Detroit evening times., 1945-04-23
An Open Letter
To Mr.. Eric Johnston

IN ORDER that it may decide nteigently and fairly
whether not to commend the joint pronounce-
ment of Yourself and Messrs William Green and Philip
Murray, the National Economic Council Inc seeks
ightenment.
In its text you call the document "eode of princi.
pies. In your letter to President Roosevelt you refer
to it as CODE and also CHARTER" 1t has
received nation wide publicity as THE NEW CHARTER
FOR LABOR AND MANAGEMENT" and you are repre-
sented as speaking for management
Since the issuance of charters is act of
eighty we ask Do you the Messrs. Green and Murray
possess delegated authority of which the public is un
According to the Standard Dictionary charter may
De "a document granting special rights and privileges
Your charter presumes to grant special rights and
privileges in that it declares that labor unions shall be
FIRE FREE FROM LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTs which
would interfere with discourage union detectives
organize and to engage in collective bargaining.
A PPARENTLY. under the terms of YOUR charter"
labor union leaders and their political appeasers and
colaboraonsts would have the power determine what
laws sovereign people WOULD BE PERMITTED TO
ENACT. Are correct in this deduction? If we are,
how then can we Judge what these gentlemen would do
EXCEPT BY THEIR PAST AND PRESENT PER-
And wonder you have not, unwittingiy,
agreed to the foreciosing of the American peoples
RiGHI RI 70 CURB The ABUSES OF UNDiscl;
PLINED AND IRRESPONSIBLE UNIONISM?
In other words, does your "charter" mean that the
one-sided Wagner Act, which even some union leaders
believe should be modified, CANNOT BE CHANGED
even in the public interest?
Does your charter that maintenance of
membership-th price for the promise not to violate
the no-SulKe pledge'-Shall be SADDLED ON ALL
POSTWAR WORKERS INCLUDING RETURNING
SOLDIERS?
That EMPLOYERS property, but NEVER the unions,
shall be seized matter which interrupts pro-
duction?
That the monopoistc practices of unions shall NOT
BE PUNISHABLE as are the monopolstic practices OF
business?
That union funds may be poured into politics. but
not the funds of BUSINESS CORPORATIONS?
That freedom to hold up trucks and extorf frib-
Ute which the Supreme Court declares to be beyond
the idU because it part OF TRADITIONAL actUi-
ties" and oil such aids the attainment of union
objectOes, shall be forever free from legislative
acfmenf'?
INDER your code would Congress be forbidden to
~ outlaw compulsion and put membership in unions
voluntary basis? Or require labor union manage
ment TO be RESPONSIBLE for the damages it nflicts
the business management is responsible under
law?
If your code of principles did not contain the
reservation against legal restraints and if there
for doubt that the pacific commitments of
co-sgners would be better respected than their mo
strike pledge, then your pronouncement would meet
unreserved commendaton from all who believe. we
do, that RESPONSIBLE AND VOLUNTARY ORGANI-
ZATIONS OF LABOR HAVE RIGHTFUL PLACE
IN A FREE SOCIETY.
We write, Mr.. Johnston, in no narrow spirit, -
asking you to clarity this Charter" We have in mir
that millions of men and women have been COMPELLED.
AGAINST THEIR WILLS, to join unions.
But so long union leaders refuse to submit to
the legal restraints necessary prevent citizens
from, harn,ing Others, just long Su the public need
to examine critically eUery such proposal yo0
Charter"
We are reminded for instance, that whNe she vote
cast by all servcemen last fall AZ per in favor
Of the New Deal yet in the election, servicemen
from the State of California voted than two to
in favor OF the right to work amendment
Very sincerely yours
MERWIN X. HART, President,
z NetinsH! n -