The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-21

American, by a 4-to-1 vote, chose
to be represented by company
sponsored unions"
This refers to the new A. F. of
L. editorial union Of Americans
who want collective bargaining
power without communist control.
Terrible Experience
The communists took the Chi
cago Hearst people through a ter
rlble experience which resulted
in the premature destruction of
hundreds of jobs and a hearty de-
nunciation of the guild by the men
OF the A. F. of l.. crafts, Who also
lost their jobs when the old Herald
Examiner went out of business.
AS to the guilds responsibility
for the papers demise the guild
has taken two positions. The Her
ald-Examiner was shaky anyway,
but during the long strike and boy
colt of the papers advertisers the
guild jubilantly boosted of the de-
cline Of its advertising lineage and
revenue. But when the paper blew
up the guild sensed the wrath of
those whose field of employment
had been finally and totally closed.
The guild then disclaimed respon-
sibility for this personal calamity
to so many men and their families.
I'm New York" says the docu-
ment, 'the situation may become
equally serious. Signs of disaffec-
ton r. already making them
selves felt in such units as, the
Times and Mirror, where a small
minority of employees are at
tempting to organize A. F. of l..
editorial unions"
That is correct, except that on
these two papers the A. F. of L.
movement is much stronger than
the phrase "a small minority
would suggest. The Americans are
mad over the harassment, spying,
conniving and arrogance of tn e
Moscow group and are quitting in
such numbers as to discredit the
guilds claim that 1t is the bargain
ing agent Of the editorial workers.
The circular from which 1 am
quoting, beyond admitting that the
communists have brought about a
crisis, appeals to the American
members to attend meetings reg
ul~arly-which, of course, they will
not do-and to compel American
delegates to the representative as
sembly to attend meetings of that
body. It is in the representative
assembly that the Muscovites get
in their dirty work.
LAS a result (the failure OF
American delegates to attend the
r. A. actions ha e sometimes
been taken which we believe ale
unrepresentative of the sentiment
of the membership and prejudiclal
to the guild" the appeal says.
The document then reveals chat
the notices of the r. A. meeting at
which CONSUMPTION was to be lou-
sidered did not announce that this
question was on the agenda. Con-
sequnetly the communists were
able to put over a condemnation
of CONSUMPTION by a majority Of a
meeting attended by only one third
of the delegates. The communist
party line, of course, opposes con
scription and all preparations for
national defense.
Although the appeal does not
mention communism and commu-
nists, n of the men wns signed it
frankly says that they are the
enemy within the guild, against
whom this cry of alarm has been
sounded. The guild suffered It's
worst blow in Memphis, when, in a
parliamentary and political test,
the communists outsmarted the
Americans to re-elect the commu-
mist control tentered in New York
and. defeat a resolution against
communism. However, the Mus
covites have grown too big for
their britches, because ,he Arncri-
cans who haven't quit nov realize
that if they don't re: ipture CT.
troll they. too, will haye to get
out. l