The people's voice., 1957-12-13
Editorial
On Second Thought
Where To Now, AFL-OO?

haf-baked himself above the law OF tn
matter you may the action taken by tn
federal government the Governor subdued the Uno
prevails.
Nor, when a Republican state treasurer of Illinois
found guilty of colossal every did popular indignation de
mand purgng of the Republican party from the nationa
political scene.
instances American public opinion showed in
clinaton to follow the philosophy that the
be punished for the wrong-dong of the few.
so however the venerable American House of Labor
this week in convention assembled in Atlantic City, when
overwhelming majority of delegates to expe
se because of the alleged wrongdongs of of that
ions officialdom.
What the implications of that momentous step
by the AFI-CIO convention?
First foremost, AFI-CIO has scrapped the his
torc American concept that accused innocent until
guilty far the House of Labor concerned Regardless
of opinions of Messrs Beck and Hoff
entitled to his day court The burden of proof lies the
whether the Mcclellan committee the federal
cutor, George Meany and associates.
This preciptous action by the AFLCIO convention is
foreign to fundamental democratic concepts the cruel
nqusons carried on by the late Sen Joseph Mccarthy IN his
heydey.
What good will expulsion of the Teamsters accomplish
either for the ranande of that union the American labor
movement a whole?
There many unquestioned integrity such Tom
Hickey and (Cong Shelley in positions of leadership and
influence that largest of all unions Will not expulsion make
their continuous efforts to bring about greater rankande
democracy in the Teamsters difficult?
The AFI-CIO indicated has intention
of setting international union in the transportation
field 1T has that unions still in the AFCIO con-
tnue to honor urisdcona they have with
the eamsters Does not expulsion then amount to little
than providing the Teamsr bosses with upwards of another
million dollars formerly paid in AFlCIO capita
tax, to use as they may deem expedent?
g. The longtime goal of reactionary forces such the
NAM the use of and the American Farm Bureau been
to effectively destroy the collective economic and political
strength of union workers. Up to this time they've only been
partially successful.
Has not the AFLCIO convention, with felswoop set
stage simplifying the reaction has set achieve
ment? With open shop (sic "rght-to-work) movements
bossomng throughout the land will not further divided
labor movement be hardput to the hardwon
gains of past years?
Reactonary cleaning "cor
rupt elements in the labor than they
interested exposing and routing the crooks in the bus
world Their goal destroy the labor Highly
bayhooed corruption only convenient and eff
fectve vehicle to in stampeding public opinion
A. What will expulsion of the Teamsers do to effective
action the parts the state AFCIO organizations
Most state federatons particularly the tny
lated seldom have sufficient funds the
ices and promote the legislative rankanders want
expect Teamsers per capita payments fedora
on because of the of that organization in each
have been substantial From what will funds be forth
coming replace the by expulsion of the Team
sters?
Expulsion will wise hasten the "cean-up demanded
the by the Nor will it the
certed wefnanced campaign to place restrictive
legislative shackles labor What it will accomplish will be
the weakening of the bargaining of every
in America.
Instead of further dividing the House of Labor the leader
ship should be devong its efforts consolidating into big
federation all We have but to observe the Montana
to realize how much greater force for
lied labor would be if Mine Mill and the AFCIO unions
unaffiated with the State AFI-CIO all of that
organization
This weeks convention action, although it may be the
of personal satisfaction for of the top leadership