Detroit evening times., 1945-10-09
WESTBROOK
PECLER 4,
Fair
Enough

dent Truman will recommend 10
Congress any legal reform to
diminish the dangerous powers
of unions.
There are some in Congress
who look forward 10 a winter
OF fighting and public suffering
and rather grimly welcome the
prospect of a showdown, be-
lieVing that an element of the
nation which only recently has
been discovering its own exist
ence will then demand relief
and protection under law.
This element is known as "the
public"
From the standpoint of those
who have preached reform for
years, and desire peace in the
long run, such a reckless pro-
gram of strikes, however painful
and costly, would seem ulti-
mately desirable.
Every other way has failed.
Every reasonable proposal in.
tended 10 guarantee responsible
union administration, honest
strike votes, peaceful arbitra-
ton. honest union elections.
freedom of membership and
freedom from arrogant persecu-
tion OF individual workers has
been howled down by men who>
have shown themselves 10 be in
capable Of leading labor. y
IffE late President Roosevelt
Il created this condition and
preserved the powers Of the
unioneers, but Mr.. Truman's rec.
ord shows no special affection
for them. 4
To get suchYeforms he would
only have to ask Congress for
them.
Given an honest request from
Mr. Truman. the Senate would
defy the powerful union lobby
and Sidney Hillman. whose DO
p lltical position in relation to
Congress is now comparable 10
that of the prohibition forces
IN the last year Of the
Eighteenth Amendment
Like the Methodist board OF
prohibition and public morals in
that decisive period. Hlllman
and his Political Action Com
mlttee are only feared. not
trusted or regarded as political
allies or supporters.
Even congressman from Penn
SylVanla. where the coal and steel
unions enjoy terroriStic power
over candidates and. in years az
protection under the New Deal.
appalling corruption has devel-
oped, admit privately that the
voters. including many Of the
union workers. want reform.
ATELY, on Labor Day. three
~ conspicuous Spokcsmen OF
the old Roosevelt bigotry in
union matters, uttered warm
ings : oStenslhlY 10 the Workers
l. evils SchwellenbaCh. the
secretary Of labor. Harold Ickes
and Fiorello LaGuardia. all
make speeches adopting de-
mands which for years had been
presented as criticism in these
dispatches and consistently daI
nounced by New Dealers as "rey
dictionary propaganda
Among them they repudiated
arbitrary strikes in disregard of
the rights OF the public" de-
nounced the familiar thieving
type Of union official and pointed
out other evils which can be
corrected only by law although
none Of them could as yet sum-
mon the honesty 10 advocate
such laws, prefcrring 10 leave II
10 confirmed and notorious
roGues 70 reform OF their own
volition.
A S WINTER approaches there
"a are in prospect shortages Of
coal and oil due 10 strikes and
the men who rule the electrical
unions Will not overlook the fact
that in the northern states.
they have the power 10 pull the
switches and shut off the power
that runs electric furnaces IN
millions OF homes and in office
buildings.
The personal distress of the
public" thus victimizcd in squab-
bleS over jurisdiction. recogni-
ton or some fine legal phrase
in the contract. the cost Of
frozen plumbing and the en-
couragement 10 Congress 10
enact remedial laws. may be
imagined.
And some members of Con-
eress are counting on such dis
tress. inflicted without mercy
by overbearing and laWleSS IN
dividuals, TO encourage weaker
members 10 vote for tho public" ="
Even in that case. however. IL
probably would be a mistake 10
look 10 MIR Truman for any
courageous initiative.
His character. unknown to
the people and less we'll known
than now even to Congress DUR
ing his service as senator, y
slowly revealing itself in
somewhat juvenile humor. a
timidnesS reminiscent of Warren
G.. Harding and a trust in ad-
Visers who would use him.