The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-07
HRS. CHARLOTTE ROOT

thpHSIleu peyouQ QueSLlOu IEle prlA" ciple that unions are just as respon- sible for their actions as MT. Blans- field pretendg he wants to have them; and incorporation would make them no more responsible.
 Incorporation of unions would not make them more responsible, as MT, Blansheld well knows; but it would make them more vulnerable to every company agent planted in the ranks of the membership. When 8 union Is incorporated 1t is very simple for any paid dlsrupter who Is member to get Q court order tying up the or ganizatlon's treasury pending an ac- counting of the funds. This could be done at Q time when the unions funds were most needed; as for ex- ample when company stalling or re- fusal to bargain makes strike action necessary.
 Sabotage
 Tn this connection, 1t is amusing to have MT. Blansheld say, in his most clustering manner, that "the old cry of employer sabotage of unions has long been disproved." Dsproved by whom, my dear sen- ator? Quite to the contrary, more than Q dozen volumes of testimony compiled by the United States Sem ate committee, headed by Senator LaFollette in the last four years, proves conclusively that millions of dollars have been spent every year by all kinds Of corporations to sab. otage and destroy legitimate labor unions organized by their own en- ployeS. il
 Compulsory incorporation would make the job of union-busting much easier for paid company agents, and that is the real reason why every labor hating reactlonary in the country cries aloud for such iegis- lation. But instead of revealing the real purpose of his measure, MT. Blansfleld lnasqueradeS In the guise of Q friend of labor, who wants to see that the rank and file of the unions are protected against un- authorized expenditures by their leaders. While not daring to name any union in particular, or any union officer, MT. Blansfield makes the unqualified statement that "the executives in command" of labor have concealed in every way pos- sible, it's income and disbursements, until the membership of the unions are now aroused to the point when inquiry must and will be had, etc."
 False Charges
 Now the only unions of which I have intimate knowledge are c. I. o. organizations, which are based on the democratic principle that the union membership is "in com- mand" by the rule of majority. And insofar as MT. Blansfield meant his remarks to apply to the union of which. am an officer, and for whose funds I am responsible, our membership knows his charges to be false.
 The membership of our union get every month complete report of all receipts and disbursements, at a business meeting open to all members. Every item of salary or expense is subject to the approval of the union membership, by ma- jority vote. The books and accounts of the union are examined regular ly by board of trustees elected by the membership; and in addition, the books are audited by certified l public accountant.
 At this moment, Louis Gancher, a Waterbury certified public &C., countant, is preparing detailed re- port on his audit of the books of our union for the last IS months, a report which will be submitted to the membership at large to assure them of the proper handling and accounting of their funds.
 These methods are characteris- tic of every c. I. O. union with a membership sufficiently large to justify the employment of c. P. i A. These methods should consti- ute the proper answer to the long, winded prating of MT. Blansfield; but actually he is not interested in simply having the rank and file members Of 8 union protected in their financial affairs. He wants a public statement of union receipts, so that every employer can get an exact check on the number of union members paying dues in his plant each month. and thus estimate the strength or weakness of the organ ization for the company's own bar gaining purposes; SO that the com pany can find exactly whether the union has enough of treasury to wage a strike or defend it's mem bers from discrimination in layoffs or firingS.
 Anyone who is truly interested in promoting the welfare of work ing people as a whole would re- frain from smeaFlng all labor unions because gangsters and Tacketeers have gained control Of a few craft organizations by illegal methods. Our present laws provide all the means necessary for bringing la bor racketeers to book; and the millions of American workers who have won wage increases, vacations with pay and some measure Of eco- homie security through their unions know the answer to such tirades as that of Mfr. Blansgield. They realize more and more every day that they have to organize in the political field as well as in the fee- tory, to rid themselves of false friends who make che legislative haila ring with dcmagoguary, hag- aAn nweH .sallfinnt 5elan frA hmafe Wnassan