The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-22
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
(Copyrigh t,1944, by King Features Syndicate

NEW YORk,-l am so Drlgnt l sometimes
wonder how stand it but just go on giving
myself day after day and today I thought
would tell you something about the obliga-
tons and restrictions imposed on so many
millions of our people by Mr.. Roosevelt's high
minded friends Of the union racket, including
of course, the thieves and gorillas who for
merly had to use their wits to get by but
now -ely on the Wagner act, the War Labor
board and good old Professor Vicente of the
Supreme court
led myself into this subject few days
ago when I tossed off learned essay on
Joe Pathways threat to call sort Of general
strike of the A. F. of L. against the states
of Florida and Arkansas because their citi-
zens, by popular vote in the recent election,
adopted constitutional amendments affirming
a mans right to work though he should re-
fuse to join union
This imported American doesn't like the
constitutions OF these two states of our glori-
Gus union and would punish the people thereof
for daring to flout his will. Naturally we
want to know what sort of constitutions he
does like, for which information we turn to
my little library of constitutions some of which
incidentally, are very hard to get, even if
fellow happens to be a member. For
ample, l was talking the other day to a
poor working stiff, a common man as Henry
Wallace, a very uncommon m n himself,
would call the guy, who had just had his
ears kicked off the the president Of his local
for protesting against a speed-up arranged
by the mob in command. When 1 read his
union book and saw some mention of sick
benefits and burial fund 1 asked what
are these sick and burial funds?"
'Huh?'' the guy said Il dunno. 1 never
heard of them. They don't leave us see the
constitution
Oh, before 1 60 any further, l want to
show you how Padway and Mr.. Big team
up in this thing. Roosevelt sent Padway over
to Europe last year in company with old
Dan Tobin as a representative of American
labor" That shows you how he stands with
the boss.
Well, here is the oath that American
sailor has to take when Mr.. Big's political
henchmen drive him into the National Mari
time Union:
Il solemnly swear to be the true and loyal
to the union and the labor cause and to obey
all rules the union may adopt
That means the sailor obligates himself. in
advance to follow the Communist party line
when the union follows the line as it has
done pretty consistently from the beginning, 1
even though he may sincerely believe the I
union has adopted rules inimical to~the Unitedsi
States.
This one is in the constitution of the boil
ermaker's union:
IT member be SO indiscreet as to buy
or cause to be bought goods without the union
label or patronize an unfair shop or restau-
rant, he shall be tried and, if found guilty
fined not less than S. nor more than $40.
This clause invites the ruling clique to
blacklist any shop, restaurant or product and
divert the patronage of the members to 1iv-
ais in trade who might be willing to lay
little something on the line in return for the
favor.
In the same constitution it is written that
the hundreds Of thousands Of members m u
buy life insurance under a group policy nego-
tiated by the son of the unions president, |
now emeritus, who gets a commission on ev-
cry dollar Of the premiums. II they don't keep |
up their insurance payments so that the old
mans son can collect his share, they can't
work even in the Kaiser shipyaTds, and no
matter how desperate the labor shortage.
Here is hot one from the constitution
of the old Browne-Eioff racket in the movie
and theatrical trades for which PadWay was
general counsel:
II solemnly pledge my word OF honor as
a man to abide by the constitution and by
laws of local 225 and abide by its rules without
resort to court Of law
These two filthy gangsters were two OF the
most vicious criminals in the whole union
racket at the very time when Padway was
yet the constitution forbade the stiffs to ap-
peal to the public courts for their rights And
in accordance with the hammy Ku Klux tradi-
ton which still prevails in many Of these
improvements, the new brother being mi
tiated was required to take your fellow
brother by the right hand, place your left
hand over your heart and repeat your obi |
CATION
The presidents welcoming address to the
new joiners leads off by saying that nothing
in the vow conflicts with any civil or -e-
lgous beliefs" and two paragraphs later de-
mics him access to the courts and the system
of justice established by centuries OF struggle.
To Padway this seems to have been all
right. 1t seems okay to him, too, That the
constitution of the musicians union for which
he now is counsel delivers the members into
utter slavery by means of a clause granting
Jimmy Petri1lo the power to suspend tn
whole constitution at will and rule as absolute
dictator And the constitution OF the team
sters, as you may remember grants to old
Dan Tobn, Roosevelts pal, the most luxuri-
GUS and elaborate scale of free living at the
members expense in addition to ms salary
Of $4,000 a year, with a provision mat tnls
goes for Dan only and not for any successor
It is like the British arrangements 1or tne
maintenance of the royal family ana there
is. moreover, a special article which makes
if much more serious offense to take poke
at old Dan or any other member OF the royal
class than to make pass at some conmonef
q, lesser official It is lese majestic and no
Kidding to throw hook at old Dan and this