Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1944-07-28
Whats
New?
By
Duck
Educational
Director,
Local II
OH. DEMOCRACY!

dCNh Sdli quolS scripture.
have before me a pseudo
sincere pamphlet, a copy Of
which you'll soon be receive
ing, which bemoans an al
legged lack of democracy in
this region of the UAW-CIO.
Democracy is at a low ebb
in Region 2B," according to
the author, who prefers to
sign his literary gem with
such an abstract monicker as
THE Rank and File Unity
Committee of Region 2B."
Brother, if you only knew
the identity of some of those
who assembled in private
caucus last Tuesday evening
to plot their would be revolu-
ton within the union, you'd
understand why they prefer
to remain anonymous.
Defeated union politicians
of former years, political OPP
portunists, and selfishly am
bilious lads who couldn't fool
all the people all OF the time,
have banded themselves to-
gether in an all-out attempt
to defeat the present regional
director in the coming election
OF International Executive
Board members.
1t occurs to me that if these
people really had something
of merit to say, they would
come right out and say it,
without indulging in the usual
cloak of anonymity.
But what strikes me most of
all is the fact that some of
those who proclaim such a
yen for democracy on Tues
day didn't care too much for
it the previous Sunday when
they conducted the most dis
graceful excuse for a union
meeting in the history of Lo-
cal IL.
One committeeman, plaster
ed to the gills, disrupted the
meeting from start TO finish.
excepting for few brief mo-
ments when he stepped out
for snort or two. And the
worst part Of it is that this was
the second meeting he had at
tended since last February, in
spite of the fact that the Unit
bylaws require the removal
from office of any committee
man who absents himself from
two consecutive meetings.
IL you recall, this is the
person who claimed TO doubt
my sincerity" a short time ago.
When you receive your
pamphlet, consider h csc
words, and weigh them against
the balderdash the anonymous
authors are handing you!
MOB RULE
Now, the real reason why
this meeting was taken over
by mob rule is, that | had pre-
ferred charges against one of
the pugnacious lads buddies.
| didn't have the opportunity
OF propositioning that mon
partisan gathering last Sun
day, so here's something for
upwards of 5000 workers of
that shop to consider:
The defendant was acquitted
because the trial committee
recommendation did not re-
ceive the necessary two-thirds
majority approval, Be that as
1t may, If the defendant now
cares to submit to a lie de-
tector test, with the under
standing that if he is found
guilty he will Immediately
tender his resignation as
committeeman and agree not
to run for any union office
for three years, | will, in turn
agree that il he is telling the
membership the truth, | will
resign my union office imme-
and promise never to
hold an elective or appointed
office I'm the CIO. In addition,
| will agree TO forfeit my nine
and half years seniority in
hat plant, and never attend
another unit meeting as long
rs live.
CHALLENGE
There's your challenge, boys.
As for the little man with
he big voice, who took off on
local IL so vehemently, let
ne say tina, he will be doing
iuite well II he just pays the
local the money he has owed
{ for so many years.
Furthermore, IL anyone still
wishes to debate the subject
# their record against the To-
al administrations, the chal-
enge | made to any or all Of
hem last fall still holds good.
believe that workers of this
PARTICULAR shop would be in
crested in knowing that one
ormer high official of their
init, who was defeated last
February, and who is now
supervisor, stands IN excellent
'hance OF being elevated TO