Detroit evening times., 1946-01-11
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook
Pegler

was law VI diidiNiys
During a strike OF eight
weeks, machinists demanded a
closed shop and pickets illegally
blockaded the doors TO the Yale
& Towne factory.
Gov. Raymond NJ. Baldwin
then sent a detail of state po-
lice to clear the way for citizens
on lawful errands TO enter the
plant.
Charles F.. Moore, the mayor,
with plenty of police at his COM
mand, had refused to employ
them for this purpose although
they could have preserved the
peace against disorders commit
ted and threatened by the union.
No labor issue wos involved
here. The labor issues had
Teceded into the distance and
Wers matters for negotiation.
The question of mob aetios
Dds not negotiable.
THE issue now was solely
l. whether the mayor would
obey his oath and maintain
order and protect the legal
rights of those who wanted 10
enter the plant. These citizens
were threatened with injury or
death by a blockade OF organ
lied thugs. A number OF Com
munists had been busy In the
background.
Some Of the workers, after
eight payless paydays and .
bleak holiday season, were
sick Of the strike and wanted
their jobs back.
They were on warning that
n they refused to picket they
might be expelled for "un-
unionlike conduct" And, III
they insisted on their right To
20 To their jobs. they might
he slugged with iron bars or
steel chains or clubs and par
alyZed or killed.
Thus normally laW-abiding
workers were compelled To be-
come riotous force and peteh-
tial killers by orders Of an ir-
responsible authority claiming
10 represent them as voluntary
members but with the sdmis-
sion that If they weren't coerCed
by the company they might not
remain, or become. members.
THE mayor repeatedly had
l. said that the company was
trying 10 compel him TO use the
police TO break the skulls OF the
rioters
In actual fact. his duty was 70
use the police TO prevent the
rioters from breaking the skulls
Of law-abiding citizens and this
he refused 10 do.
The men Who wontsd TO
snter the plant Usrs threat.
enins no person. The threats
came only from the picket
line. IL Vas to protect the
citizens in their persons and
their rights that Coz. Bold
pin. bsiotediy, sent state po-
lice TO Stamford. supsrssdinR
Mayor Moore's local police. to
clear a path and keep order.
The state police arrested q
few pickets. Order was restored.
The law was made clear.
Small merchants Of Stamford.
not interested in the issues. but
with A stake in the maintenance
of peace. were given their first
real experience Of the Brown
Shirt or Ku Klux terror. They
were asked 10 display placards
in their windows synpathizing
with the riotous force.
IF THEY refused they would
Il he blackliSted and union
members would he forbidden 70
trade with them. under threat
Of punishment for "un-unionlks
conduct
If they complied they were
inviting similar disorders at
their own doors later and con-
doning organized thuggery az
method Of adjusting disputes.
This was only one of many
such episodes Of the Same
time. At Kearny. ". j.. there
was no pretense that the pick
citing of the electrical workers
was intended to be peaceful.
The pickets went to the
lines armed with clubs, Of uni
form sire. Sedentary. elderly
citizens who tried 10 go to
their desks. under no suspicion
Of wanting 10 take over the
abandoned jobs Of the rioters.
were knocked 10 the pave
ment and beaten up.
There is no legal right 10 riot.
even for pickets. The right 70
| picket is a right only 10 address
the public by speech or publica-
tion such as pamphlet or pla-
card.
Under the Roosevelt govern
ment. however. the unionecrs
were encouraged 10 terrorize
neighborhoods and cities. Local
officials. such as Mayor Moore
OF Stamford, illegally permitted
them 10 do so.
Strictly speaking, even strike
breakers have a right 10 20 10
All such vacated jobs unmolested
Mayor Moore's oath requires
him 10 protect even them. The
right 10 strike is only right
! 10 omit work IL is not a RIGHT