Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1945-01-12
FAIR
ENOUGH
By Westbrook,
PeeIer'
IN ASKING Congress for a

- civilian labor draft, Presi-
dent Roosevelt now adds his
weight and power to a proposal
previously made by Mrs. Roose-
welt and Harry Hopkins in ar
ticles sold for their private
profit in their role Of journal
iStic eXcreScences.
Mrs. Roosevelt sold hers
through the newspaper syndi-
cate which distributes her copy
and Hopkins addressed his
warning and threat TO the pub
lie through a magazine.
AS in many other drastic rec
concentrations of the past. the
President leaves many difficult
details unconsidered and PROM
ises that, given great new pow
ers over the lives and liberties
of the civil population. his adj
ministration would use them
only 10 the extent absolutely
required and resort 10 compul-
sion only in rare instances.
Previous eXper ence has
shown, however, that powers
granted are exercised TO the
full and that compulSion is not
at all repugnant 10 his govern
mcnt.
Probably that is as il should
be and pretense' 10 the contrary
would seem 10 be mere wheed-
ling for the only reason 10
grant him powers Of compulsion
would be an emergency justify
ing its use.
NOBODY who advocates
~ civilian labor draft has yet
answered the question whether
a civilian exempt from the milf
tary draft for good reasons
would have 20 join the unior !
holding jurisdiction and a labor
contract with the employer on
the job.
Up 10 now the labor draft has
been operated in disguised form
by a dishonest application OF
the military draft which was
intended only 10 raise armed
forces and not 10 interfere with
the civil liberties of nonmlll-
tary citizens.
In such cases, where the
unions have had jurisdiction and
political power, the labor-draft-
res nave rad 10 JOIN and ms
Roosevelt vernm ent has
washed its hands of the queS-
tion of the citizens right within
/ the unions.
Most union constitutions fout
important sections Of the ma
! tional Constitution and thus
drafted civilian workers have
been deprived Of ~ important
rights by the coercive power Of
their government.
I GIVEN entire power TO draft
VI civilians 10 work in private
| industry under the general SUI
/ perviSion OF the government, ths
/ Roosevelt administration must
be expected TO follow the same
/ course still.
But how could II then punish
a drafted worker for refusing 10
! Join or 10 maintain his member
ship?
Gould he be sent 70 a couCen-
tration camp or deprived OF his
food rations, as in Germany and
Russia?
All the big union organiza-
tions have foreseen this and
some other difficulties and, for
the first time in their relation
as political protege OF the
Roosevelt government, have
baked at an apparent favor. a
In this extreme proposal. NJ "a
Roosevelt is being too good to-
/ them.
True, such compulSion would
present them with a gift
amounting potentially 10 all the
/ labor in the country, with the
usual dues and fees.
But in that case. Congress
would have 10 assert itself and
/ guarantee the labor draftces
certain rights within the unions
and that would be the first in
vasion by government OF the
secret and private powers Of
unioniSm.
All the prominent and power
( full unioneerS object 20 that for
they foresee that Mr. Roosevelt
might then begin 10 run The
unions as well as industry.
The unions might vanish into
national labor front owing all
/ It's benefits but also It's obedi-
ence 20 the. national govern
ment.
WHAT genuine shortage
Il exists there is reason 10
doubt.
The record of strikes i'm viola-
ton of the celebrated no-Strike
pledge has been diSgraceful and
the loss of work through the
idleneSS of nonstrikers affected
by the strikes of others has
been in geometric proportion
TO the hours missed by actual
strikers.
Moreover, as recently az
October the country was told
that the war program was pro-
ceeding efficiently.
And. still further, the fact /,
notorious that Woodwork and
standby union rules have noon
maintained at A cost of count.
less days of wasted manpower.
II civilian labor conScriptinn
Is now necessary, however. an
ithaca c,,o-tio,,,