Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-10
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
THANKS to Burton Heath, the
L reporter who grabbed the
unspeakable Martin T. Manton
by the foot. yanked him down
off his bench, stripped the robes
from the back of the old thief
and kicked him into prison.
where he bloody well belongs,
l am able this day to present
some authentic background in
formation on the refusal of Sem
ator Robert F. Wagner TO amend
and even to discuss in the open
the dangerous defects in the So
called Labor Act which bears
his name.
Mr.. Heath. who now is a cos
mic columnist with peanut
stand of his own, sells pretty
much the same brand of politi-
cal and social peanuts that I
sell. but not so bitter.
He wrote a very good book on
his experiences. called Yankee
Reporter" which came out last
year, in which ne SAID that only
the most reactionary, of whom
am one. could quarrel with the
purpose of the Wagner Act but
that its errors in detail are ca
pable of doing inestimable DAM
age TO an economic system
trying desperately to resuscitate
itself after a narrow escape
from death.
This is very pretty saying. and
wish the words were mine,
because il seems that every time
try TO say the same thing the
loud. coarse sound of the Ian
guage browns out the idea and
people say the guy is just sore,
without understanding what il is
that he is viewing with such
noisy alarm.
IN THIS book Mr.. Heath n
discussing President Roose-
welt. whom he had known back
in the Albany days, and says;
1.-THE obstinacy with which
Roosevelt refuses To let new evil
dence influence his attitude on
ma Tor matters of public policy
has been demonstrated often and
discussed frequently. One Illus
trative episode has never been
publlcized.
Senator Robert r. Wagner. .
! Tammany man who has risen
far above his background. was
established as a humanitarian, q
liberal and friend Of organized
labor before Franklin Roosevelt
had any citabie record In any of
those fields.
HE has sponsored several OF
the New Deals sounder con-
tributions to social progress,
notably the welI-intentioned and
potentially desirable National
Labor Relations Act"
Mr.. Heath then reveals-and
il / did not believe his word
could be accepted as guaranteed
truth / would not pass il on
that in the Fall OF 1898 a New
York newspaper " h ich had
always supported Wagner and
wished 10 endorse him anew
assigned one of the ablest Jour
nallSts in town 10 discuss with
him his views on certain specific
amendments To the act.
Mr.. Heath says Mr.. Wagner
acknowledged each such defect
and agreed to offer amendments
designed to correct them, and,
moreover. gave the reporter per-
mission TO quote him.
However, as public men not
infrequently do. he stipulated
that he should be permitted TO
see the copy before publication.
and the reporter accordingly
took it TO the senator's office.
"TNHE senator never saw it,
L says Mr.. Heath. "A part
ner informed the newspaperman
that although Senator Wagner
still believed the law required
revision, he had decided not to
admit II or discuss the matter.
mot long afterward l men,
toned the episode to an init
mate friend Of the President and
the senator. who had expressed
curiosity and resentment be-
cause the newspaper had OPP
posed Mr.. Wagner's reelection.
Senator Wagner telephOned
the White House that night and
told the President that he had
given the interview and what he
had said the friend told me.
He was told that he must
stop the interview-that no
matter what he thought he
must not admit publicly that
any flaw existed In the act: that
to agree to the slightest revision
would appear to be a sign Of
weakness.
81 know Bob would like to see
those changes made TO silence
justifiable criticism of the act
and to forestaIl resentment re-
sulting from abuses, but he
doesn't feel that he can act I'M
til the President Is ready"
1.-THE President" says Mr..
Heath in closing the subject. "is
not yet ready to let Senator
Wagner act on his convictions"
Copyrighted by United Features synd.. Inc.