Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-12-13
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook "
Peeler

NOW we do seem to be up
y against it. Whether for
lack of manpower or 'inade-
quate planning. or both to-
gether and a variety of other
reasons, our war production is
deficient and must be boosted
and there is plan afoot to
pay postwar bonuses TO war
workers for sticking to their
jobs and oblique and stronger
pressures are being exerted TO
prevent transfers.
But even in this desperate
situation, the Roosevelt admin
istration fiercely refuses to
grant to Americans at home
the one fundamental right that
has been abrogated from the
beginning for the political bene-
fit of the Roosevelt party and
of the union politicians of his
adherence. including the notori-
Gus underworld gangsters and
more stately racketeers of the
ALL and the Communists Of
the Go.
Though production falls and
fighters die for the lack of suf-
ficiency, the ostensibly free
American civilian still may not
work at lathe or loom except
on condition that he waive an
element of his freedom and ciii-
zenship and join and pay moral
and financial tribute to a union.
THAT is the proposition and
L in favor of that proposition
a slight ma ority of the voters
of the nation voted in the re-
cent election, thereby attemnt-
ing TO destroy by majority vote
the right OF large minority,
which is the way of democracy.
Under tf1fsT union rule, rs
every honest union politician
admits in his moments Of pri-
vate candor, man power IS
wasted in mock work by au-
thority OF the Supreme Court
and men and women are re-
stricted to arbitrary limits Of
production, as in the tire indtis-
try, considerably below their
capacity 10 produce without
hardship or danger 10 their
health.
Under this rule, citizens are
subjected TO a discipline which
invades their constitutional
rights in many ways and ex-
poses them 10 harrassment by
threats and actual violence.
Under this rule, good workers
may be and may have been put
off their jobs for expression of
their political beliefs. which con-
stitutes "ununionlike" conduct,
although that privilege is in
herent in their citizenship. and
for refusal TO pay political
assessments for candidates and
measures abhorrent 10 them,
and have been ordered 10 attend
political rallies for such candi-
dates under penalty of fine for
failure.
I HAVE had hundreds of fran
Il tic advertisements appealing
10 workers 10 commit them
selves 10 jobs in conditions OF
hardship in far places for their
country's sake. but with the
first condition that they must be
members Of this or that political
subdivision OF the Roosevelt
party or willing 10 join and pay
fees and dues arbitrarily decided
long in advance and without
consultation Of their wishes.
There is no question. indeed.
IL never has been denied. that
the bosses of these organiza-
tions are political henchmen
who, in many cases, have arbi-
trarily dipped into their treas
uries for campaign contribu-
tons.
Hundreds of thousands OF
workers, deprived of their
normal jobs and occupations by
the Shrinkage due 10 the war.
have submitted TO all this rather
than withhold themselves from
great patriotic effort but with
the mental reservation that they
did this under protest.
TO MANY, deceived by the
L clamor of the New Deals
violent propaganda. this has
seemed to be an unimportant
concession and more than COM
pensated by rates of pay which
are abnormal BY comparison
with peacetime rates but no
longer luxurious when taxes
are deducted and the increase
in the cost of living has been
met. J.
The danger here is that such
Americans. like the Italian
laborers in the early days OF
Mussolini. have not realized
that that which they have
waived would be beyond any
price and, like the Italian work.
ers. have been made grateful
TO glamorized leader and
ostensible friend and resentful
against those who would MAIN
tain the liberties that others
have the intelligence to know
and cherish for themselves and
for the fighters who are away.
The situation now more
plainly than ever is one in
which the powers of the union
politicians, all sub-leaders and
bosses of the governing and
ruling party, and their privilege