Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-06
Differs With Mr.. Lawrence
On Labor Incident in Alabama

To the Editor Of The star
David Lawrence's quixotic efforts 10 prove
labor had nothing to do with last Novefn-
ber's election, however short on logic or
fact. have generally Justified themselves
as sources OF amusement. But In attack
ing an NLRB decision april le). Mr..
Lawrence gave us a rather Informative
glimpse of the real obscure and powerful
forces underlying the Taft Hartley and
civil rights disputes.
The Board found that local police chief
in Alabama acted as an agent OF the en-
ployer in obstructing efforts OF workers In
q cotton mill to form q union. II ordered
him TO cease such activity. Mr.. Lawrence
stated ''the police chief was performing
what he thought was his constitutional
duty"
BY the trial record the police chief him
self is shown to have: % ordered q union
organizer to get the He'll out OF town" and
threatened him with trouble" when he
first arrived In town and before he had
begun work. az consulted with the mayor
Zone of the half-dozen owners OF the
MILL regarding union activity; I'D sat by
In silent observation while q larger man
beat the organizer to the ground, pur-
suant to plan laid In the mill ofhces.
then arrested the organizer and again told
him to get the He'll out Of town: a.
of judicial proceedings growing out of this
assault. with the mayor defending the chief
by saying. You can't blame US for not pro-
ducing records that would convict us":t5
through the arrangement and cooperation
of the mills personnel manager. hired .
man to assault a union sympathizer I'm
the mill so as to provide the mill pre-
text for firing the worker: 80 approved
O statement that the mill and the police
were going 10 break up the union: ~
added to the force a former Republic Steel
plant policeman to engage In anti-union
activity.
In suggesting that the police chiefs ac-
tivity might be regarded as q "constitu-
tional duty MIR. Lawrence fulflls the high
est function of poet-imparting new mean
ing to old and accepted words. At the same
time, he gently proffers the delicate fra
GRANGE OF the good old days when the law
was certain. and certain TO protect the
powerful. After Mr. Hitler's finished per-
Torrance In branding as "warmongers" and
"disturbers of peace" his victims who re-
fused TO hold still MIR. Lawrence's remark
that the police chiefs measures were proper
ito avoid a riot" may seem weak or ot1t-
moded. Fortunately. however. even today
Mr.. Lawrence can find q congenial INTEL
lectual haven In the eastern peoples de-
mocracies." Though it was the existence Of
q specific prohibition in a Federal Law
which tripped the police chief. Mr.. Law
renee trips lightly over this by saying
that even without similar Law. the Fed
eral Government can now tell State gov
ernor how to act In a labor dispute or
punish sheriff for failure to halt lynch
Ing This should satisfy any Commisssr
on Admissions that Mr.. Lawrence is prop
erly independent Of prosaic limitations OF
fact and weIl-fitted 70 propagate dogma
and doctrine
Most important OF ALL Mr.. Lawrence has
showed us the close connection between
those who think the police chief did his
constitutional duty" and these who deny
civil rights 10 Negroes Usually the Dixie
crats slogan Keep the Negro In his place