Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-05
Unions Fail
To Make War
Concessions
Compulsory Closed Shop
Raised as issue
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

interests are simply ignored and
quietly waived for the salee of
national safety. the unions, up
10 now, have made not one
single concession and there are
indications that Congress will
demand none.
The closed shop has not been
waived or even compromised
even for the duration Of the war
and remains an issue which
must be conceded TO the pro-
feSSional. political unioneers,
such as John l.. Lewis or fought
out to the impairment of the
fighting effort.
The compulsory closed shop
with the government providing
the compuIsion has been con-
demned by President Roosevelt
as a Hitlerian device.
Mrs. Roosevelt has conceded
that workers should not be com
PEELED 10 Join unions as con-
dition of employment In lawful
occupations. wherein she OBJ
llquely endorsed the open shop
principle.
Mrs. Frances Perkins con-
cealed in a great heap OF tangled
language and thought in a
speech to the American Fedora
ton Of Labor that the compul-
sorry closed shop constituted a
violation of the human rights
and dignity of the independent
Director.
TT SEEMS that they were a
Il little ashamed of their adj
mission. as though 1t might cost
them some favor among the
political unloneers or constitute
an admission of error. for none
Of them has given this funda-
mental right of free people more
than brief nod in passing
Yet the issue IS StIll open. the
union politicians are still press
ing for the right 10 drive all
men and women who work into
union ranks, subject 10 union
discipline. and il IS a dangerous
possibility that aS a bride 10 the
more reckless and power-hungry
union politicians, the closed shop
viii be granted by many Indl-
lidual concessions and thus
established As a fixed custom
Nor has the American Fedora
ton of Labor made any move 10
abolish It's extoTtlOnatc rates Of
admission and It's practice OF
balkanlzing the entire country
into thousands Of petty local
jurisdictions having the right 10
bar out-of-town workers from
employment except on the pay
ment of outrageous transfer
fees
II has been shown and never
denied that these ALL unions do
impose such charges and that
they have taken millions OF dol
lars from workers employed on
war projects
IT HAS been shown that the
unions have no financial re-
possibility TO their members.
nor TO the community. under the
existing federal laws and that
com m on criminals. including
some Of the vlleSt jailblrds In
the country, have been politely
tolerated IN the highest positions
IN the AFL..
The Hold Carriers ION.
whose locals took millions OF
dollars from the poorest work
erS with never an accounting I'm
30 years. still maintains lis ma
tlonal headquarters in Washing
ton unrebuked.
Revelations tn at unioneers
acquired racing stables and
yachts have aroused not the
slightest reaction in the national
government nor the falntcSt.
signs of reform in the AL
The New York waterfront,
one Of the most sensitive danger
spots IN the country. is ruled
by men whose power is derived
from union charters and politi-
cal afflllation. but that appears
10 be an acceptable state Of az
fairs IN country which is
fighting for the freedom OF man
kind everywhere in the world
4 Ii elements Of the American
"a nation except the unions
have had 10 make concessions
and sacrifices.
The truth is. Of course. that
the rank and file. being loyal
Americans IN an overwhelming
majority. would smash down any
crook or traitor who tried 10
drive them off their war Jobs
for some petty political adj
vantage.
They would thank President
Roosevelt for an opportunity
to show that they are loyal TO
the country first and they would
honor any man who established
some prote lion for them
against their bosses.
But the unioneers still ride
high. the money still rolls in
and the common man for whose
freedom this war is fought still
degrades himself into a cringing
beggar in the presence of the
union boss with the power 10
run him off a job and still pays
into the fat fortunes of union