Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Nov. 8, 1951, edition 1 / Page 1
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Soviet May Threaten A War To Scare Germans Out Of Ike’s Army The Journal's Washington correspondent is in Europe where he will visit eight of the member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty organizations. By EDWARD H. SIMS (Special Correspondent of The Charlotte Labor Journal. Writing From Europe.) BONN, Germany — Some Ger man officials in Bonn, and some American, expect the Russians to make one last, bombastic effort to frighten Germans away from re armament and military alignment -with countries of the North At lantic Treaty Organization in the next there months. This belief is widespread among those who realize the serious implications to .Russia of German troop contri butions to a NATO army. The Soviet Union cannot allow Germany to strengthen the NATO army enough to prevent a suc cessful rampage by Soviet armies through western Europe — if it plans eventually to overrun Europe. While the Allies were building strength before now, the prospect of German and French rearmament combined, backed by increased U. S. and British troop strength and air support, is suf ficiently impressive, many officials believe, to force Russian action now in an effort to keep Ger man units out of the NATO army. In Bonn, the impression seems rather general that it is only a matter of ten or twelve months, more or less, until German units are integrated into a NATO army. Most of that time will be re quired to build effective unite. If the Gerthan effort is to be stopped it must be stopped in the near xuiurr, ueiore re is siarcea, in as the prospect of s Russian Cass' paign of terror and pfeilure tc frighten citizens of -ibe federal Republic away from military co» operation with the West, A strong suspicion among other officials at Bonn is that the Rus sians are contemplating a major war scare for Europe, as the only way to keep western Ger ii. „ out of General Dwight Eis enhower’s military command. This suspician is supported by recent Red complaints to several Euro pean countries—charges <ft treaty violation!—and public utterances by Red officials that Russia would not stand by idly and watch Ger many rearmed. This latter tune Is thought intended to frighten Germans away from military co operation with the West, less such action ignite World War II and an invasion of West Germany. And. indeed, if the Russians can convince the West Germans that military co-operation with Gen eral Eisenhower’s forces means war, with the resultant Red ad vance into free Germany, they might succeed in persuading them to stay out of such a joint de fense effort. To frighten West Germans sufficiently to keep them out of the NATO’s military com mand, the Soviet Union will prob ably have to produce a genuine war scare over Europe. It could be brougnt aoout ny Russian charges that German re militarisation was contrary to agreements between Russia and the Allies of World War II, and demands that it be halted. These demands could coincide with in creased pressure everywhere in Europe and bombastic statements from Red leaders that the West in stirring up war with its ef forts to rearm Gerr|any. Whether the Russian effort will succeed, if tried, is the big Ques tion—though many seem to thinl it can be successfully withstood They believe a war scare H touched off, would be all bluff or the part of the Reds. Yet thi period of bluff, or tension, eoult be a dangerous period for the A1 lies, especially since their com bined strength in Germany, am even in Prance, is not yet for midabie by any means. Therefore those who expect a Svoiet-ren crated war scare look forward b three or peesibly four electri months la Europe this fall am Bast Of Green Presented AFL FEDERATION CHIEF PRAI8ED AS GREAT MAN IN OWN | RIGHT. NEW YORK CITY (ILNS).— Tribute to William Green aa a great man in hia own right, not merely aa the suoceaaor of Samuel Gompera aa president of the American Federation of Labor, featured presentation of a bust of Green to the federation by the Jewish Labor Committee. Presentation ceremonies were held at the annual assembly of the committee in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. In addition to Green, speakers included Vice President Alben W. Barkley, Sec retary of Labor Maurice J. Tobin; George Meany, AFL secretary treasurer; David Dubinsky, presi dent, International Ladies Gar ment Workers’ Union and Adolph Held, national chairman, Jewish Labor Committee. Secretary Tobin praised the Jewish Labor Committee for "its wisdom and foresight in trans mitting to posterity in a work of art the familiar, well-loved fea tures of William Green.” Sees AFL Green’s Monument “A hundred years from now,” 1 he said, "the school children of i this country will be reading about William Green in their history I books and in other texts where .the lives of great Americans are recorded, And the boot that will be unveiled here today will con vey to them something of the air and the spirit of the jnaa. b- conveyed to posterity in bronse or in marble or even in the print erf^ word, It will £e convened in th^ living organisation he helped to build and to shape. “The personality and the char acter and the philosophy and the spjfit of William Green have been built into the very structure of the American Federation of La bor. That oryaiyzation will al ways bear his imprint. Thlt organization is William Green’s monument. As long os the Amer ican Federation of Labor lives, the heritage of William Groen will live with it.” Tobin went on to say that it seemed to him that Green had been pictured “too often in the legendary mantle” of Samuel Gompers. “After 