Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-03-10
Clio Ous+ing
Of BrawIer
Is Tip to AFl.
Prompt Resignation" q
Official Commended
By wESTBROOK PEGLER

DETROIT. March 10.-Last
~ week. after a thorough
search of the police and court
records. these dispatches dis
closed that q man with a record
as a white-slaver, bootlegger
and brawler had been feted by
officials of the National War
Labor Board and of the textile
workers union Of the Go in,
Worcester, Mass. on his eleva-
tion to the office of president OF
the Central Massachusetts joint
board of that union, embracing
% locals.
The next day there was a.
follow-story reporting the per-
sonal Discrimination Of a press
agent for the New England
regional War Labor Board, a
public employe. himself presi-
dent of CIO local in Worces-
ter. namely. the Newspaper
Guild, to publish the facts OF the
case on the ground that this
would be more harmful 10 the
workers than the continuing ac-
tivity of a man who. il now
appears, had managed 10 conceal
his record from his fellow towns
men of the rank and file.
Twenty-four hours later, how
ever, the Massachusetts state d.
rector of the union announced
that the new president OF the
Joint board had resigned, pre-
sumably by request, effective at
once.
The director added. without
disputing the facts as published.
that nevertheless they had been
exaggerated and colored and in
sisted that the retiring Official
was not. AS stated, a habitlCy
loafer. but on the contrary. y
mill worker, employed steadily
since 1899.
THIS prompt action OF a group
L of Go unions 10 remove an
underworld character from a
position of authority and power
is the first OF its kind and pre-
sents a contrast 10 the conduct
Of the American Federation Of
Labor in many similar and
worse cases.
The higher councils OF the
textile workers. poverty trade
in need of clean, responsible or
ganization, apparently disagreed
with the president OF the Wor-
cester Newspaper Guild. and
they will be respected for their
decision. whereas William Green,
the president OF the AFL, and
others Of the arrogant hierarchy
of the older group have aroused
opposition in and out OF the
unions and brought the AFL
into disrepute as a front for
racketeers.
The textile workers union will
gain, not lose, by this prompt.
honest admission OF error. for
they have closed the incident
with honor.
GREEN made very bad deci.
~ sion about four years ago
when he took the attitude that
| attacks on the crooks who in
, fest his organization were At
tacks on labor. He tolerated a
/ pro- gram OF counterattack
through a number OF dirty little
union publications which are. in
themselves, rackets used IA
intimidate merchants and other
employers and 10 promote the
| crooked enterprises OF union
racketeers.
Had Green admitted. for etS
ample. that, through careless.
ness over the years and in the
confusion of the scuff1e with
John l.. Lewis and the Go,
gangSters and other traitors "a
labor had acquired power in
AFL unions and had he sim
cerely tried 10 throw them out,
he would have spared his or
ganization the scandal which
has disgraced the ALL itself.
Infested though il is with
Communists more dangerous be-
cause of their intelligence. dill
gence and subtIety than the
common crooks of the AFL. the
Go nevertheless is by common
admission. including mine. in
hospitable and unattractive to
ordinary racketeers.
Still. that was no assurance
that If crook was uncovered
in high position in Go union.
the reaction would be honest
and decent. The present test
case, met swiftly and without
pain, shows that the AFL has
paid heavily for the mistake of
Mr.. Green.
Copyright by United Features synd, In
To die is landing on some silent
shore
Where pillows never break, nor
tpmppSts roar.