Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-06
First Lady
Suggests We
Draft Labor
But How Would Proposal
Affect Union Fees?
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

LIVERY now and again Mrs.
II Roosevelt flies kite to
test the wind or get us ready for
something new.
A few weeks ago Mrs. Roose-
welt dropped hint in her coll
umn which has been on my
mind ever since.
I'VE had some interesting dis
cussions Sunday In the White
House on the subject OF what
the general attitude Of the peO-
pie should be during this war
period" Mrs. Roosevelt wrote.
1--WE come to one clear de-
cision, namely, that all OF US,
men and women In the services
and men and women at home,
should be drafted and told what
Is the Job we are to do.
"The only way 1 can see tn
get the maximum service out OF
our citizens II to draft us all
and to tell Us where we can be
most helpful and where our work
Ii needed"
Now surely this is not mere
irresponsible babble like that OF
a child who drinks in the dinner
table chat of the family and then
goes next door TO blab 10 the
neighbors what mama and papa
said about them.
So / take this 10 be prellm-
mary presentation OF serious
proposal.
DUT. assuming that such con-
- scription of civilians does
come, will each OF us so drafted
be compelled to join one or more
of the unions and. in the juris-
diction of the AFL. pay initia-
ton fees of from Sl9 to $1,000
for the privilege of serving
under compulsion, plus special
assessments, dues and other
fees?
There is no reason TO think
otherwise because the govern
ment for which Mrs. Roosevelt
speaks with the feed-box author
ity of one who sells for profit
interesting discussions which
take place in the privacy Of the
national palace. has bitterly
fought those elected representa-
tives of the people who have
tried to adopt laws 10 protect
the people from the bosses OF
the unions
IN THE day Of Pearl Harbor
~ an arbiter appointed by the
President delivered a decision
which compelled minority OF
coal miners in a certain area TO
Join John l.. Lewis union. thus
denying these men the right TO
be represented by bargaining
agents selected by their own
free choice.
This is the same union from
which Mrs. Roosevelt's admin
istration eagerly accepted a
great contribution or loan OF
money in the 1896 campaign.
we'll knowing that the rank and
file miners had not been con-
suited.
Now | realize that the Presi-
dent has made a mess of union
relations and that an abrupt
reform which took the form of
a hostile reputation of his lead
ership in this field would harm
us all and hearten the enemy.
But. obviously, we cannot drift
into total consumption without
adopting guarantees that such
conscripts would be subject to
no authority but that OF our
lawful government.
In the lack of such guarantees,
man drafted to drive a truck.
for example. and refusing to
join the transfers union. would
be Stacker and candidate
for a concentration camp or
prison.
THE need of such reforms was
Il great before the war began,
for the right Of the people TO
work at lawful civilian occupa-
tons in time Of peace was being
flouted by the unions and with
the encouragement Of the gov
eminent, including the Supreme
Court.
But the whole people were not
aware Of the situation and il
took time TO educate them and
Congress.
Now. however. they know and
Mrs. Roosevelt had better real
ize that they will never accept
CONSUMPTION for work as a pat
riotic duty. subject TO union tax
ing powers and the intrusion OF
union bosses, most of them ig-
norant. cruel men and women,
into their private affairs.
I TOO, but with some reluct-
l., ance, am inclining to the idea
that this will be long war,
that il will be necessary 10 draft,
or anyway, TO compel labor
eventually, and that il were bet
ter TO anticipate this situation
than to be too late, as our side
has been so many times in this
war.
Way back in January, New
Zealand, ordinarily a free coun-
try. authorized the minister OF
national service TO draft anv(
person for work in defense in
dustries and our danger is no
less than hers in the presence
of the same enemies, although
hers is closer geographically.
But / doubt that i'm New Zea-