Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-17
Congress
May Put Curb
On Unions
Anti-Racketeerine Law
Faces Amendment
By WESTBROOK PEGLER


A FTER a long brawl with the
administration and the
unions II appears at last that
the Congress, in this session.
will adopt laws to place re-
sponsibility on the union move
ment and protect the people
and the worker from the reck-
less behavior of this undisci-
pllned political giant
At this writing the program
calls for an amendment to the
old Copeland anti-racketeering
law whereby unions would be
deprived of their present right
TO commit highway robbery and
eXtortion, the compulsory incor-
poration of unions. public ac-
counting of their funds and a
provision to forbid political con-
trlbutionS from union treasur-
les in elections of candidates for
national office.
In the House, the Republicans,
who have been inclined 10 rib
the Democrats about union
atrocities but unwilling them
selves 10 risk the initiative be-
cause they feared the so-called
union vote, have agreed TO 90
along part way this time.
They viii support incorpora-
ton accountability for union
money and the forbddance OF
campaign contributions.
TIIE antirobbery and eXtor-
Il ton amendment. offered by
Sam Hobbs Of Alabama, has been
reported out of the judiciary
committee and seems likely to
pass the House. al least. and
there is every reason to expect
that Republicans will help TO
pass IT,
4 subsection OF the Hobbs bill
would outlaw interference with
interstate shipments OF war ma
tcrialS and all troop movements.
That seems a reasonable pro-
poSal for. after all. not even a
union should have right 10
commit such interference even
for the advancement of It's own
interest. which the Supreme
Court has held 20 be superior
10 the public, but it is not sure
TO pass.
There has been so much ballv-
hoo about the sanctity of union
ism under the New Deaf that
this restriction might he de-
fcated or just Silenced as a re-
dictionary attempt 10 diSarm
labor OF It's best weapon.
MO POLITICAL doctor. but
~ merely country bone
setter. / would say that the
proposal Of incorporation is not
important. among the others
because once accountability
becomes fixed and political
contributions are forbidden. the
unbelievable thievery. racketeer-
inc and political corruption will
he Curbed and the results 10 be
expected from incorporation will
be achieved anyway.
This fact is clear today that
Congress has turned on the adj
minStration in the whole matter
of privileges Of the unions. The
administration has yielded moth
ing and any part Of this pro-
. gram that finally becomes law.
Will be a rehuke TO the whole
administration and tho New
Deal party from tho President
on down through the Supreme
Court.
THIS change registers the fan
Il mail that the members ~
tho national legislature have
been receiving from the people
back home and the sentiments
which they heard on their home
grounds az election time.
They have been convinced that
tho people are not with such
union bosses aS William Green
OF the AFL. and Philip Murray
Of tho Go and are not just
ready for hut demanding re-
form
In fact. some Of the more con-
scientiouS union men want re-
form as the only alternative 10
the destruction of the union
movement.
II may be too late TO save the
union movement even now. but
It's fall. if il should GO. would
be due only in part 10 the out
rageouS conduct Of the unions in
the last decade.
The great danger is that with
compulsory war labor and with
the government as the chief en-
ployer fixing the terms and con-
ditions Of employment. the
unions will become nonessential
for the duration.
THAT could mean for years
and they could fall apart in
that time and the people might
not raise a hand 10 keep them
intact
But for the present, we have
reaction in Congress against not
only the stupid rule Of the big
unioneerS but against the gov
ernment's unfairneSs to nom
union workers and employers
and its alliance with organiza-
tionS which have shown them
selves 10 he enemies of the
rights OF tho American Deonlo