The Washington times., 1920-11-20
LAWSISOUGHT
ADMINISTRATOR
Drastic Legislation to Be Urged
on Congress, But With
Slight Chance.
BY JOHN SNURE.

SoAAAN O4N w
Congress Is confronted with the
difficult proposition of what it shall
do with respect to labor.
Pressure Is already being exerted,
now that the election is over. and
the Republicans have elected Presi-
dent and Congress by sweeping
vote, against the opposition Of Presi-
dent Gompers and some of the other
prominent labor leaders to have
Legislation enacted which will be un-
friendly to labor, or, at least, will
be regarded by labor as antagonistic.
TO SEEK OPEN SHOP.
This pressure will be felt In the
short session of Congress and no
doubt will become stronger when the
new Administration opens. and when
the extra session Is convened
Certain of the great organizations
Of manufacturers and business men
are opposed to the closed shop and
are embarked on a great campaign
for the open shop. They are also
showing a decided inclination to pro-
coed on the theory that organ zed
labor has been shown to WELD much
less political power than II professed
to have, and that some OF the legts-
years should be repealed.
Further than that. they would put
y quietus on efforts of labor to get
further recognition at the hands Of
Congress and the Government
What is Congress going to do about
it?
To Judge from all one hears. he
might think that Congress would
hurry to put through leg Station re-
dad NV Lob nj
peal a good deal Of the labor legis-
lation OF the past.
But the fact Is that II will do moth
ing of the kind. II great captains
Of industry are figuring on Congress
dealing harshly with labor. they are
much in error. Not only will this not
be done, but Congress will go ahead
passing laws friendly to labor and
intended to be beneficial to 1t.
Plenty OF mon In Congress resent
the attitude Of President Gompers in
the recent campaign. They do not
hesitate to express It This applies
especially to Republicans, but II also
applies to some extent to Democrats.
But IL does not follow from this that
those who do not like Mr.. Gompers'
attitude are going to get into trouble
with labor as whole.
HARDING - FRIENDLY.
As for the new Administration. It
Is pretty certain that Senator Hard
ing will take pains to get on well
with labor. In his own business at
Marion he has for years had good
relations with the men in his en-
;'ploy. He is not likely to consent
willingly to having a clash with or
sanized labor. Such q clash would
be hurtful to many men in Congress
and 1t would Increase the difficulties
Of securing a denomination provided
ne should want one in 1924. 1t would
probably make labor big factor In
the 1922 congressional elections
AS a matter of fact, what is ex-
pected to happen in the Harding ad-
Ininistration Is that q strong man,
friendly to labor, will be put into
the office of Secretary Of Labor and
the department given an administra-
ton Of an effective character.
TWO GROOMED FOR BIRTH.
Congressman John Nolan. of Cali
fornia, himself union man, Is
strongly mentioned. Raymond Rob-
bins, OF Chicago, also is mentioned,
and several others.
II the proposed department OF So
ciat welfare or public welfare IL es-
tablished. as 1t promises to be, II will
he much to the advantage OF labor.
1t will be particularly worth while
10 women and children in industry.
Presumably. a woman will head the
new department and this ought to be
helpful to labor. Senator Harding In
committed to this proposed depart
nent, and it is assumed will help
force it through. in spite Of opposi-
lion.
CUMsTINS TO SEEK ACTION.
Whether there should be anti
strike legislation passed will be one
question raised. 1t will come up seri-
ously in the new Congress. Senate,
Cummins, chair nan OF the Senate In
terstate Commerce Committee, who
was reelected to the Senate after in
tense opposition, with 100000 major
ity, has given notice he will reintro-
duce the antistrike provision and
press 1t for final action. This will be
in the extra session.
Senator Cummins looks on his re-
election as in a sense a Justification
for the antistrike principle. But the