Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-27
Sp'yFromCIO
CoIIapses at
Perkins Talk
AFL Convention Hears
Strangely Words
BY wEsTBROOK PEGLEy

~ 'OOh AoA<A<1
THIS article will be largely
composed of direct quotes
from an address by Mrs. Fran
ces Perkins. the secretary of
labor, to the recent convention
in Seattle of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and. as enter
tainment. IL will assay below the
statutory maximum of 81. by
volume.
/ present these excerpts In re-.
lief. so to speak, because Mrs.
Perkins address ran as long as
a hack-driver's dream and, being
so long and dull. political and
mealy, was not adequately COW
cred in the papers at the time.
CAID she. in part, said she;
~ "A great change has taken
place In the status Of trade.
unionism In America. Today
every one expects that trade
unions will participate In the
councils of our government along
with employers, farmers and
other groups.
1.-THE advice of labor II sought
not only on questions Of wages
and working conditions but on
the broad economic and social
problems of the national life. y.
"Most Of the important parts
Of American life are conducted
by groups, privately organized,
but taking public responsibility"
HERE she mentioned the re-
IA hgious bodies. the Bar
Association, the American Medi-
cal Association. and so forth as
real institution" which da
mine policy and ethics win
their field.
"Trade-unionlsm," she then
said. has accepted social re-
sponsibility and Its policies In
the future must be predicated
not only on the welfare Of Its
own members but on the welfare
of all the people"
am quoting selectively but
without impairing the sense of
Mrs. Perkins remarks and / find
as / go along that / must be
sparing with direct quote and
condense because she is so long
winded.
She should have had some
training filing cables at two
bits a word, as l did.
81 ABOR's struggle for the
- right to organize IL prac-
ticalIy over" Mrs. Perkins said.
land this statutory protection
gives trade-unionism q great
responsibility
1T has placed labor In the
same exposed position ss many
OF the other great American
private associations charged with
public responsibilities; respon-
sibilities to the whole people for
sound, intelligent. economic, So
cial and moral practices and for
the selection Of leaders who can
he trusted not only by their.
members but by the government,
the employers and the people,
and responsibilities to avoid ex-
cesses Of action and 10 regard
the rights of others consid-'
erately, whether they agree
or not.
THE public attitudes and pri-
vate methods Of unions are
today matters Of public interest
and significance" she said.
TRADE-U NIONISM must '-k.
Il pect 10 he Judged as other
institutions are judged and will
now be kept constantly under
what We may term social sur
vigilance.
1.-THE public demands certain
standards. First and foremost,
the public expects Its service In
stitutions to exercise the utmost
order and exemplary procedure
In handling other peoples money.
The scrupulous account for
money, regular, Independent and
public audifs Of all moneys, In
Guiding Insurance funds, dues.
assessments and so forth IL
bound to be expected and should
be done voluntarily rather than
under compulsion."
At this point the hod-carriers.
the movie employees and a spy
from John Lewis United Mine
Workers Of the Go collapsed
in piteous, shapeless heaps.
I"TNHE public expects" Mrs.
Il Perkins muttered on, "that
unions will he operated I'm a
parliamentary way; expects the
officers to be chosen In the
fairest and most open way and
believes those unions have been
wise who have required Ameri-
can citizenship Of their officers.
There are n certain number
Of individuals who are nonjoin-
ers by nature, but these people
are also human beings with the
rights and dignity of human per-
sonality.
Provision must be made for
federation and flexibility fep
those grOups.