The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1941-05-29
Can Soldiers Refuse
UniOn-Made Goods ?

A letter addressed to the President
by the father of selectee as printed
In Coatsville (Pa.) Record, sheds a
powerful light on a very bad condi-
ton of affairs that is constantly get
ting worse. Against part of this bad
condition we should have learned to
guard, from the experience of the
first World War. The other part is
an evil which in its aggravating form
Is, something new to us. The letter
is too good-too true and impressive
mot to be reprinted: -,
Dear Mr.. President: I listened to
you the other night when you told
us that in order to protect Democ-
racy we must make sacrifices, and I
believed every word of it. Most of
my friends believed it, to, but a lot
OF the boys in the army are asking
questions. rae.. ..s. -:
MY son is making sacrifice. He
mad job that paid $50 a week and
he is now getting $21 per month as
selectlve service soldier. I and all
members of my family are making
a sacrifice, too, because this son
contributed large part of his wages
to help support his younger brothers
ana sisters. My own income is not
nearly as great as was his, so you
can see that all of us are making a
sacrifice. All of us do this gladly.
The chap who now has nv sons
old job Is joining with a group which
demands a wage boost of Is percent.
II they got it, the wage INCREASE
alone would be about double what |
my son is getting in the army. But
he was satisfied. He worked for a |
corporation and believed he was he.
Ing treated fairly. I recently read
the annual report of this same cor
porataon and discovered that if en-
ployees last year had received o.
per cent more in wages, there
wouldn't have been anything for the
stockholders. Is it your idea that the /
corporation stockholders. soldiers
and their families shall make all tha
sacrifice? Is that chap who got INV
sons job making the kind of sacri-
flee you are talking about? - ~
And another thing about which
the fathers and mothers are talking
Is the system now in effect which /
seems to promote the idea that if a
man does not wish to Join a union
ne can starve to death I believe that II
man has a right to belong to a II
union II he so desires, and I am
willing to fight to defend that RIGHT
But also believe that a man has a
right to stay out of a union if that II
oe ms wish, and that the govern
ment should defend that right. ii
When CLIO. and A, F.: of L. mem
oers Will not handle material made
oy each other; when both organiza-
lions refuse to handle material made
oy non-union labor, is the govern III
ment promoting Democracy by let H
Ting them get away with it? IF we
nave a Democracy, why are not men
free to work without interference nv
other men?
The boys in the army are wonder
ing whether it might not be a good
!oea Tor them to refuse to sleep in a
unlon-made tent, carry a union
mace gun or fire union-made am
munitlon: Would they be protected
ay you intthe same way you are pro-
letting men who won't handle anv
lon-union materials?
don't believe you know these
Things; Mr.. President, and it is be-
cause think you should know them
hat I am addressing this public let
'er to you. If have the wrong idea.
md these other people who believe
Is I do have the wrong idea, won't
'ou set us straight? If we happen to-
se right, won't you do something to
traighten out the mess?