The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-07-20
hso4os,se
TslIs
hin WAsHlNC T0M
BY Wolter Sheod
wNU cerssposdsni
WNU Wsshingson Bureafa

| VI agriculture over NABoIVuS RAVseSs
Of agricultural organizations are
now planning engagements OF
these labor beachheads already
gained. according to indications
here.
So alarmed has the Farm
Bureau federation become over
latest reports of labor en-
crOachment into the farm field,
that they are preparing to go
before congress and ask for
preventive legislation, prOba-
bly, similar to the Hobbs bill
which passed the house in 1912,
but which died In the senate.
This measure brought labor
organizations within the terms
Of the federal misunderstanding
act.
This latest point of conflict Is an
other outbreak between farmers on
the eastern seaboard, particularly
in the Philadelphia area, and the
Transfers Union, ALL, which Is
seeking to bring farm workers driv-
ing farmers trucks into the team
sters union. In some instances farm
ers' trucks have been stopped and
the unions have charged an unload
ing fee" where the drivers have
been non-union. The house agricul-
tural committee is expected within a
few weeks to start hearings on COM
plants of farmers and revive the
shot cargo" investigation Of 1912
which exposed union practices in
the food industry. It Is reported
that some Of the farm-to-market
truckers have been required to
pay union fees as high as $50 to
unload perishable foods.
The farm bureau contends that
this practice is an interference with
the movement Of food to market,
will be ruinous to crops and trade
and will diminish supplies to con-
sumers in a period in which food
supplies are critically needed.
Farm, Leaders ApprehensiUe
Farm leaders are apprehensive of
what may happen when and If John
L. Lewis, head of the miners union,
makes his peace and Is received
back into the American Federation
Of Labor. When that happens, and
predictions are that it will happen
soon, the labor organizations are ex-
pected to expend real money to
finance union expansion.
Milk drivers in the dairy indus
try, workers in canneries and proc
essors in fruit and other perish
ables, fruit pickers, hop workers
and some others already unionized
constitute the beachheads or spring
| boards from which further attempts
to organize agricultural workers
and farmers may proceed. It will
be recalled that the indefatigable
| Mr.. Lewis boasted that he would
organize the agricultural workers
of the nation into unions and farm
leaders here do not believe that his
| boast was all bluff.
The contention is made here that
| II the labor unions can force farm
workers who drive farm-to-market
trucks to join the Transfers union,
why cannot they force drivers of
tractors or combines or any other
farm machinery to join a ma
| chinists union or some other labor
| union?
| Tean,sfers Very Active
The teamsters union has been
particularly active since the 1912 de-
cision of the Supreme court which
| set aside convictions of men,
bers of New York local who had
forced out-of-state trucks to hire a
union member as a quest" driver
at So to SO per truck. As result
Of this decision Representative
Mike Monroney (Dem., Okla.) intro
duced a bill to amend the Clayton
antitrust law to repeal the exemp-
tons labor unions enjoy under the
law. He didn't get very far with the
bill. But he has now reintroduced
the bill aimed primarily at collusive
practices and it Is before the house
| judiciary committee. Representa-
tive Hobbs (Dem., Ala.) has also
reintroduced his measure, which
has received approval Of the house
judiciary committee. and the meas
ure is now pending before the house.
mot only have the unions at
tempted to force farmers to join
them, but they have threatened to
boycott professors and distributors
who handle the farmers products.
one farm leader said.
1--WE intend" he continued, "to
use every resource we have to pro-
tect the farmers against this inya-
sion Of our rights and to obtain legis-
lation which win outlaw such union
practices"
Every fiber Of the traditional
independence Of farmers rebels
at the thought Of being forced
into unions, or Of being forced
to pay union fees for the pur-
pose Of trucking their produce
to market, according to farm
leaders here, and they win fight
every attempt of the unions 10
organize the farm workers.