Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-10

greSs hasn't acted. The lawyers
who seek TO vindlcate arbitrary
seizure don't attempt TO find
statutory authority. They talk OF
the "war-powers of the Presi-
dent" as commander-in-chief.
THERE is hardly enough Justi-
i fication in law, logic or
precedent in that even 10 argue
IT.
There is no doubt that the
war-powers of this government,
like the doctrine Of self-deiense
in homicide cases, are as broad
as the necessity for defense.
But, except as TO the armed
forces or as to martial law or
military law in the field OF mill
tary operations or IN occupied
territory, those "War-powers' OF
government do not reside IN the
commander-ln-chief.
They are the property OF Con-
gress, and, until II delegates
them, any presidential approprl-
alton OF them is an act OF usur-
patton.
THE object of the Communists
Il is to soclalize industry.
If, by bulldozing a strong-aIm
strike, they can invoke confisca-
ton of a great prope @ty, that is
the beginning of the end of pri-
vate property IN America. IT
can't be justified on the argu-
ment that in a crisis the Presl-
dent can do anything.
If, under the supposed war
powers" of the President. and
without statutory authority, he
can do this. he can have me shot
tomorrow for writln this col
umn.
| know people who think that
would be good thing. but 1t
would not be a good thing for
the preservation of such democ-
racy as we have left-and neither
is unauthorized seizure OF a
plant.
IN ADDITION. the VII lie
l. theory is wrong
After the government takes
over" a plant, how is its essential
relation 10 labor and the right
not to work changed?
Suppose. which is not true,
that a majority of workers really
do not want TO work.
Because Of some paper change
in ownership and the Substitu-
ton of some stuffed-shlrt little
All in colonel's uniform, igno-
rant OF industrial method, for
the competent and experienced
manager-does that wave some
magic wand that changes our
American doctrine that enforced
labor. not in punishment for
crime. is human slavery or in
voluntary servitude-prohibited
by the XIII amendment TO the
Constitution of the United
States?
Tommyrot!
TNHE place TO move against
l. this subversion and sabotage
is where its authors reside
| have recently returned from
the Pacific coast. The rank and
file of workers in the airplane
industry are among the clean
est, most intelligent and most
patriotic workers l have seen
and have seen plenty in labor
among both leaders and fol-
lowers.
What is needed here is no
usurpation of Illegal powers TO
punish employers, not for their
own acts. but for a communistic
conspiracy by others.
What is needed is a bold and
courageous breakdown on the
leading conspirators themselves.
THAT may be unpopular and
Il bad politics
II is easier and better politics
to confscate the guiltlesS en-
ployer on an untenable theory
that government ownership can
avoid the established rights of
decent, patriotic labor
What is being unfoldcd here
is a precise theory Of Hitler.
MuSsolini and Stalin-that all
employees work for the state,
and therefore that labor is no
longer free.
These defense strikes have
got TO stop. but lets stop them
at their source and not by any
fenagling around the edges.
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