Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-27
Barring Use
Of Streets
Unfair to All
Teamsters Strike Has
Usual Incidents
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

most important centerS of de-
Tense. industry in the entire
country.
The dispute, which involves a
question of wages, has been ac-
companied by the usual Incl
dents.
a politically indifferent local
government and an incompetent
police force have offered no pro-
lection to citizens who displease
the union, nor any resistance.
Acts which. done by George
Spelvin. the average American.
would he stopped, are tolerated
as ordinary behavior, and the
tcamstcrs in Pittsburgh, as else
whore, enjoy special privilege
TO deny the use of the public
streets and highways 10 citizens
who pay taxes for their main
tensnce and for the salaries OF
the police.
4 s a special concession to the
- law-abiding element Of the
American population, the lie
ccnsed agents Of the Af'L have
agreed not 10 prevent delivery
10 industrial plants of materials
required in the production OF
weapons and other tools and
wares intended for the defense
Of the nation.
In so doing they have, of
course. claimed and asserted a
right to prevent by any means
they choo the movement
through the public streets and
over the highways of other
goods which cannot be consci-
entiously certified as defense
materials.
And tho people OF tho conlru-
nifty are 50 thoroughly subdued
by n long record of such acton
that they do not even question
tho Justice Of this program.
In Pittsburgh. as IN Seattle,
the people submit In the fact
that the teamStcrS arc Law
unto themselves and that their
charter. from Mr. Tobln'S inter
national headquarters IN Indian
apols. amounts TO a special
license
In Pittsburgh. as in Seattle.
San Francisco. Los Angeles. Chi
caeo. Minneapolis and many
other cities. the people have seen
the power Of government slip
from the hands Of their elected
local and state officials into
( those of the unions who enjoy
recognition and approval from
/ the Supreme Court Of the United
States, Congress and the eXecu-
/ tive branch Of the national gov
eminent.
A FEW days ago tlr- W. w
n Patterson Company, manu-
facturcrS OF tackle blocks and
related devices and gadgets, re-
cplped notice that-a- shipment
/ had arrived by railroad.
The company. which is not IN
volvcd in the transfers dispute
with their employers. desired
delivery Of this material for use
in a Jon undertaken FOR The Car
neGie-Illinois Steel Corporation,
which, in turn. is turning out
national defense orders.
In order 10 obtain the goods
from the railroad yards the Pat
tcrSon Company first had 10 call
on Lieut. Richard r. Brown OF
the Pittsburgh ordnance district
Of The war department.
lie wrote an official letter 10
the business AGENT of local 249
Of the teamSters certifying that
the material is used in the full
fillment OF defense orders" and
adding that your cooperation
IN securing the release of this
material will be appreciated"
In other words. the war de-
partment Of tho United States
here is pleading with the team
SterS not 10 indulge IN its usual
conduct as a special favor TO
the national government.
THE letter was taken 10 the
Il union office and there
okayod.
But w. w. Patterson Jr.. who
presented the request for safe
conduct. then was informed he
must apply for another visa at
the office Of another local union.
At this place, when II appeared
that not all Of tho materials in
the consignment had yet arrived,
the citiZen-Suppicant was told
10 come and see me again in a
few days"
And that was as far rs he
could get with Mr.. Dan Tobin's
invisible government.
The present strike apparently
is coming 10 a close now.
But the conduct of the union
since June / has prevented the
delivery of goods through the
streets and over the roads. ex-
cept by truckers holding union
passports.
The blockade has held IN not
! only nondefenSe wares legally in
I f,uvctt hat ~, ot,.s -, "A 4 4, - a l. -,