The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-06
Senator Blansfield Will
 Demand Law on Labor
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(Conttnued his or their activities would, indeed, be disturbing to them but not to the rank and flle of the members of their unions.
 Unrest Among Members
 I know there Is great unrest among the members of the unions who are denied the information as to where the money, which is paid for limitations, dues, and assess mentS has gone. There Is no rea- son why Q labor union, as such, should not be responsible fov its actions the same as any organiZa- tion performing Q public or seni- public function. Labor is no more entitled to be privileged class than business Is, Each must bear its own responsibility openly and willingly. This labor has never done because the executives in command of labor have concealed in every way poSsi- ble, Its income and its disburse- ments, until the membership of the unions Is now aroused to @ point where inquiry must and will be had concerning the receipts and dis- burSements of large sums which neither the membership of the unions nor the public is ever allowed to know.
 Why the Objection
 What possible legitimate objection can there be on the part of any person or organization to render themselves responsible for their acc tionS, either individually or as a body unless there are unlawful or Subversive actions which the in- dividual or body does not wish to come to lightP
 What possible objection would any responsible union offlcial have to listing the names of the officers of the union, the salaries paid them, the amounts collected by the or- ganization, and the manner and method of its disbursement?
 Labor unions today are uuasi- public bodies and as such should be held to respond for their actions, both as individuals and as bodies polite.
 The old cry that this movement Is one to tie up union funds at crucial period is. of course, entirely without foundation. No one with the intelligence of an ordinary Hnor- tai would believe any such state- ment. The old cry of employer sabotage of unionS has long since been disproved. Now that labor through its executives has taken the bit in its teeth and run wildl, MT. Driscou believes that there should be no limitation, no holds barred, and the labor executives should be allowed to go to any length to stir up their membership without re. sponsibinty upon themselves. Govt. of Laws
 Our government is one founded on laws and not on the dictates of men, and no body of individuals and no group should be permitted to set themselves up as being above the law. The present war in substance is a conflict between the natural rights of men, freedom and equality as recognized by laws coming from the people, and the dictates of a declared group of men who recog- nize no law and no rights of men to freedom and equality without grant from them.
 Labor unions have developed be- yond infancy and having matured they must become part of our so- ciety under laws and not continue above law.
 l want to preserve to labor the benefits which they have secured in their growth. They must be equal with employers and management, with respect to responsibility. If management is at fault in a labor dispute. labor is protected under our present legislation. What I propose for the future of labor is that 1t be responsible for its wrongful acts as well.
 No Leader Can Object
 Referring to the audit of union accounts, no leader need object to full disclosure to a state auditor if al ills well. ask Do the rank and file of the union membership ap- prove of the expenditures of their leaders before or after they are made?" Are the leaders using labor for thetir own selfish interests? I propose that labor-the group who pay dues and assessments be given the full benefit of their2contributions without the milking" by national and international" ofIices.
 The government acting by our president recently seized the Air As- sociates Plant in N. J., when em- ployer-management found at fault by federal board failed to act upon its recommendations. Labor here was protected by LAW. not by men. The law gave them full protection annum. Finally, in view of the im- pending probability of widespread unemployment among employees of non defense industries and many small business concerns, 1t is unjust that such unemployed men and women along with their former em- ployers. shoud not only be forced out of work by the defense program