The Wilmington morning star., 1944-09-10
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

NEW YORK. - On Labor day, President
Roosevelt sent a message to the convention,
in Philadelphia, of the Office Workers Union
of the CLIO in which he said:
II know your union and its membership
will be helping in every way they CAM to
strengthen national unity for speedy vic
tory, a durable peace and full employment"
Mr. Roosevelt knows nothing of the kind.
He does know that on the contrary, this union
is sector of the communist front in the
United States, that its president who calls
himself Lewis Merrill, bore another name
when he entered this country from Canada,
and that it Is in a position to plant spies In
confidential positions in American industry to
obtain secrets and fitch documents and plans
for the furtherance of the communist conspir-
acy against the security peace and prosper
ity of the American people.
He knows that it was one Of those commu-
mist front groups which, in the days prior
to the invasion of Russia by Hitler in June,
1941, loudly opposed the American rearma-
ment program, using the m arguments
which, at that time, were used by the Nazs
in this country with whom the communists
were in full agreement on the righteousness of
Adolph Hitler's cause. He knows that on one
occasion, through the work of spy planted
in confidential position in New York, Mike
Quill, president of the Transport Workers I'm
ion, also consistent follower of the commu-
mist line, was enabled to perpetrate lawless,
violent raid on private business premises in
collaboration with employees of Marshall
Field.
He knows, in short, all about this union not
only because it was part of that group which
picketed the White House against the rearma-
ment program, but also because Roosevelt
would never have sent any message without
first ascertaining its political character and
learning the background of its leading Off
Gu ho bI1f have known at
it officially supported the American peace mo-
Utilization, of which the one who calls himself
Merrill was a member, during the strong and
often violent communist campaign of sabotage
against this nations program OF arming
against war. *,
Unlike those sincere Americans who opposed
Rcosevelt's course for patriotic reasons prior
to Pearl Harbor, the organization to which
the President contributed such prestige as his
message may confer, was anti-War only as
long as Hitler and Stain were allies. Within
"a hours after their alliance was broken the
communist line in the United States changed
to all out military, moral and economic sup.
port of Russia and Merrill and his union
changed, too. $s7s
The stealthy course opened to-, communist
plan of infiltration and espionage in American
industry and business, and in the private at
fairs of executives by Roosevelts so-called
labor policy is easily apparent. Under the
powers assumed by the LdDOI RelduoHS bOdrQ
and other agencies, created, as confusing and
harassing makeshifts by Roosevelt under the
pretext OF war with an organization whose
adherence to the C. o m m nj S program
has been emon tr a tie throughout
it's life Moreover also under the pretext
of war necessity, the Roosevelt government
has been compelling employers to accept APP
plicants for jobs on the recommendation OF
unions. The ultimate aim is to compel EN-
blowers to accept confidential secretaries
whom they cannot trust and otherwise would
not hire In principle this is no novelty for
the Roosevelt government already has given
to many unions the right to supply workers
to fill vacancies, depriving the employer OF
any right of refusal.
| The President affront to the patriotism of
loyal Americans including those in the fight
ing forces, and particularly white collar work
ers, was made the more poignant by the
nro1ninent presence at the Philadelphia meet
ing of the one who calls himself Joe Curran,
president of the National Maritime Union. This
| organization also is infested with communists
including many Europeans who do not even
read or speak the language of the United
States and like Merrilrs union, followed the
party line before and after the attack on Rus
STA.
Both of these, incidentally, were loud in
| their demands for the opening of second