Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-24
Union Chiefs.
Not Workers,
Hit U. S. Rule
Only Bosses Are Against
Supervision, Peeler Says
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

~ fD~f N'~'~>N''t y - u
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
I JUST don't believe that any
Il considerable number of Amer
lean citizens would object 10
legislation which would relieve
them of the obligation TO quit
their jobs in war industries at
the command OF union bosses
and compel the bosses 10 OBJ
serve the requirements Of ordi-
nary honesty and business prac-
tice in the administration OF
union funds
/ am convinced that the over
whelming majority of the people
of the United States would well
come the protection Of such
laws and OF further provisions
10 compel the observance of de-
cent election methods in all
votes on union representation
and on strike issues
The union bosses. themselves,
are almost alone IN their OBJ
lection 10 such measures for the
protection of The rank and file
and the defense Of the nation
and those statesmen of Con-
greSS and Of the administration
outside Congress who think
these bosses speak for their
membership are making grave
mistake
Labor could not suffer in any
imaginable way from such en-
-actmen1S and the benefit 10 the
nation in the prosecution Of The
war would he so obvious that II
need not he explained.
The union bosses are not all
necessarily selfish in their OPP
position.
Some Of course. are Surly die
tatorS. but the most cOnsplcucls
of these could be brushed into
retirement tomorrow by the
back Of the Presidents hand.
with no sacrifice Of the nights
of the miners.
OTHERS are just dumb. ic-
~ norant union politicians who
haven't the faintest appreciation
of the idealSm which should
animate the union movement
and are no more ~ for national
authority over big groups OF
workers than stupid alderman
IS 10 serve IN time Of war as
president of the United States
OF this latter and larger group
most undoubtedly feel that they
are patriotic. bat simply lack
the intelligence and imagination
10 appreciate their responsible
ties and 10 perceive that the old
union customs are now publicly
discovered for the first time and
dlSCredited
The argument that strikes
must on no account be forbid
den. even IN time Of deadly ma
tlOnal peril and in the inter-
eStS Of national security against
an enemy who would abolish
unlonlSm from the face OF the
earth is based on the freedom
OF men 10 work or not.
However the same people
who angrily present this argu-
ment contradict themselves IN
demanding thc-Iichi Ia exclude
mon from employment who re-
fuse 10 ION their union
And, moreover capital. which
* now being drafted right and
left and restricted IN It's activl-
ties IN the interest Of national
security. Is itself labor in the
very real sense that IL Is the
product OF the toll Of individual
men and women.
4 workers wages arc the re-
ward Of his labor and when they
arc invested IN ;he stock Of a
corporation they arc still the
reward Of his toll but. IN this
phase by some superstition
are widely regarded A. an evil
power and may be comman-
decrcd without any protest from
tho workers themselves or the
unionccrS
This is communicating labor
after II is done
NO TIME is a right time 70
~ clamp chains on the work.
crS 10 bind them 10 slave groups
under the rule Of union bosses.
but this has been done both by
Congress. IN the enactment Of
the Wagner Act and by The
supreme courts OF the nation and