27 years as president of the AFL William Green is entitled to his own man tle,” he continued. “His great ness is his own, not eise’s. “It's true, of course, that Green has shared the philosophy and carried on the heritage of the great founder of the American Federation of Labor. But he did more than carry it on. He ex ■ panded it. He improved it. He , adjusted it to meet problems and | situations that were undreamt of I in Compere’ day. He imparted to it the intensity of his own spir it. It was his task to lead the i American Federation of Labor over strange and uncharted ter , rain. Yes. the avoice of Gompers jstill rang in his ears. But the , decision was William Green’s. . William Green chose the course. William Green led the way. Wil liam Green gave heart and cour age to the marchers when the go ing got rough. I Cites AFL Growth “Under his leadership, the fed eration grew from 3 million to 3 million members. He kent it se cure and strengthened ft daring a terrible denression and a terri * ble war. He made it an instru I meat for service to his country. And now, under his leadership, • the federation is helping to rails I the forces of free labor all ovei . the world "as a mighty weapon is , the struggle against communism . These are William Green’s ae t eoraolishment*. This is the her | itago of William Green." |j Wee President Barkley prsism rCeatiaeed On Paga 4} ECONOMIC CONTROLS MUST REMAIN “Barring an all-out war,'*’ declared Eric Johnston, director of the Economic Stabili zation Agency, “the United States will have productive capacity to supply both civilian and military needs within two years.” In the meantime, warned Mr. Johnston, “the crest of inflation is some distance away” but there are mounting pressures to eliminate controls. Until the desired pro ductivity is available, he maintains that eco nomic controls must not be weakened. Mr. Johnston points out that the national income next year will be greater by some forty billion dollars than last year. Defense spending, he points out, however, will jump to the rate of sixty-five blilion dollars an nually, compared with only thirteen billion in the year before Korea. These factors, he adds, mean increased inflationary pressures. One of the bad effects of inflation in this country, with marked increases in the prices of goods, is the dependence of our allies and friendly nations upon us for consumer and capita] goods, as well as the hardware of war. The price in this country “tends to become the world price for many commodi ties.” Obviously, the higher our prices go, the less our allies can purchase and the more difficult it will be for them to rearm and make their full contribution to the military strength that is necessary for the security of the free world. ATOMIC EXPLOSIONS HERE AND IN RUSSIA “Another atomic explosion” is reported inside the Soviet Union 90 the same day that the Atomic Energy Commission’s test of a tactical in the Nevada desert resulted in only a minor detonation. The two incidents set off speculation. It was noted that the Russian explosion is not described as an “atomic bomb” and this led to the belief that it might involve the test ing of atomic artillery shells. It is recalled that Prime Minister Joseph Stalin told news pap«Tg?m on October 6th that there would be "tests on atomic bombs of various cali bers” in the future. : While no official report has come from the experiment in Nevada, it is noted that the “blast” appeared as a brief and small flicker of light to observers on mountainsides overlooking the area. It involves, in the opinion of reporters, only a few tons of the explosive. This compares with the Hiro shima atomic bomb, which was equivalent to twenty thousand tons of T. N. T. There is little to be gained by the aver age person in attempting to keep up with the relative progress of atomic research in the United States and Russia. The pre sumption that this nation is far ahead of the Russians seems to be well-founded. Cer tainly, we have made more experiments than the Russians in connection with atomic explosions. Until something official comes along, we must rest on the assumption that our scientists and officials understand the situation. Disclosure of all details to the public would also give information to the Russinas. * SUPREME COURT REVERSES ITSELF Reversing itself after two weeks, the United States Supreme Court has granted a • hearing to the six attorneys adjudged guilty j of contempt of court by Judge Harold R. j Medina for their conduct during the 1949 conspiracy trial of eleven Communist Party , leaders. The action of Judge Medina in sentencing the attorneys for contempt of court is thor oughly supported by the record of the case. During the nine-months trial, there were, according to Judge Medina, more than forty different instances of criminal contempt of court. The issue before the Supreme Court, how ever, was not whether the lawyers were guilty of contempt of court. It was asked to determine whether a judge had the author ity to make a summary determination of contempt and impose sentence himself, or whether the action should have been taken to another judge, after notice, Rearing and an opportunity for defense had been given the accused; This issue goes to the essence of our ju dicial procedure which, in almost every in stance, provides for such notice, hearing and an opportunity for defense. A trial for contempt of court is one of the excep tions. This right has been assumed by ju rists for the protection of the orderly pro cesses of their courts. It can only be sus tained if it is necessary to sound adminis tration of justice. It is very, rare when a lawyer, or an in dividual, is called upon to face a contempt of