The Wilmington morning star., 1944-04-15
BY wEsTBRooK PEGLER


NEW YORK-Strictly as matter OF educa-
ton in the communist pressure on our Amer1-
can government, I should like to cite today
some further information from the minutes OF
meetings of the National Maritime Union.
mean to pcove that foreigners who cannot
read, write or speak the language of this
country and cannot be citizens, vote on resolu-
lions to the government, send political tele-
grams in great numbers and are active in
the fou1 th-term campaign.
The National Maritime Union some Of
whose officials use false names, is holding
membership meeting in New York and is
discussing slackerism by members who tarry
ov,r-long ashore between voyages. Brother
Robinson, of the trial committee, is explaining
Why the union was unable to fill crews for
outbound ships from its own roster out of its
own hiring hall. 1t had been neceaaryy to
ship many nonunion members and, to the
union officers, who never go to sea, this was
serious embarrassment as it showed they
did not speak for all the actual, seagoing
merchant sailors.
another thing that we had a little trouble
With,'' Brother Robinson said, twas the fact
that many members did not have the infor-
nation regarding shipping rules) for the rea-
son that they had difficulty with the language
and couldn't find anyone speaking their Ian
guage to explain it to them. These rules, which
have been memeographed for English speak
ing members should be mmeographed in Ger
tain other languages
The same meeting then adopted a resolu-
ton calling on President Roosevelt to over
ride the American courts, the evidence and
the ruling of the attorney general and cancel
the order of deportation against Harry
Bridges. communist enemy of the Aneri-
can government and permit him to become
citizen.
The motion was carried by vote in which
no provision was made to exclude those aliens
who can neither read nor understand the Ian
guage of the United States.
Nett came communication instructing the
members not excluding the aliens, to write
to the Senators demanding action and a roll
call on the communist resolution to repeal
the poll tax. The union itself employs poll
tax enforcing it rigidly in all its own affairs,
but has been campaigning against a much
milder usage of the same tax in the public
elections ir eight southern states
The proposition threatening the Senators
was adopted. On another occasion, all men,
bers present, including the aliens, were order
ed to send kilograms to the War Labor Board.
''supporting our CASE.
"This is chance to get our beefs straight
ened out, said brother Stack, one of the ruling
group. After the meeting there will be girl
at the desk to take the wires. So, if you
haven't already done so you can send it out
them
Thus the War Labor Board may know if
it doesn't know already, that such wires are
not Spontaneous expressions but compulsory
parroting OF the political program of COM
munist group nor necessarily even con1rnu-
nications from Americans.
In this connection, I have letter from an
American who was not allowed to send con-
gratulations to a relative who was being mar
ried and six other complaints from Ameri-
cans who would have liked to send Easter
greetings, but for patriotic reasons didn't
even try. l have also a memorandum report
ing that during Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt's re-
cent war-winning expedition to the boys in
the Caribbean area, President Roosevelt sen,
her message on the seth anniversary of
their wedding.
Rounding out today's lesson, permit me to
report that in Los Angeles, the agent Of the
NMU announced that all members, including,
of course the foreigners, should have to sign
pledge cards obligating themselves to work