Evening star., 1941-04-09
Friendly, Md.
To the Editor of The Star:

Do not imagine that this letter has
been written by a Communist. The
Communist theories and plans have de-
generated into what now is regarded
by most sensible people as pure totali-
tarianism and dictatorship. I hate all
that totalitarianism and Communism
stand for. I prefer the mode and man.
ner of life to which the American peo-
pie are accustomed
Of course, we do not live in any
Utopia. But our leaders do not teach
us hatred of sectS, races or nations.
Here in America we can listen with no
fear of arrest to the statements of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie, to
the opinions of Philip Murray, John l..
there is no person who cannot express
himself freely and conscientiously.
I write this letter mainly to protest
against the way the columnists of our
daily papers have been discussing the
strikes that now are in progress through
out the Nation.
In her column of April 4 Miss Dorothy
Thompson claims that there is an en-
bittered struggle between the employers
and labor Also, that the situation has
been aggravated by the employers, who
are definitely labor, taking ad-
vantage of the opportunity presented to
them to suppress and crush labor. This
very true
First of all, let us remember that a
strike is one of labor's strongest weapons.
1t is means by which the working man
may boost himself step higher on the
ladder of economic security if he should
realize his demands. Sometimes the
demands that labor make upon the
capitalists are too severe. But it seems
to me that the leaders expect compro-
mise and that it is only natural for the
capitalists to take an entirely opposite
view from labor. Surely the majority
Of the workers cannot afford to be
without work for an extended period.
In industries such as the iron, steel and
coal, where labor is unskilled or semi
skilled, this would mean inevitable star
vation to a large number We know
that labor does not want this. But
labor does want to get ahead"
There are many who feel that the
Government should use compulsory
measures in putting the industries back
into operation. This theory can be re-
jected, but the National Government
should take stringent measures in DEAL
ing with the violence that has broken
out between strikers and workers and
between rival unions
1t is an established fact that peaceful
picketing will accomplish as much, if
not more, than the brawling and beat
ing that we read about each day. We
know that agitators paid by labor union
officials are arousing hitherto peaceful
citizens, who now are affected by the
strikes. Mob violence can be dealt with
only by strict measures such as in
functions and outright arrests
Public opinion is divided. There are
those who favor labor for its stand and
its demands. They argue that inasmuch
as the increased tax burden is being
supported by the wage Garner, it is only
fitting that he should obtain a better
working scale. On the other hand,
there is a group who cast their lot with
the employers. This argument reasons
that the employer or capitalist is sacri-
ficing a great deal for national defense
and that increased operations will cause
an economic upheaval If not properly
controlled. They are against labor be-
fhoty holioxo fhot Lob l.
to smash the defense program by STALL
ing operations. But capital is doing as
much in refusing 70 mediate or COM
promise. In favor of labor say that
the increased profits to the manufac-
turer counterbalance the increased costs
of production and that labor should In
some way share in this so-called boom. "
Remember, if you will, that we do not
want to create more war nnillionaires -
So, in summing up, let me say that
the working man now sees his chance
to better himself, and is taking his
strongest and most logical weapon to
the front in seeking his aims This is
not Communism, though there may be
some Communists among the laboring
class. This is the working mans will
to live and to live more abundantly in
a world where abundance is known to
| a very few. JOSEPH WALP.
| To the Editor of The Star:
On the front page of your night final
edition of Thursday, April 8, is featured
a series of three pictures. These show
how a man who tried to enter the Ford
River Rouge plant was beaten to the