Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-02-13

MAJ times ldDOf unions are Doth right
and necessary.
Circumstances Alter Cases.
When it comes 10 questions o.
strikes or lockouts. in days like these.
| feel that both are selfish, coward
ly, and unpatrlOtlC. The stirring up
of 100000 rail workers Of Glass |
roads with demands by labor organi-
cations, not the employees, for va
cations with pay is Il good current eX-
ample. This will use much of the
energy of the President, who is al
ready overWorked, and of railroad
officials. The time of all concerned
might far better be spent in COOP
Grating to o more quickly I'M
portant industrial freight shipments.
The government is putting a cell
ing on the profits Of all business
men and it is only fair likewise TO
veto strikes and lockouts. Although
in the past labor has not had a fair
zeal at times; yet two blacks do
not make a white. When the whole
nation is in danger, as at present, we
all ought to be ashamed to do any
thing which holds up production.
Certainly. during the present emer-
gency. Congress should demand
compulsory arbitration. We either
must go to work or go to war | had
much rather go to Work,-forgetting
wages, hours, or profits.
In view of the recent Supreme
Court decision which was 100 per-
on, in favor of labor, l wish to re-
mind labor of what is happening
abroad. When l was over there two
years ago, | found that Germany
had "canned' all the labor unions
and threatened to shoot anyone who
called a strike or a lockout. France
refused to do this as the French
politicians We're afraid Of losing
votes. Even last April, when the
Germans were pounding at the gates
Of France, labor leaders and en-
ployers We're fighting n another.
As a result, the Germans marched
into France. The Germans then dis
banded the French labor unions and
their leaders We're put in jail.
Labor Leaders Are In Jail.
Up to February first of this year
the English government was very
patient with the labor unions; in
fact. my friend, Minister of Labor
BeVins, is a radical labor leader.
When he got on the inside, however,
and saw the great dangers, he made
both strikes and lockouts illegal.
Since February first he has been
putting uniforms on the workers,
the same as on the soldiers. Any,
body who sabotages or even refuses
to work in an airplane factory, tank
plant, or munitions factory is thrown
into jail.
Worse things have happened to
the labor unions in Norway, Bel
GUM, Holland, and other countries
that tried to remain neutral as we
are trying to do. These countries
had not only very strong labor
unions but also unemployment in
%surance, old-age pensions, sickness
benefits, and cooperative buying
societies. These were doing splendid
work with their cooperative factor
les, stores. and even banks. All of
these things have been thrown out
of the window. The United States
and Canada are now the only coun-
tries that have these blessings today.
1t certainly seems as if we should
be on our good behavior and quit
qulzzling, or even arguing among
ourselves.
Remember the Farmers.
Farmers are not perfect. They have
always hoWled and always will
howl. On the other hand, they are
getting the short end Of the stick
when it ONE to prices, wages, and
hours. Once | figured that if farm
We're paid the same as the build
ing trades are paid, beef would sell
for three dollars a pound, eggs would
cost two dollars a dozen, and bread
would sell for twenty-five cents 4
loaf. OF course this unequal treat
ment is very unfair to the farmers.
You would think that the city peo-
pie, especially union labor, would
be asamed to look a farmer in
the face.
In this connection, let me say that
the British are not only forbidding
strikes and lockouts; but are doing
other big things. For instance, they
are e~ndeavoring to put an end to
installment buying. The government
makes the point that it is the total
debt Of the nation which really
counts. Hence, as their national debt
increases, they insist that personal
debts be reduced.
am no war monger; but doubt
that we a save Great Britain and
our w necks by continuing, during
this emergency, either the Old Deal
or the New Deal. We have to forget
both, and this includes profits, wages,
hours, and all the "fixings' that go
with these things. Moreover the
sooner We forget ourselves, the
er we will save our necks. Let us
make no mistake about this.
ns.-,A- 0~:~