Evening star., 1941-02-24
U. 5. Should Regulate
Union Administration,
PegIer Declares
Government Forces
Men to Join, but Gives
No Protection, He Says
BY JAMES FREE.

BY JAMES FREE.
The Government is forcing men to
Join labor unions and then failing to
protect them from irresponsible
union bosses, Westbrook Pegler,
newspaper columnist, charged today
before the House Judiciary Commit
tee.
He expressed the opinion that the
Government should protect men
from bad labor organizations into
which the men may have been
driven. unwillingly, by the policy of
Government.
Testifying at the committees
hearing on legislation proposed to
curb strikes in defense industries.
Mr.. Pegler said that he thought the
Government is obligated to assure
honest handling of money paid into
union and to assure honest admin
iStration of union activities.
Elections lin unions) are crooked
and farcical," Mr.. Pegler continued.
Accounts are juggled and known
criminals and other crooks who have
never been convicted are maintained
in Office by manipulation and ter
rorism."
Many Leaders Called irresponsible" !"
Many union leaders who have the
right to call strikes in defense in
dustries are irresponsible and cor
rupt," Mr.. Pegler charged
rupt," Mr.. Pegler charged $50 far
as I know, these men are subject to
no restraint at all
He stressed that he believed in
labor's right to strike, and added
that he did not know personally of
any instances in which strikes had
interfered with national defense
work.
Investigation has convinced him,
Mr.. Pegler said, that more than
IS per cent of the A. F. L. leader
ship is irresponsible.
Some labor leaders are in a posi-
ton to create trouble in plant and
then accept bribe for supposedly
averting strike, he added. Such
action, while possible, is not Char.
acteristic" Of labor leadership, Mr..
Pegler explained.
Charges Brides in Some Cases.
Mr.. Pegler cited a number of cases
In which he charged union heads
with accepting bribes and commit
ting criminal acts for which. in
many instance, they have not been
punished
Such leadership, he contended. is
likely to have bad effect on the
morale of defense workers.
These racketeers represent union
men officially, but I do not think
they represent the wishes of the
union members" he declared.
Il am not certain that dues and
exactions do interfere with defense.
because If man is willing to Join
and pay its fees, he will be permitted
to 60 to work, if not as a union
member, then as a permit man"
Mr.. Pegler declared.
I'm the case of a jurisdictional
dispute the defense job in question
may be interrupted for an indefinite
term even though the striking union
Is absolutely wrong" he continued.
Mentions Scalise Case.
Mr.. Pegler related charges against
several union and former labor
union leaders whom he described as
crooks" and "racketeers." He said
he believed the charges were peril
nent to problems of national defense
labor and showed, he said, the
character of persons who are in a
position to call strikes"
The international president of
one A. F. L. union, George Scalise."
Mr.. Pegler said, was elected to that
office by meeting of a group of
underworld crooks in Chicago. He
was a convicted white SLAYER who
had possessed for a time a local
charter from the teamsterS.
Seeing a new business opportu-
nifty in the building service union,
he moved in. William Green, presi-
dent of the A. F. L., and Joseph
Padway, general counsel or attorney
general, so to speak, of that huge
federation, both certified that he
was a man of satisfactory char
acter only a short time before the
public disclosure that he was a
thieving racketeer who had been
robbing the members of his own
union"
Scalise since has been convicted
and sentenced to Sing Sing Prison
in case prosecuted by District
Attorney Tomas E. Dewey's Office in
New York.
Thinks Knudsen Too Optimistic.
Told by committee members that
William S. Knudsen and Sidney
Hillman of the Office of Production
Management, had taken the position
that no legislation is needed to con-
troll labor problems in defense in
dustries, Mr.. Pegler remarked that
he thought they were too opti-
mistic."
why trust to luck" he said,
when you may be able to prevent
trouble?"
He was asked if any labor leaders
whose corruption and irresponsi-
bility" he had exposed in the press
had publicly denied the charges.
NO" Mr. Pegler replied, they
have never disputed the facts. Will
liam Green, president of the A. F.
L., claims he does not have authority
to control activities of the unions
aff1liated with the A. F. L., and this
is so. But Mr.. Green has made no
moral effort to clean house. On
the other hand, he has encouraged
some of the irresponsible leaders"
Speaking of the c. I. o., Mr.. Pegler
said that he knew of many Com
munists among its membership.
why put your trust in them7"
he asked the committee in asserting
that some legislation is needed to
control union activities
You don't want to have your
bluff called with your hands in your
pockets" he commented.