Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-10
AFL- Chiefs
Silence
Challenged
Peqier Cite S Brownies
Elevation in Union
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

by WESTBROOK PEGLER
IN CONTINUING this discus
sion of the crooked govern
ment of a local of the Movie
Operators Union in Newark, I
want 10 emphasize the fact that
William Green, the president OF
the AFL. and other high Off
GERS of the organization which
is now holding its annual con-
NeatieH- ia Seattle, simply could
not have been ignorant of the
facts of the case as presented
in the Chancery Court Of New
Jersey.
II was n shocking case and
yet they subsequently permitted
George Browne, who IS presi-
dent of the national organiza-
ton of the movie employees. 10
become "a vice president Of the
ALL and a member of It's SUI
premc governing body the exec
uuvc council.
And Louis Kaufman. who was
denounced by tho court for keep
inc American workmen in the
status of ScrfS and compelling
them Ia perform rpefAlFs fer which
he drew the pay, was permitted
10 remain in power as business
agent of The Newark local I'M
III this very day.
HERE Is. what Vice Chancellor
Berry said: 4
This complaint (Of extor-
tom Is based on the contention
of many of the junior members
(nonN0ters or serfs of the union
Officials) that they were re-
/ quired 60 pay certain officers
sums ranging from 500 TO $500
as this price OF being awarded
certain motion picture operator
jobs and that they were also
required to kick back In the Of
T fttr-TT frUTTT NJ I'D 81 II week.
.IH actual practice the btisi-
ness agent (kauffman) is the
dictator and controls every such
job. His word il law.
The testimony discloses that
men who were paving graft
usually had steady employment.
/ Ii j. too plain for argument that
nominal control of jobs was In
I the local and actual control In
the business manager and that
/ the members who have acqui-
esced In this practice have sur
rendered 90 the local and its
officers their right of freedom
OF contract OF employment.
~ VIZ constitution Of this state
provides that all men are
/ by nature free and independent
/ and have certain natural and
unalienablc rights, among which
are those Of enjoying and de-
Tending life and liberty, acquir-
ing. possessing and protecting
I property and of pursuing and
obtaining safety and happiness
1T II against public policy
I that the individual should sur
render his right of contract OF
employment. the right TO the
sale OF his own labor, To any
other individual or organization
except 10 the extent necessary
To subscrye the public interest
THE instant eases present
but now examples of that spirit
OF revolt by the rank and file
OF labor against autocracy and
dictatorship within the union.
1T t. unfortunate not only for
labor bat for society in general
that such conditions a. disclosed
in these eases can exist.
"Inicn autocracy, whether
applied internally or externally,
is equally reprehcnsibIe.
Labor unions had their origin
in the ancient guilds of foreign
countries In this country they
were born of necessity arising
from the uncomfortable conduct
OF capital, Of employers making
virtual slaves OF their employees.
But the cure which was
sought, for these ills via tho
union has. In many instances Of
which the instant cases present
fair example, proved much
worse than the disease itself.
s~E'HE Ills have been increased
4 many fold by the uncOn-
sci0nabic conduct of union Of
fcials and racketeering business
agents.
1T i such conduct persisted
in by so-callcd labor leaders,
business agents, etc, In their
lust for power and their greed
for wealth which they vocifer-
ousIy condemn, that at times
brings unions into disrepute.
"Nhen union leaders learn
that ensIavement of laborers TO
their autocratic whims il no less
pernIcious than the much de-
cried enSIavement OF labor by
capital, there will be less neces-
sity fer intervention Of the
courts i'm labor disputes OF this
kind.
"The issue here is much