Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-30
CarIsbad's
Live Heroes
Get Rebuf4s
Workers at Home Quil
Over Closed Shop :
By wEsTBROOK PEGLER

NJ. population about 10000
whose local National Guard unit
went to the Philippines as F bat
terry of the 200th Coast Artillery.
The 200th was an anti-aircraft
regiment and most of the 1,600
soldiers were New Mexico young
men and boys, and, most OF
them, workers.
The guard was called up In
the first mobilization and soon
went to the far outpost in the
Orient which all military men
~but Macarthur, and he only with
reservations that never were
met, regarded as point OF In.
evitable but worthwhile military
sacrifice in the event OF war
with Japan.
OF the 100 or so Carlsbad
soldiers on Bataan only three or
four were reported to have got
away to Corregidor to prolong
the struggle and their families
all are without word as to casu-
alties among them.
They were the more lively and
patriotic youth of town and their
parents and other kin are en-
countered in any ordinary walk
on a Carlsbad street and in any
local gathering.
The war struck Carlsbad not
merely with premonitory anxiety.
and dread and the wrench on
parting but quickly with the
bullet and bomb and God only
knows when, If ever. any Of the
boys so suddenly absent from
their homes in the fascinating
vastness OF the southwest will be
seen again.
NOW IL has been said many
~ times that once American
soldiers came TO grips with the
enemy. all squabbles for advan-
tage at home would be forgotten
but. in Carlsbad there have been
within one month. two union
walkouts at the mines and re-
finery of the United States
Potash Company. producing Q
little less than half of the local
output of potash which Is the
greatest individual source Of the
whole worlds supply at present
available to the United Nations.
This Is a vital product used
mainly as fertilizer in the grow
ing Of food but also. largely, In
war chemical processes and In
recognition OF its importance
Carlsbad has been designated q
defense housing area.
Nevertheless. two unions OF
the AFL. the fnachinists and
potash workers went out for q
10 per cent increase in wages.
won their point. signed a con-
tract and then on May II. again
laid of in such numbers that II
was necessary to shut down the
mine and refinery for five days
more.
The second stoppage was
caused by the refusal OF men
who went out the first time to
work with men who didn't VOL
unfairly join them. another vari-
alton Of the demand for closed
shop which had been rejected
and finally waived in the first
settlement.
Ten 24-hour days were lost
and production OF x-thousand
tons.
The enemy might like to know
the exact loss as a key to the
rate OF production
TT MAY be noted that the word
i strike has not been used
here.
The unions say they didn't
strike.
Instead, a special session OF
the union membership was called
under a rule which forbids men,
bers TO work during a session.
and this session was recessed
and continued around the clock
from day to day. device which
might be called in President
Roosevelt's memorable phrase,
"a clever little scheme"
Nevertheless those who did
not attend the sessions but were
unable to work notwithstanding
their willingness TO carry on.
were called "scabs" which is the
common term for strike-break.
ers employed by unioneers.
Why these men were called
"scabs" when there was no
strike for them to break is some
thing that you may wish to puz.
zle out in the long summer eve
nings.
What. then. is the attitude Of
the free Southwestern people. SO
noted for their abrupt independ-
ence, so many of whose sons and
neighbors' sons have disappeared
in the first great fight with the
Japs under conditions that gave
them no hope Of victory In their
particular battle and only q
chance of survival?
The public attitude Is one OF
submission or, at worst, sullen
resentment.
For that matter, there were
among the local strength of F
Battery. perhaps, Is or 20 who.
themselves, worked in the potash
industry and were union men