Detroit evening times., 1945-10-20
WESTBROOK
-RECLER
-Faiir
Enough


in New York with the clergy
man contemplating smashed
window.
Many other photographs
showed bloodshed and fist-fights
on the so-called picket line at
Warner Brothers studio in
Hollywood.
1t is very wrong TO throw
missiles through church windows
but equally wrong and uniaw-
full for pickets TO throw bricks
and rocks through factory
windows and the windshields OF
automobiles.
And if rioters, politely known
as pickets. have a right TO
blockade industrial premises TO
prevent Americans from going
10 their lawful work they have
an equal right 10 blockade any
church in the United States and
beat up or threaten members of
the congregation on their way
TO worship.
The legal fact is that they
have no such right IN either
case but the practical fact is
that the Roosevelt government
taeitly conferred on unions
special privilege TO terrorize
groups sof workers and whole
communities.
VyHE constitutional guarantee
of religious freedom does
not 60 so far as 10 provide
punishment for those who
should take il on themselves TO
plant a human wall. armed with
iron bars and bats. around
church. That is problem for
the local police.
ffst,r-terrorfsfff- 7 -ef-tfHieff- f,ielHt--
cts at factories. however also
is-a police problem but bad
mavors. from moral cowardice
and recreant 10 their oaths,
and state governors, as well, for
10 years have been IN the habit
Of placating riot leaders and
bargaining with them TO deSlSt.
Not yet have they been faced
with any problem ot. quelling
mob attacks on cfehgious per-
sons on their way 10 worship
but a church very easily could
be struck" by some organlza-
ton calling itself union which
then. according TO this danger
Gus precedent, would be justi-
fled in picketing the church.
stoning the windows. desecrst-
ing the affairs and other prop
critics Of religion and slugging
the faithful
AT recent Communist DEM
~ onstration in New York, RI
tended by a number OF typIcally
vain. pretentious and politically
! ignorant aeteFs, - -et-tlfe
speeches denounced the Catho-
lie chJich in Spain a. "a rich
monop,,iSt Al the expense OF
mass poverty.
According 10 the familiar
logic OF revolutionary unionism
and mob terror, that means
that all Catholic churches are
unfair" and subject 70 tho
same conuuct that has been dl-
rected against factories.
Our mayors and governors
rarely concern themselves with
the truth or merits Of charges 4
OF "unfairness.
Indeed. Mrs. Eleanor Roose-
welt once refused TO 60 IN q
/ play because Jimmy Petrillo's
union had pickets patrolling the
front. with the remark that she
would not cross picket line.
In this case. the union was
trying 10 shake down the pro-
ducer for wages for musicians
for whom there was no place in
the show.
l say that. logically, Mrs.
Roosevelt must likewise honor a
picket line blocking church
which some Communist grosp
IN control OF a union has cor
ceived TO be unfair
DlCKEg lines have patrolle,
L many places other than
struck premises and Of entirely
| different character
Unions ~ thc CommunlS,
wing of the CIO haNp picketet
the White House and variou.
embassies.
And other groups, frankly po-
ltlcal and not even pretend ne
TO represent unions, have pic'-
etcd embassies. consulateS. sac
capitols and schools.
Theoretically picket line /,
a group Of aggrievcd workers.
presenting bv speech or placart
their side of controversy O.
the public
Justice Frankfurter of the
Supreme Court went 50 far.
/ however AS 10 write that false
and scurrilous publicity against
an innocent restaurant keeper
who refused 10 take on a paid
employe 10 do the work which
+-he-was doing cook and
waiter we're only the fair give
and take Of labor controversy.
IF that -dietdm is valid then
1 ny-group OF biootS may patrol l,
any religious edifce. repeatingH
every ancient slander End Incl.
tation with the blessing the
Supreme Court.
For six wears. i'm Chicago,