Evening star., 1948-01-03
Letters to The Star
A Fairlinston Tenants View


To the Editor of The Star:
The many news stories about the, strike OF
the darlington service workers have not always
emphasized the one outstanding cause OF the
dispute: Namely that the Fairmac Corp, new
owner of the vast apartment development
has refused to bargain with the union which is
the legitimate agent of its workers. 1t will not
meet with the union and has made every effort
to crush it. It has even ignored the request
of the Arlington County Board "a group hardly
noted for prolabor bias) that bargaining be
initiated to protect public health and safety.
The union-Local 50, Building Service En-
ployes, AFL-always has clearly indicated
willingness to negotiate, or to submit its case
to arbitration by any impartial group.
william A. Ziegler, general manager OF
Fairmac, repeatedly has made the assertion
that normal building services are being main
tanned in the development. This Is untrue.
It has never been true, anytime during the
strike Tenants have suffered because 1t is
untrue Garbage is collected irregularly and
carelessly Easements are rarely, If ever,
cleaned Garbage pals are not washed or
sprayed Insects are multiplying. Garbage
trucks are cutting corners by riding roughshod
over lawns and Fairgrounds. Children's toys
have been run over. Will some child be next?
Meanwhile, strikebreakers are roaming Fair
lington with clubs and guns. Several have
been arrested for using, or threatening to use,
these deadly weapons.
Arlington County is forced to pay for
emergency police and sanitation service.
Harrington was built by the Federal Gov
ernment in 1s43 and operated by it as model
community until October 1s47, without labor
or tenant trouble. Fairmac-a pair OF absentee
landlords from Dallas Texas-has had diff
Guilty with both during its first two months OF
operation. Is there no way to teach these
people the fundamentals of enlightened man
asement? A DARLINGTON TENANT.
Complaint Against the Cathedral
10 the Editor Of The star:
Iwish to make most vigorous and vehement
protest against the worst bit Of rudeness
have yet witnessed in Washington
It occurred on, the evening Of December 20
at Washington Cathedral when two ushers, or
attendants threatened an orderly group OF
people-one usher saying he would call the
special police-n they did not move at once
from where they were standing near one OF
the pillars at the rear Of the building. They
were orderly, were not blocking the aisle un-
duly and were told only that they were stand
ing in front OF the people seated"
Since about half Of those present had thei-
view obstructed by pillars people, walls. screens,
etc., this did not seem an adequate reason for
the harshness of these two oficious attendants
EILEEN ANDERSON.
Pure-and Simple-Democracy
To the Editor of The Star:
To some democracy is . great deal mor
than . mere word or vague term, because,
down deep in their hearts they know, when it
10 pronounced, 1t means very definite ant
agreeable things, the most vital among which
is the inalienable right to pursue our own per-
sonal happiness in our own good way, as long
as our way does not deprive our fellows Of the
same equal right or impede their efforts to
obtain it.
To others, democracy is merely an empty
word or term which has no positive references
to precise and palpable things. TO them, il
is q word with which they are quite familiar
but, in reality. it is evident they do not know
what Is meant by 1t. Democracy, ~ see It
signifies social objects which, because they ar'
chosen by the people, give perfect freedom II
the peoples energy, intellect and virtues
Therefore. democracy Is q government by al
the people and is, beyond doubt. the most pre-
cious thing In the world today.
am at loss to understand, IN view Of ths
simple but clear definition Of democracy, which
can be found In all standard dictionaries, hov
s,ach nnaitdye and definite word p0ag1hly coa1lk