Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-12-20


righteousness and still be, UNI
fortunately, American. Bigotry
for example, is deplorable, but
nevertheless American as recur-
rent waves in our history show.
THAT the boycott, carried to
4 its logical conclusion. is dan.
gerous I do not deny, however,
and / would like 10 say that
was being more ironic than seri-
Gus when / gently touched upon
the possibilities OF a boycott.
My purpose was to point out
that our Supreme Court and
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt have en-
dorsed this dangerous weapon
and l hoped I made il clear that
/ was not endorsing their en-
dorsement but warning Of its
possibilities.
Our Supreme Court endorsed
II in two Frankfurter opinions
which held that il was legiti-
mate for unions not only TO boy.
colt the merchandise OF inno-
cent. law abiding. tax paying
citizens who are entitled 10 the
protection of their government
but to do so for Legitimate pur-
poses and by false and malicious
propaganda.
I DO NOT understand Frank.
L furter at all and | insist that
his reputation as a liberal and
valuable citizen is undeserved.
think we are the worse off
for his service and influence
among us because in his most
conspicuous moments have
been unable 10 find him on the
side OF law and order which is
the side for a justice OF the
Supreme Court.
In the historic BiSbee depor-
tation case. he ignored the immi-
nent peril OF armed revolution
in an American community and
condemned the Americans who
beat the revolutionists 10 IL by
rounding them up and shipping
them of into New Mexico.
Had they not done this. there
might have been a terrible bat
tie in which innocent Americans,
residents OF the town and coun-
tryside. and including women
and children would have fallen.
In fact, that is what the jury
did decide in acquitting the de-
PENDANT in the test case.
Twice more, in the so-called
carpenters a s @ and the So
called cafeteria case, we found
Frankfurter deciding in favor
Of unions which admittedly lied
against unofending citizens with
intent to destroy them II thev(
persisted in their refusal TO yield
TO unfair demands.
In each case, the boycott was
bludgeon and the Supreme
Court gave II a fesounding cheer.
MRS. ROOSEVELTS endorse
AVA ment was not a matter OF
mere words. She acted out her
boycott in refusing to enter
theater which was being pick
eted without even considering
the facts and merits of the dis
pute.
Now there are many other
precedents and horrible exam.
Piles, but these will do TO Justify
counter-boycotts which could
produce some terrible results in
our country.
For example, if all the citizens
who voted Republican in the last
election were to organize a boy
colt. all the movies and plays in
which Communist and other
New Deal actors, writers and
producers were implicated and
all merchandise advertised on
the air by similar characters,
we would be divided into two
big mutually hateful families of
Hatfields and McCoys.
Nevertheless, il you extend
the reasoning Of Frankfurter
and Mrs. Roosevelt, that is
where you find yourself and ii
is not up to me TO say whether
that is where they would like
to find us.
If il isn't. they are being
reckless in pointing that way
as though some beautiful prom
Used land lay down the rough
road.
GENERALLY. boycotts -fop
~ even when d. Jared by
unions because the members.
find il inconvenient and expenH
sive TO comply.
OF course il a mob pickets a
store or spies are known to be
planted there to report u n o n
members who enter, the thing is
effective for just that long.
i suggest that the objections
to the boycott as a mass weapon
and discussions of the dangers
involved be addressed to Frank
furter and Mrs. r.
rN~l