court charge. When it occurs, the person involved stands accused by the judge, who sits in judgment upon him. It is rare that any testimony is taken in cases where the contempt is alleged to have occurred in the presence of the judge himself. Judge Medina, in his conduct of the fa mous trial, exhibited a patience that was unusual. Despite the attempts of the law yers for the Communists to upset his ju dicial temperament, he maintained his com posure. He declined to punish them for contempt during the trial, fearing that such action might influence the jury in determin ing the guilt or innocence of the Communist party leaders. Consequently, he waited un til the long trial was over and then sum moned the lawyers to the bench, where he found them guilty and imposed jail sen tences. RUSSIAN MILITARISM. NOT COM MUNISM THREAT In opening the 1951 session of the United j Nations General Assembly, now being held in Paris, Secretary-General Trygve Lie said that the organization has maintained its ef forts “to establish harmony or at least some form of peaceful co-existence between the conflicting interests and different ideologies in the world." There is only one reason why ‘‘peaceful co-existence" is impossible, that is, the apparent willingness of some of thf great powers to use military power to compel oth er people to accept ideologies. The world is composed of people who! have widely different religious beliefs. The Christian religion is not a menace to thej peace of the world or the development oT other peoples because Christians do not ad-j vocate the use of force to compel people to become Christians. The same observation j applies to the Mohammedans, the Confucian ists and those who belong to other religious orders. In' the economic world, there is a conflict between the capitalism of the Western na tions and the communism of Soviet Russia This conflict would not imperil the peace of the world if neither the capitalistic coun tries nor the communistic countries attempt ed to compel other people to accept their views through the use of military power. The So viet Union has demonstrated a willingness to use military force to subjugate neighbor ing countries and to compel the populations of these countries to accept communist ide ologies. The peace of the world is threatened not by a conflict of ideals or systems, but by the danger of aggression. The Russians are entitled to be Communists if they see flt to permanently accept the economic prin ciples that go with the system. As Com munists, they would be no danger to the oth er peoples of the world except for the fact that the leaders of the Communist regime are ready to use force to compel other peo ples to accept their economic theories and to suppress any freedom of thought that causes disagreement. We think it is important for the people of the United States to understand that the danger to the peace of the world stems from militarism rather than from any other ism. Faced with this threat, the United States has taken the lead in rearming the free peo ples of the world, not for the purpose of compelling Communistically-inclined nations to become capitalistic, but for the purpose of preventing the Communists from regi menting the free world, obliterating their freedoms and liberties and compelling them to goose-step with the Communists. NEW YORK CITY (ILNS).— More than 200 “real old timer*” in the International Typographic •Union's Local No. 6 were honor* ed in ceremonies here for 50 and 60-year membership. One of those honored—Julios Gottlieb— has been a member 75 years. The grand total membership represented in the group receiving l lemblems amounts to boom 12, jOOO years, "Big 6” President Leur enee H. Victory Mid. Fifty-year emblem* were awarded to 109 members, aad 109 others received 60-year emblems. Assistant Secretary of Labor Ralph Wright, who participated is the ceremonies, said, “this represents a lot of experience— a lot of devotion—a lot of aacri fica." f , Roll it back over the yean, he said, aad it extends beyond the period of recorded history. “Add up the monumeats built over that period of warrior* and rulers—the pyramid*, the atatues, the cities, and the palaces—and they are nothing compared to the edifice erected by thee* our elder brothers. “You 50- and 60-year men have builded not in stone or «p«tel Yea have molded a living organi (Coatiaaed On Page 4) France Making Progress Rebuilding Her Defense By EDWARD H. SIM8, - (.Special Correspondent of The j Charlotte Labor Journal, Writing From Europe.) PARIS, France — The Fourth French Republic, which lost 600, 000 men in the last war, and which is generally considered the hey to defense of western Europe, is making encouraging progress toward re-establishing itself as one of the world’s great military powers. Reporters visiting France for •, the specific purpose of measuring; recovery and rearmament pro* grams in various European coun* tries saw detailed and secret re ports on French military progress in recent days—and though there j are bottlenecks, the French must be rated on the long road to re- | covery. Highlight of the American: group's stop over in Paris was a J meeting with Defense Minister Georges Bidault. The group also talked at length with French CA head Paul Porter, members of the Joint American Military Advisory Group, and members of the French Team on Mutual Security Act aid. The impressions gained were not all good. For instance, modem air fields are badly needed in France, and it will probably take a year to construct them. But for every discouraging fact' there were encouraging ones. The major gain in the ■ last two years j might be said to be one in morale ' and faith. And in some cases where progress