were handed me3'
after they had paid in full!
Do I believe this? OF course
do, knowing, as l do, thai
A. F.. Of L. reelected to Its exseu |
tive council only a short time ss1
a notorious Chicago gangster; us'
Joseph Padway, the attorney ssa
eral Of the organization, re'ainsu
his job in spite Of his c~ollaboraav.
with vicious criminals, when ~
will not dare deny, and that Nv
federation itself betrayed the 'sna
and file by refusing to lit a lr