Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-21
Wisconsin's
Labor Peace
Act Praised
Pledges Protection TO
Workerssto Employers
BY wESTBROOK PEGLER

THE Wisconsin Labor Act.
4 known as the Employment
Peace Act, was enacted in 1890
to correct abuses by unions.
1t has been denounced as re-
dictionary law by Joseph Pad
way. the general counsel of the
ALL and of numerous indi-
.vidaaf unions, including the
union conducted by the notori-
Gus underworld team of Browne.
Bioff and Dean.
The peace act guarantees 10
organized labor all the rights
that are established by the
Wagner Act, but protects the
unorganized workers, employers
and the general public against
union violence which has been
stimulated by the Wagner Act
and by decisions of the United
States Supreme Court.
In the beginning the law rec
ognizes the public as a possible
innocent victim of lawless dis
order in labor fights.
The rights of the disputants,
says the act, should not be per-
mitted to intrude directly into
the primary rights OF third
parties to earn a livelihood,
transact business and engage i'm
the ordinary affairs Of life by
any lawful means and free from
molestation. interference. re-
straint or coercion"
This passage fiouts the
thought handed down as law by
Felix Frankfurter in his opinion
of the so-called carpenters case.
that the union had a right to
boycott an innocent third party
in organizing a boycott against
Anheuser- Busch after the car
penters had violated their agree
ment to arbitrate.
o.
A MOTHER Improvement on
"A the Wagner Act Is in the
forbiddance of intimidation of
workers by unions.
The Wagner Act forbids In
timidation and coercion only by
employers and pointedly invites
union organizers TO practice
physical. mental and economic
tortures on workers who refuse
to join up.
The guilt for this fault Of the
Wagner Act is on Senator Wag-
ner himself, for he defeated an
amendment which would have
protected the worker from the
union COON. The Wisconsin law,
of course. also forbids coercion
by employers.
There seems to be glancing
compliment to Senator Wagner
in the remark of the Wisconsin
Legislature that "the state SUBJ
stitutes processes Of justice for
the more primitive methods Of
trial by combat"
The right to strike Is pro-
tected. but the so-called NOM
and pop store, so often the prev
OF the union extortioner. also is
protected by provision that no
person employed by his parent
or spouse is to be regarded as
an employe.
That means the racketeer
cannot shake down the owner
of the corner store for union
fees and dues for members OF
the family working there.
A labor dispute is defined as
a controversy between an en-
ployer and a majority of his
employees concerning collective
bargaining. and where no such
dispute exists the union is for
hidden TO conduct a secondary
boycott by withholding patron
age. picketing. or refusing 10
handle particular materials.
HE'MPLOYES," says the peace
IL act. "shaIl have the right
Of seIf-organization," but il spe-
cifically adds that they shall
also have the right TO refrain
from such activities.
And the employer is forbidden
10 discriminate against worker
because heN Jas refused TO join
a union and thus encourage"
him to join except where Is per
cent of them have voted by
secret ballot that q particular
union shall represent them.
The closed shop may then he
recognized. but even then the
union may not unreasonably re-
fuse to admit a worker to men,
bership.
The employer also Is forbid
den to bargain collectively with
a minority and unioneers are
forbidden to intimidate a worker
or his family, picket his home
or injure their property.
They are further forbidden TO
bring pressure on an employer
TO compel a worker 10 join.
Picketing. the boycott and all
covert acts concomitant or
strike" are forbidden unless
majority of an appropriate unit
employed by the person against
whom such acts are directed
have voted a strike by secret
ballot. !.
It is forbidden to engage In
mass picketing, or use other
force to hinder any lawful en-
ployment or obstruct plant
gates, public roads or convey
ances.
The sit-down Is also outlawed
and any union or individual
convicted of any such unfair