Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1945-10-12
WESTBROOK
PECLER
Fair
Enough &

ice men in the preliminary
phase of their more abundant
life in that brave new world OF
the future.
Number one is related by a
man who signs himself A. NJ.
Ellis, 14034S97. T/Sergeant.
Squadron s., 3704 AAF Base
Unit, Keesler Field, Miss.
Several weeks ago this man
wrote me a statement of his
problem. In reply. asked him
for original documents or cer-
titled copies which have now
been received. His story is this:
Last Jan. 5 he was ordered TO
the Rheem Manufacturing Co.,
Danville. Pa, as machinist 10
relieve an acute labor shortage
in the production of a type of
shell which was gently
needed.
He was hired for 90 days as
tool-room machinist and ordered
TO work at once but only on
condition that he Join the ma
chinists' union which had a
closed shop contract.
This. he writes. he refused TO
do because he was soldier on
orders from the war depart
ment.
4 RMY officers joined company
"A officials in urging him 10
join but, being a soldier, he still
refused.
incidentally, had he joined
and had the union struck the
plant, he would have had 10
strike. too. in violation of mill
tary orders IN which case he
might have been sent TO prison.
Now he became a civilian and
was sent back 10 the Kentucky
Shell Co. in that status.
he spent about $500 for
civilian clothing and tools. but,
after two weeks. the Cincinnati
ordnance district ordered him
10 Arlington, n. j., where he
was told there was no work for
a man of mis- particular skill.
ELLIS then applied 10 the en-
IL listed reserve headquarters.
50 Broadway, New York. for
permission to seek a Job as a
free. independent civilian.
On July 5, Ellis writes. he
was recalled 10 the army and is
now doing nothing except lying
around barracks and hundreds
Of others here received similar
deals.
A discrepancy is noted.
Sgt. Ellis writes that at Dan
vile, he was soldier under
military orders whereas letter
10 him from the RhAem Manu-
featuring Co, states that he was
on a 90-day furlough. / do not
know whether a soldier on fur
Tough but under orders is guilty
Of military offenSe IL ne should
strike the Job 10 which tho war
department assigns him. IL
seems to be a new legal prob
lem.
NO. 2 is related in a letter
~ signed Marion l. Martin,
1t. Cmdr.. USCGR." accompa-
MED by a copy of letter from
HIM 10 Albert Thomas, member
OF Congress.
MI. Martin relates he
and two others, George II.
Blewett and Leonard w. Har-
per. have operated the T.S.C.
motor freight lines with head
quarters in Houston, Tex. start
ing in 1894 with 2S trucks and
% employees and expanding
until 1912 when their business
employed 400 workers and OPP
Grated 100 trucks with an an
nual business OF 81 500, 900.
This was their private enter
prise.
Harper enlisted in the army
in 1912. received the Bronze
Star and rose 20 the rank Of
major. stationed, until recently
AT least, in India. Martin Joined
the coast guard reserve. also
in 1912. and recently went on
leave expecting 10 90 inactive
/ soon.
The letter 20 the congress-
man related that in 1887 the
AFL Transfers, bossed by Dan
Tobin. a political protege OF
the late r. y. Roosevelt, tried
to organize the employees of
T.SC., who nevertheless by
vote joined an independent
union. Jurisdictional arguments
between Tobin's union and the
independent have occurred al
most annually but. without
exception. at the showdown,
the independent union proved
10 represent by a large major
ity the eligible employees.
The law and Labor Relations
Board, of course, compelled the
company 10 deal with the indie
pendent union which thus re-
Ceived a new contract lac
January.
Thereupon. Martins letter re
lateS. Tobin's union declared a
boycott 70 prevent other COM
panies from interchanging
freight in interstate commerce,
as required by law, incluh Ne.
much of the time, vital VAT
freight and government freight
10 shipyards where his employees
are forbidden 10 unload material
for construction and repair OF
ships of war.
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