Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-06-04
Corporations
Use Devious
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gives food for thought. Here
is what happened.
One day about April 1,
Adam K. Stricken, Jr., a men,
Der of General Motors staff,
received a circular announ-
cling the extension services of
of the University of Michigan.
On his own testimony, he,
Stricken, was filled with great
curiousity. One course held in
Detroit attracted him strongly.
This was called Economics
for Workers." and was taught
by Sam Jacobs, an economist
and teacher, on the staff of
the United Automobile Work
ers. Mr.. Stricken later told a
Congressional Committee that
he wanted to learn how to use
graphic arts in the presenta-
ton of economic statistics.
Mr.. Striker paid his $1.50
entrance fee and entered the
course. Mr.. Stricken heard
two sessions. Then he forgot
all about graphic arts; he was
greatly shocked and filled
with noble feeling. He did not
complain to the instructor,
nor to the University of
Michigan. Instead he called
the Governor of Michigan and
made sweet moan. Then he
called the House Labor Sub
committee in Washington and
arranged to appear before
that Committee. He arrived
in Washington with staff of
four people, all transported at
General Motors expense. 1t
seems there is no end to what
a high-minded man like Mr..
Striker will do when he is
filled with noble feeling. He
also lin e d up newspaper
photographers and newspaper
reporters. He was in Wasing-
ton we'll before the session of
the Committee, and apparent
ly had time to coach certain
members of the Committee in
their part in the three-ring
circus.
Mr.. Stricken never lost his
air of noble feeling. He told
the Committee he was there
to help. He wished to save the
workers from education. He
charged that Mr.. Jacobs was a
and that Marxism
was being taught. Some De-
troit newspapers arose man.
fully to the occasion and pub
lished shrieking headlines,
Charges State Pays for Red
Teaching"
Hilda w. Smith, chairman
of the National Committee for
the Extension of Labor Educa-
ton, went on the stand. She
gave calm appraisal of the
Bill. Congressmen asked ques-
tions keeping their eyes glued
to prepared notes. Miss Smith
was asked whether she had
ever visited workers schools
in Russia. Miss Smith had
been in Russia. She was
then asked if she had written
a play and a poem, several
lines of which were read. To
both questions Miss Smiths
was mo-" The inquir-
ing Congressman looked dis
and Miss Smith left
the stand.
In. Detroit, it transpired
that there were only three
of the auto workers
union in the class; the rest
we're workers from other in
dustries. There were three
from the Michigan
Bell Telephone Co. They ap-
parently did not share Mr..
noble feeling. They
said:
Jacobs pointed out such
as that the only gain
ior a worker in the long run
must come from increased
production, and we certainly
can't quarrel with that con-
,ept. He also spoke of the
need for chronological i'm
orovements and for more and
more labor saving devices.
1--WE didn't agree with
everything. We hardly ex-
oected to. But here was a la
Dor group that was thinking
and that is good. The presi-
lent of one of the unions that
his company deals with was
the sessions, and we
approved of it"
A few Congressman and at
east one Senator are prepar-