Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-08-10
FAIR
ENOUGH
Westbrook
Pegler
THE newspaper coverase and

i discussion of the PhiladH
phia transportation strike n
been so confused that the pup
lie cannot possibly understand
the fundamental issues. Legal
rights of every worker IN the
country have been ignored as
though they had been waived
out OF existence.
And here, in dramatic and
excited clamor. American citi-
zens are repiled as though they
were traitors 10 their sons and
brothers in the war because
they rebelled against the rule
of an organization which is an
auxiliary Of President Roose-
velt's political party.
Now. if they refuse TO submit.
the leaders may 60 10 jail and
the rank and file rebels will be
blackballed from all employ
ment in fragrant violation OF
and of their rights as
Americans and human beings.
That un awful ostracism
would mean poverty, hunger,
dispossesslon and social degra-
dalton for the men and their
families.
THE recognized union IN this
case is that OF the transport
workers It IS New York cell
Of the Communist from, and
notorious for its brutal vio-
lence 10 every anti-Communist
American member who dares 20
raise his voice, and for ITS dc
tatorial rule
II is part Of Sidney Hill
mans Communist front OF IL.
Go and IL enjoys The favor
the department of justice,
Francis Biddle. the attorney
general. sneaked up hidden
star IN Chicago during the
recent Democratic convention
to make political obeisance 10
Hlllman.- remarklng- the
hearing of credible newspaper
reporter. Il never thought !
would do this for any man
Biddle has ordered an IN.
Nestlgaton and sent an assist.
ami 10 Philadelphia The EBI.-
which Biddle commands. has
detectives on The scene There
have been sneaking inslnuatlonS
rr1zt rupTuy agents may have
inspired The strike
And a dispatch 10 the New
York 'ffnTcs fesds oS with
the cratultouS. irrelevant and
pre- judicial observation that the
strike provided Berlin and
Tokyo with A "lndfall OF
propaganda
TT IS here predicted that the
F'Bl will not prove that
enemy agents we're involved and
that Blddle will uphold the
Communist adhcrentS OF Sidney
Hillman. the man he called on
In Chicago.
The FIRST basic truth 70 be en-
phasiZed - that the workers
here did not vote 10 accept this
+ union As their bargaining agent.
They we're not even asked
whether they would accept II
as their political agent
For every II who voted 20
recognize Communists nine
voted their refusal Neverthe-
lcSS. The Communists became
tteA-bafeaftffng as~tf'-fof the
large and almost equal dissent
me minority
In addition. these Com,
ni>tS. according N their r.is
and their understanding with
tho Roosevelt administration.
have presumed 10 represent
them politically
The New York Herald. Trlh-
une says that # The strikers
persisted in noutine the Law. the
union they had chosen 10 rep
resent them and the fundamen-
tai teneis NJ democracy. u was
-that-eo coercion -sf--
Piled
DUT no law has been fouted
- by the strikers. We have
#nnAaw- againStstTIies| aHd-tife
reason is that Roosevelt for
hade passage OF any such law.
All We have had is a promise nv
tho union bosses that there
would be no war. industry
strikes, given in return for a
promise that no such law
would be enacted
That promise has been vio-
lated 10000 times and The
whole bargain. therefore, is off.
But the law does say the work.
ers may bargain through agents
Of their own free choice. and
that law was violated IN 'he
recognition Of a Communist
front political organization.
which they had specifically re-
jected
The immediate issue was the
upgradlng of Negro workers.
II is held 10 he undemocratic
and un-American 10 discriml.
nate on grounds cf race or re.
+ ligion.
DUT the same authorities who