seems discourag ing, there are pretty good reasons for the bottleneck, Mr. Bidault explained French difficulties in airfield construction, in part, by pointing out that the fields ana to be NATO fields, some at least. This means members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation would use the fields. Bidault —' iVare of the financial strain France is undergoing as a result of the war in Indo-Chlna — be lieves NATO powers should con tribute to construction of these fields, since they are not one hun dred per cent French airfields. Only a month ago, at Ottawa, agreement was reached on this j point, and since that agreement, on cost-contributions, progress has been rapid. Major General George J. Rich ards, of the French Team on U. j S. aid, explained French capabili ties to reporters at the American ( Embassy a day or two ago. While Richards* preparedness charts' were off the record, reporters who 1 left that hrfeflag realise that France today—probably for the' first time in ten years — has a feasible plan, a mobilisation pro gram that could throw reserves Into the lines much quicker than in 1040, and several good divi sions. It ia true that a great part of | the French regular army ia now l fighting the Communiata in Indo- j China, but nevertheless, the French j expect to have the ten diviaiona j they pledged NATO by the end of the year—and perhaps more. The country’a shortage in heavy military weapons is being allevi ated by the U. S. shipments of heavy military equipment and ve hicles. And most American mili tary observers feel that French divisions today would give a bet ter account of themselves than in 1940. For one thing, U. S. mtli tarv advisers are working closelv with the French, and instructing them in the use of modern heavy weapons. Another factor is the intense desire of tto average Frenchman to regain for his homeland a re spected place in world councils. As in 1914, the French are in a “comeback” spirit, which could be quite important in a new war. The Communist threat is a sub ject reporters heard much about. The encouraging thing*is that this threat has steadily declined for three years. Communist seats in the Chamber of Deputies declined in the recent elections from 180 to 101. And the mil itary services have attempted to weed every Communist sympa thizer out of the armed force*-, as a security measure. In France this involves some i Job, since there are about live million citizens who vote Com* munist, but the job is being done, nevertheless. Perhaps the biggest threat to France today is the declining value of the French franc. While the official exchange rate is 350 francs to one dollar, black market swaps on the streets of Paris these days operate on a 400-or 480-to-one ratio. The franc is under great pres sure for several reasons. First the French are spending a mil lion francs a day to maintain their war against Communists in Indo china. Second, the French bud get is much higher this year than last, now being programmed at an estimated 10 1-2 billion dol lars. Of this about 2.6 billions is scheduled for the rearmament program. Third, rising prices in many areas where France buys goods have increased faster than the rise in prices of the goods France exports—this adds to the draining away of dollars and un balances French trade. Thus present times are not easy ones for France, but the country is making a start on what will probably have to be a long comeback. The most en couraging factor in the picture is the average enthusiasm with which the Frenchmen views his country’s attempted resurgence— the will seems to be there. Building Trades Hit Truman On Labor Washington, D. C. (ILNS). In an attack on the Democratic administration's labor record, the AFL Building and Construction Trades Department monthly bul letin suggested that the best way to get the Taft-Hartley Act re pealed eventually is to vote Re publican next year. The bulletin charged that Presi dent Truman has a- “terrible labor record” and does not really want the T-H law repealed despite his messages to Congreag asking re peal. Richard J. Gray is presi dent of the department and ita secretary is Joseph D. Keenan, until recently director of Labor's League for Political Education. The unsigned bulletin issued by the department leadership took direct issue with the political ax iom that “labor can’t bolt the Democratic party because it has nowhere else to go.” It said union members should not "deluae’ themselves into thinking that a Republican ad ministration would repeal the Taft-Hartley law. But it said there is a “very meritorious” argument in favor of labor sup porting the Republicans in 1968: “It would force the Democrat* to respect us and after 4 rears we would then be in a eery ad vantageous position to obtain our demands." If the Democrats are returned to power with labor support in 1952, the bulletin said, it may take 12 years to get the Taft Hartiey law repealed — 4 more Democratic years, followed by 4 to 8 years of Republican rule. > The bulletin noted—and reject ed— alternative course of labor political action such as forming an independent labor party and voting a split ticket aimed at “electing our friends and defeat ing our enemies.” It said both were impractical. l - ; Accusing the administrattoo of being “two-sided” about labor, the bulletin said Truman seat up Ms request for Taft-Hartley repeal at the same time that he sought passage of civil rights tew. “Neither was seriously pushed,” the bulletin said. “It appears that the administration leaders j knew beforehand that neither tew would be acted upon.”
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 8, 1951, edition 1
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