Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-11

use the troops for any such pur-
pose
The troops were not called IN
break the strike but 10 intimi-
date and. if necessary. bat the
ears Off a iawlcss mob OF hood
lums who were using the force
of maSSed ranks, plus individual
terrorism. TO prevent American
citizens from going 10 work at
their lawful occupations.
THFY we're organized by the
Go of California. which in
the crisis lost its nerve and re-
pudiated IFS own civil insurrec-
tlon around the edges but.
nevertheless. maintained he(
mob in force against the puny
and half-hcartcd power Of po-
liticalIy gutleSS local and state
government.
The mob quickly backed off
when the soldiers showed plain
intention 10 meet with force a
challenge 10 The only authority
which then stood between the
Workmen and the mobsterS.
-rf1rr--t-r1r-iitt r1t-r,- hen returned
10 their Jobs. and the President
rot more credit than he de-
served and more than half
deceived many citizens who
thought that, az last. ne had
taken 2 stand IN favor Of the
free American against brutality
and inSIdious persecution.
The fact is that President
Roosevelt took no such stand.
He has had a hundred chances
10 take such a stand, notably in
Michigan when Frank Murphy
was whecdling his way 10 The
top of the Department Of Justice
and ultimately. on TO the SUI
preme Court by hinching in the
face Of similar mobs Of riotous
instructors
The President had never yet
-i.llscn.-S such a stand. and IN the
California case his purpose wax
not 10 protect the rights OF the
citizens hut 70 put that plant
back into action for national
defense.
t. TIE Michigan instructions.
Il when Murphy curled up and
quit TO the Communists. il was
held that tho Sit-down strike
was merely a case Of multiple
treSpass. multiple contempt Of
the state courts and multiple
malicious tcStrttett eH-ef prop
criy. with each Of the defend
ants subject TO arrest. trial and
punishment separately for each
minute offenSe. rather than
concerted outrage against au-
ihoriiy Of government and the
rights. property and peace OF
the people
In the California Instruction.
II the mob took tho field against
the government. as The govern
mcnt ConStructlvcly held II had
done when the troops were
called. then the leaders should
be sent 10 prison.
But they wiIl not be punished
because. after all. they did oper-
ate under union charter and
the influence Of the anti-Amer-
lean Wagner Act, which means
that as long as they do not
embarraSs the President, they
are al liberty 10 slug. slash and
burn IN concert, subject only 10
the zeal. courage and honesty of
local politicians in command OF
the police and the prosecuting
machinery.
However. 10 diSperse mob. az
was done IN this case. and open
the public streets so that citi-
zcnS may use them according ~
their rights IS not strike break
ing
The picket line has no more
right 10 blockade a street or a
plant than any other group Of
private individuals. and tho ku
Klux Khan. the infamous Black
Legion of later date. in fact. the
Black Shirts of MusSolini and
TIitlcr'S Brown Bolshcviks only
pursued the same course. with
minor variations Of method. that
this union of tho Go was fol-
lowing in Inglewood
TlIE right 10 strike was not
Il affected by any act Of the
troops or the act OF calling them
out
Those who preferred not IN
work were not forced back ia
work al the point Of the bayone,
They just were moved out of
the way so that men who did
want 10 work could work a pro-
lection which should he afforded
all decent workmen everywhere
I'm tho United States.
But the President didn't PC
ccpt that principle in full.
He accepted II only as 10 this
particular plant in which he had
a particular interest
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