Milford chronicle., 1947-02-21
AS CONGRESS BEGINS work on labor

legislation, it is clear that primary duty
must be the elimination of two OF the worst
existing abuses-the forcing of a man to pay
tribute to union before he can work, whe-
ther he desires the unions services or not;
and the power of unions to levy tax on
their members for political and legislative
purposes.
The case of C. B. DeMille versus the Am
erican Federation of Radio Artists, which is
now making it's way through the courts, eX-
emplifes both these abuses.
The facts of the case are that Mr.. DeMille
was engaged in presenting a national radio
program. Subsequent to the commencement
of this program, AFRA had organized
closed shop in the profession, and MIR DeM1lle
joined the union because otherwise he would
not have been permitted to work on the air.
In 1914, the Board of Directors of AFRA
assessed each member one dollar to finance
campaign in opposition to an anti-cOSed-shOp
proposition on the California ballot. MI.
DeMille favored the proposition and refused
to pay the assessment. AFRA then expelled
him, thus making it impossible for him to
continue his radio work.
Mr. DeMille went to court. The Superior
Court of Los Angeles County and, subse-
quently, the District Court of Appeal of Cali
fOrnia held in favor of AFRA.
If higher courts agree with the lower
courts in their Interpretation of the questions
of law involved, Congress must provide re-
dress. What would happen to an industry if
it's management levied an assessment on the
wages of workers to finance political cam
paign for or against some measure? That IS
precisely what AFRA has done. And what
would happen to an industry if worker
who refused to pay the assessment was dis
charged and blacklisted in his trade? Again,
that is what AFRA has done. Here is dicta-
torship destroying political freedom.
~1o~&
THE BILL RECENTLY introduced in
Congress by Senator Capehart to outlaw So
make certain amendments to the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1888, is tangible step
toward correction of an abuse which could
bankrupt large segments of American in
dustry, cripple others and, in the long run,
lead to unemployment and economic depreS-
sion on an unprecedented scale.
Senator Capehart's proposed measure is
not an "anti-labor" bill. 1t would in no way
restrict or limit the bargaining rights of
workers, either as individuals or as members
of a union. What it would do is to rid in
dustry and responsible labor of the potential
disasters implied in the porta-to-portal ac-
tions and to define "work' so that it would
be interpreted to mean what Congress and
everybody else has always considered it
meant. 1t further provides that differences
be resolved by collective bargaining between
management and workers-rather than by
government bureau or the courts.
1t should be remembered that the portal
to-portal suits, which are now approaching
S5,OOO,OOO,OOO, are largely conception of
the CIO leadership. President Green of the
AT of L, has gone on record against them
Mr. Green, in fact, stated a sound principle,
which is embodied in the proposed Capehart
Bill, when he said that such claims could be
better settled by emplOyer-emplOye bargain
ing than by actions at law. In any event, the
idea of organized groups suing for back pay
for unperformed work occurring over many
years, is repugnant to American principles
of justice.
The future of employment, no less than
the future of solvent industry, is the issue at
stake. The Capehart Bill should be given
high priority in Congress.
NSoO~>
THERE is ONE organization with head
quarters in Washington that never lets up
IN support OF old and established American
principles. John d Trevor president of the
Society recently reminded his members that
when he appeared before the Senate Commit
tee on Banking and Currency in opposition to
the British loan that he denounced the whole
proposition. Now, he adds, the British gov
ernment is undoubtedly using some of that
money In buying consumer goods from Ar
gentina
The Coalition group continues to urge
effective Investigations by the government of
all un-American activities This broadens
into demanding that Communists be barred
from any recognition in the affairs of the
American Government. COalitiOnSts oppose
sO-called "World Government" Naturally.
this American institution heartily supports
the Army, Navy and Merchant Marine, and it
calls for safeguarding our atomic bomb Sc
cret. In fact, American Coalition stands 100
per cent for America and the American peo-
pile, and it does not wander all over the lot
with arguments to defend it's cause