The union times. (New Haven, Conn.) 1941-1948, 1944-04-08
Union Foes Launch
Another Drive To
Shackle Workers
Well Creased Lobbyists Push Repressve Laws Before
State Legislatures, While Seeking Tax Favors For
Special Groups-AFL Denounces Association

Foes of labor are waging another
campaign, state by state, to shackle
workers through restrictive legisla-
ton. A spearhead of the drive is the
miscalled christian American As
sociation," heavily financed by
sweatshoppers.
Branded by the A. F. of l.. as a
Fascist, Ku Klux Khan type of or
ganization, the association had
''well-greased'' lobbyists on hand
last year before many legislatures,
particularly in the South, to put
over repressive anti-labor bills.
In seven state lawmaking bodies,
the sweatshop bosses won out and
drastic laws designed to cripple unions
were placed on the statute books. Or
ganized labor has gone to the courts
to have them annulled as infringe
ments on the workers constitutional
rights.
Flushed with last years successes,
the christian American" propaganda
lists are again at work in many states.
Eight legislatures are in session, and
the associations agents are active in
many of these.
Also, in other states they are
seeking by referendum petitions
to put over constitutional amend
ments Outlawing the union
Shop
At the moment the association is
concentrating its activity in Arkansas
and has placed big advertisements in
daily newspapers urging the states
citizens to sign petitions placing the
amendment on the ballots for the fall
election. Freedom to work" is the
false slogan used by. the associations
agents to describe the amendment.
The Fort Smith (Ark.) "Union
News A. F. of L. organ, de-
nounced the associations maneu-
vering as un-American, and pointed
out that its leader, Vance Muse of
Houston, Texas, was many years
ago secretary-treasurer of the mo-
torious american Taxpayers Assoc
ciatiOn."
The latter organization was
financed by the DUP Points, Melons,
insult and other big business mag
mates and IObbied nationally for a
reduction of income taxes on the
rich, the "Union News pointed
out.
Another hacker was John Henry
Kirby, millionaire Houston lumber
man. Significantly, the Christian
Americans now have headquarters
in the Kirby Building, built by the
lumber mOgul i'm Houston.
Muse is doing a double-barred job
for these interests now. He is not
only leading the campaign for lynch
labor" legislation, but he is reported
to be key figure in move to put
over resolutions in state legislatures
calling for a Federal constitutional
amendment limiting the taxing pow
ers of Congress, SO that the wealthy
may have their taxes permanently re-
duced. Fifteen states have adopted
such resolutions.
In the state legislatures now in
session the christian Americans
and their sweatshOp hackers have
not had any exceptional success.
So far, according to the Depart
ment of Labor, only Mississippi is
considering bill to ''crack'
unions. This measure would outlaw
the ''union shop" prohibit referral
of men to jobs through unions and
place other drastic restrictions on
organized labor.
Meanwhile, in the state of Wash
ington. a new labor-baiting organiza-
ton, calling itself the Citizens Com
mittee for Industrial Peace" and re-
putedly fronting for the notorious
Associated Farmers" has begun cir
culating petitions for a referendum
on a law that would virtually pro-
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