Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-15
Unions Hold
Power; Not
Responsible
Congress Gives Right
10 Stop U. S. Citizens
BY WEsTBROOK PEGLER

preme Court in the So-called
teamsters' case, and of the
opinion written by Justice
Byrnes, imputing to Congress an
intent to confer on organizations
calling themselves labor unions
a right 10 obtain money by
methods which, used by other
persons, would constitute rob-
berry or extortion.
That Congress has any right
10 legalize crime as the special
privilege of anv favored group
is TO be doubted.
That Congress ever had any
such intention also is doubtful.
but Congress, in the face OF this
challenge from the court and
under restrictive pressure from
the White House. has failed 10
react in the historic spirit OF
Congress.
1T SHOULD be borne in mind
4 that unions have no response
bility although they have
privileges and political power.
and any group of five indi-
viduals. even criminals of the
vilest type and with long police
records. may hire shyster. put
one of their number in the chair.
adopt a constitution and proceed
into the streets TO practice rob-
berry or extortion and 10 defame
and injure the business of law
abiding citizens.
Unions have legal rights, even
Illegal and immoral rights, but
there is no fundamental definl-
ton of a union. 3
l present this by way of pre-
amble to some further lnforma-
tion bearing on the so-called
transfers case
A man who was a member or
the Jury in that case, and spent
six weeks hearing the evidence
which resulted IN a verdict OF
guilty. informed me that a large
number of the u original de-
PENDANTS had previous police or
criminal records.
This led to inquiry and / have
before me at this writing a long
report confirming the protest of
the juror. who rather holds 10
the opinion that the police char
acterS among the defendants
were not workingnen and were
not proceeding in any lawful
manner 10 enforce any legiti-
mate right OF labor.
THEIR method was. II may be
Il RENE m bere d. 10 hold up
truckmen at the portals of New
York City and compel the owner
10 pay them tribute for the right
10 enter the city and deliver
produce and other goods.
One woman who owned trucks
was held by intimidation in a
union office and compelled 10
sign contract for labor which
she did not need.
In other cases, men were paid
for work which they did not
I perform.
But the Supreme Court laid
down the principle that an en-
4 ploye and employer relationship
Is established the instant that a
uniOneer hating his victim. of
+ ferS 10 drive his car. If only 10
. feet or six inches, provided the
offer is made in the name OF any
group calling itself a union.
My poll OF the list OF defend
ants shows that II of the origi-,
nal u had police records.
The charges ranged from such
! amiable indiScretions as crap
shooting. wife-beating and disor-
derby conduct while drunk 10
armed robbery. CounterfeitinG,
burglary and homicide.
ONE Of the honest workingnen
" who received the extortion
privilege under the courts inter-
I probation of the congressional
intent, had a l9-year acquaint-
ance with the police on one
charge Of grand larceny, two
charges of burglary. one OF rob-
berry and one OF feloniouS as
/ Sault.
Since his vindicaton as an
( honest tOiler by the court he has
been picked up in New York on
a fugitive warrant from New
Jersey charging him with afro
cious assault and rape,
One had a previous suspended
/ sentence on a forgery charge
and has since been sent 10 prison
on a local charge Of robbery.
One had been convicted once
of carrying a gun and twice OF
larceny and another had a rec
ord of two convictions for grand
larceny and two prison terms.
Another had six convictions
and a criminal record of 20
years and one Of the union Off
Gals who was acquitted has
since been indicted on a state
charge of extortion.
His first trial on this charge
resulted in a disagreement, but
he will be tried again.
The police and criminal rec
ords Of so many of the original
cast of defendants provide for
the unioneers. whom the SUI
preme Court held. collectively,
TO be a worthy labor union, a