Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-03-19
The First Step

decision Of Federal Judge Ben Moore IN
ruling the ban placed upon unions In pol
itic as unconstitutional, it is well to re-
,,,ember that this is but the first, not the
final step that must be made by the courts
to release the unions from the gag imposed
bv the Taft-Hartley Labor Act.
While we should not allow ourselves
the luxury of OvercOnfidence in the tlhai
ruling which will eventually come from
the United States Supreme Court, 1t ap-
pears that the unAmerican gag placed up
nm the labor press and its political opinion
will go the way of past unreasonable anu
uniustifiable laws-intO the ash heap Oh
political blunders.
Perhaps the best evidence of the nature
of the law was shown by the Justice De-
nartment lawyer, Jess ClimenkO, prosecu-
tor of Philip Murray and the CIO, in his
reply to the CLOS legal brief last week.
When asked by Judge Moore if he was
arguing that Congress has the right 10
abridge freedom of the press II that
abridpement does not go too far" Cllmen-
ko renlied that it comes almost to that, but
that Congress does it for the purpose OIL
achieving oher constitutional ObJectIVeS.
This amounts to an admission that the
intent of Congress was to limit the free
dom of the labor press, just little bit, in
order to achieve what it conceived to be
a good. Who ever heard of person being
little bit dead?
This phase of the law, as well as other
sections of ii which are an intrusion upon
the rights of unions to participate III elec-
tions, to spend money for the purpose of
informing the people of the controversial
views represente by conflicting interests
and economic views, or to publish any
views represented by conflicting interests
dent used down through the centuries to
kill off those who dissent with the ruling
group.
There is more at stake than law, de-
spite the fact that we in this country have
become notable for a large amount of law
making covering every phase OF life ana
the multiple vagaries of human nature. AT
stake are certain principles which, ii they
are suppressed, spell the difference be-
tween our democratic way of life, imper-
feet though il may be, and totalitarianism.
Freedom of thought, freedom of speech,
freedom of the press and all the rights
which we enjoy under our form OF gov
ernment are the real stakes involved in
the fight against the Taft-Hartley Acts
major provisions.
These are the things for which we of
the labor movement are fighting. These
are the basic principles which were indOc-
trinated into the minds of our soldiers dur
ing the last war, the stimulant needed TO
cause our American boys to subdue their
human fears as they stormed the beaches,
comforting themselves, that if they died,
their deaths would perpetuate human free
dom and bring il nearer to the hearts de-
sire.
This is the meaning of the first step in
the legalistic war being waged against the
forces which would, if they could secure
the power to do so, plunge us back into
the dark ages and place an effective gag
upon the minds and liberties of all who
disagree with their interests and opinions.
This first step taken by CIO in com
Dattlng the evils OF Ine IaIl-uafbley law
is comforting to all who are genuine be-
lvers in human freedom. II is sign that
democracy is still working and workable
and that the fight against the forces of re-
preston is strong and healthy. It's still
great to be a citizen of country which
possesses judges who are capable of up
holding our constitutional guarantees and
standing for right and justice in the fight
for human rights.
The coup by which the Commies took
over the government of Czechoslavakia
has been described by one commentator
as case of cold blooded politics. What
has occurred there since the coup throws
light on the definition of cold blooded
politics. It's cold, its politics and its
bloody.
If there is a packinghouse workers
strike, the packers will justify the price
hikes hv blaming the whole thing on the