The Wilmington morning star., 1946-09-09
Fair Enough
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1916, by King Features Syndicate,
Inc

o4 OAsOOA 1 ~
Copyright, 1916, by King Features Syndicate,
Inc.)
! NEW YORK, Sept. Snow and again l
have pointed out the Hypocrisy of all parties,
including the Republican, in lauding unlonlsm
as a holy Institution and condemning the
poll tax, inasmuch as all unions require their
members to be up-to-date in their dues and
all assessments, including even political taxes,
to remain eligible for employment. In othe-
words, they can't work for a living unless
they pay poll taxes and any other taxes
that may be imposed by private and utterly
irresponsible organizations, many of which are
flagrantly corrupt. Politicians of all parties
endorse that condition, and it would be dis
honest not to observe that most Republicans
have refrained from criticizing this state Of
affairs. 1t is fair to believe that the Republi-
cans would accept just as readily as the
Democrats have accepted a union poll tax
of 81 a head for their oWn campaign funds.
A poll tax is not a tax On the right to
vote. 1t is a head tax, the poll being the
hair of your head. However, in all unions,
as well as in the few southern poll tax states.
the person who is not even with the board
cannot vote in union elections. Even wo-se,
he can't earn his living.
Some Of these union taxes are absurd and
monstrous, both. In 1914 many thousands,
AK llll4O1l VI w q WO-hC1 q u PdJ
81 to the Roosevelt campaign fund. If they
refused, they could be run off the vital
war jobs, even though Paul McNutt was
believing about a CHASTITY shortage Of man
power and Harry Hopkins and Mrs. Roose-
welt threatened the American people with a
condition. of life practically identical with
that of the Russians. They said the govern
ment should have the power to tell us what
sort Of work we We're to do and where
to 60 and to fix our pay.
Hopkins, a cocky little adventurer who rode
the cushions on a pass all his life, got really
tough and wrote, ut isn't just talk and it
won't blow over and it does mean you" This
at a time when men and women were given
their choice between contributing 10 the Roose-
welt campaign fund, to union funds for dubious
European relief, and to Testimonial gifts" for
thieving union officials or lying idle. The
authority of the national government upheld
the unions in this.
l wonder how any politician, Democrat or
Republican, can keep a straight face in lather-
Ing the union movement with soft soap when
they all know the content and meaning of
the general run Of union constitutions.
The oath of the International Typographical
Union, which Is really one of the more respec-
table unions, says that the initiate solemnly
swears that his Fidelity to the union shall in
no sense be interfered with by any allegiance
that l may now or hereafter owe to any
other organization, social, political or re-
hglous.' The oath required in the Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
pledges a new member to bear true allegi-
ance to the I. B. E. W. and never to "sacri-
flee its interest in any manner These oaths
plainly place these unions above family, home.
church and country.
These are typical, although the phrasine
varies a little il a batch of union constitutions
Inc National Maritime Union, of the c. 1. O.,
solemnly sWea-s the subjects ito be true
and loyal to the labor cause and to obey
all rules that the union may adopt"
The labor cause may include communism
and Soviet Russia. Yet the United States gov
eminent permits this union, enjoying govern
ment protection, to require this promise from
American citizens. During the war this union
set men on the beach for SO years for -e-
marks and acts not forbidden by any law
OF this nation, or any state. If a sailor made
a remark about Negroes or against the inter-
national conspiracy, he could be
beached for life, although this would not he
even a ashore. At one meeting.
Joe Cur-an, the president, announced that
'racketeers' would be expelled and set ashore
without trial because no trial was necessary
70 CONVICT a racketeer, which might be a
synonym for an anti-commuaist sailor.
IN ue other hand, some Other unions. also
members OF the Roosevelt-New Deal political
1iont' barred communists by tests which
ce-taE1ly would not stand up in the Supreme
court. Inc court has held that a man cannot
oe do1uoseo a even if he knowing
~ cooperates and associates with the COM
munlsts right down to a final, fine line, where
ne stops short OF advocating the violent over
throw of the government.
Ben S%tolberg, who admi-es David Dubinskv.
Oh the Garment Workers Union, tells us in
MS biography of Dubinsky that Dubinsky arbi-
tra-lly decided that certain individuals were
communists and threw them out. The Team
sters Union, bossed by the late Roosevelt's
protege, Dan Tobin, has an article barring not
Only communists, but all who subscribe to the
doctrines OF the ommunist party even with
out proof that they are members of the pa-ty.
The local executive board is the Judge and
it must expel the accused. The constitution
of the Musicians Union requires all locals
to expel communists, nazis and facists. and
all who assist in spreading their propaganda.
even by word of mouth, which is free speech
for you. True, the accused get a trial, but
the article says membership in a communist
'front.' is cause fo- expulsion without de-
filming a 'front.'
Politicians of both parties, by their general
endorsement OF unionism as is, violate every
principle that they preach and flout much
of the American Bill of Rights. Most OF them
deplore red-baiting but support a phase OF
unionism which practices red-baitlng TO an
extent that the Dies Committee and Ham Fish
would deplore as violently un-Amerlcaa.