Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-16
AFL Called
Rival Nation
Of America
Pe9ler Says They Tell
u. S. Whom TO Hire
BY wESTBROOK PEGLER

By WESTBROOK PEGLER
MORE than two years ago
N William Green, who up 10
that time had been feeding well
on the buttery compliments OF
politici~iS emitted a low, plain
tive moo. Mr.. Green had been
socked where il hurt, which is
the region of his pomposity. by
a declaration in these dispatches
which answered the specifica-
tons for a blunt instrument, as
follows:
The American Federation of
Labor is not the body of labor
with a capital l. at all. but n
great. arrogant, hypocriticaI,
parasitic organization which
preys on union men and the
public and persecutes non-mem-
bers and has been getting away
with many varieties and all de-
grees of these practices"
Nobody had ever spoken so 10
Brother Green. and even Brother
John Lewis. while diSagreeing on
methods and opposing him in
personal rivalry, had been care
iul not 10 blab for public knowl-
edge information concerning the
conditions which had been per-
mlited 10 EXIST IN the sacred
cdiiice Of labor
THERE seemed to be A silent
agreement on the part OF
politicians and the press 10 ac-
cept the American Federation OF
Labor's own pretentiouS eSti-
mate Of itself and Brother Green
plainly was shocked and dazed
by such language.
Since til { declaration was
published the information on
which II was based has been
amplified by private research,
by public prosecutors and by
news developments, the most
recent OF which shows the ALL
infested and still presun1ing TO
deal with the public govern
ment of the United States an
though the -AEL we're state
within state and equal 10 the
nation, itself
That IS the status which the
AL asserts IN holding that the
e. : -t>t1-++ tst-- --r-r1rrrt N TfI6
United States must employ none
but members OF ties component
unions IN war construction and
IN threatening the war effort
unless II Is given this monopoly
and the rake-on in dues and
fees which flow from such a
concession.
ASH year, as a condition on
~ which the garment workers
agreed to return 10 the AEI,, it
was promised that the AL. at
its impending national conven-
ton IN New Orleans. would
take action 10 eliminate
racketeers from any leadership
of the unions and OF the ma
tional organization.
For insisting on the fulfill
ment OF this promise. Dave
Dubinsky. the president OF
International Ladies Garment
Workers was beaten up by
typical officer OF the old. stand
ard union type by mamie Joe Fay
y We" pre- dent 81 the Steam-
shovel Men Union. who took
DuhinskyS proposal as A per-
Sonal aiIront
And the resolution which,
finally was adopted was mix
ture of kind words and high
principles having no direct appli.
cation anywhere in the ALL.
Moreover. as If TO reassure tho
hoodlum, Fay. the convention re-
elected as one of its vice presi-
dents George Browne OF Chi
cago.
4 T THE present moment there
"A is renewed talk of a re.
sounding resolution against
racketeers but the convention Is
flnching once more in fear.
The convention IS fixing 10
drop Browne at last from one
OF its vice presidencies, but the
leaders are afraid 10 dcnounce
him, lest Browne and others like
him turn on them.
To eliminate Browne they
have rugged the elaborate and
pathetic device of reducing the
number OF vice presidents and
merely falling 10 re-clect their
colleague
The courage 10 kick him out
doesn't exist IN the national con-
vention of the AL.
OUR Answers