Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-17
British Keep
Freedom
Debate
American Opinion Differs,
on Wagner Act \
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

L served their freedom of ,
debate and discussion under
very dangerous conditions in
the face of the enemy without
impairing their unity
Their criminal courts still
operate and their jailerS con-.
tinue TO do business at their
old stands.
ff--r--wftf- rio-tf1r
same. because : we are more
emotional than the British and
some Of the disputes which
would carry over into the period
o. actual war as unfinished busi-
ness have been conducted in
very angry spirit.
We certainly were not united
in our opinion Of the Wagner
Act and the closed shop a week
ago when Japan attacked Pearl
HarbOr and tho attack cannot
be said 10 have settled the is
Sues Mhlch-MeFe fundamental
Questions of American freedom.
If they are 10 be regarded az
finally settled in favor OF a very
few professional union politi-
clans and the few true-bclicving
but mistaken union members. n
Scant 100000 of them, who
support these men
In that case. these few politi-
clans and this tiny following OF
actual toilcrS will have imposed
the viii Of small minority on
a nation Of 100000 people.
This feat would he almost
identical with the which often
occuIS in store or plant which
Is IN process of being organ
l2cd by professional unioneers.
many Of whom are mere
bounty-hunters. paid by the
scalp, 50 10 speak 50 much for
every member who is induced or
compelled 10 ioIn.
In the store. or plant, a
minority arc worked on nv
tho organizer and presently
apply for recognition as "A bar.
gaming agency
JUST As the TWO big national
- organizations now clam mem
hcrShip OF 10000 600. which IS a
false figure Tho store or shop
minority may oNacgcrate its
strength but regardless of its
lntcUQrltN lp- numbers NAV
<Strtkc The enterprise 10 compel
the majority 10 JON and, by CON
Npiracy with other UNIONS. pre-
Vent the execution Of the com
pany business.
So tho non joncrS soon face
tnc alternatives Of Joining or
losing their Jobs and not only
that but having ioined. they
must continue IA good standing
IN The union. As long as they live.
! have studied tho Wagner
Act much Other legislation and
many court decisions and I am
convinced that II The system
which ha, horn imposed by this
movement Is made permanent,
We shall emerge from this war
on Hitleri>m with labor system
differing from IIltIers own only
IN TRIVIAL details
Yet from tho other side Of the
argument the answer is never
one Of intelligence or reason but
invariably a cry Of antl-labor"
or labor batter and this from
aqhcrcnt~ OF organizations who
have themselves in their union
fights condemned their oppo-
ncntS "a, d.Ctalor> trIckSterS and
uncon,couabic mefccnarlcs.
ME pending Smith bill is not
L remedy a. ALL for it evades
the fundamental question Of the
citizen = right 10 work and deals
"Nclledly with strikes in the war
industries.
But this and similar proposals
all dealing with war industry.
strikes have been allowed 10
obscure tho threat. indeed the
establishment already. Of dicta-
torlal political controls over
American workers which. after
the war. would impose the first
and most binding element OF
HitleriSm.
To the sincerity Of genuine
liberals and many union bosses
] address no challenge. hut their
power Of analysis. their fore
sight and their intelligence I
seriously doubt
They arc often abusive in do
bate and always intolerant and
they viii now add 10 tho old CRY
Of "anti-labor' the new taunt OF
"dISputcr
But If their program becomes
tho permanent way the Ameri-
can republic viii become Some
thing else wherein the rights
and dignity Of human person
alltv mentioned nv Frances
Perkins will be abolished in the
name OF freedom
Copyrighted hy United Features synd Inc
25 YEARS AGO TODAY
Dec. II, 1916