The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-09-14

The WASHINGTON SCENE
By LAWRENCE TODD, Federated Pros.

Observation-Disclosures labor may
determine the immediate fate of the
Kellogg treaty for remuneration of
war, when that measure comes be-
fore the senate for ratification, in
December. In the struggle between
the big navy lobby and the advocates
of the treaty, as to whether the pact
shall be ratified at once or shall be
shelved until a naval construction
bill shall be enacted, the forces of la
Dor unionism may hold the balance of
power. And because the early rati-
fication of the treaty involves funda-
mental changes in the diplomatic and
political situation around the world.
this balance of power is more impor-
tant than any that American workers
have ever dealt with.
Labor's opportunity, as explained
by James O'Connell, president of the
Metal Trades department of the A. F.
of L., arises from the fact that the
pending naval construction bill has
, been saddled by the senate naval af-
fairs committee with an amendment
robbing the unions of half the work
in government yards, promised them
in the bill as passed by the House.
The House measure provided that al
ternate vessels of the 16-ship pro-
gram should be constructed in gov
eminent yards. The senate commit
tee amendment permits the purchase
in private plants of all engines and
other equipment for these s vessels
whose construction is allotted to gov
eminent plants. This means that less
than $70000,000 of the proposed
$276.000 000s appropriation for new
naval construction would go to plants
where union conditions prevail.
= =
Panic has struck in among the ma
val promoters since public opinion in
all parts of the world has seized upon
the Kellogg treaty as a text for de-
manding that naval expenditures be
cut down. If the naval lobby is to
induce congress to spend all this
|, money on new ships, it must act
quickly. 1t must not let the treaty bt
ratified first. Now comes the labor
unions suggestion that organized la
Dor is inclined to peace and it sees
no reason why bill that has beer
robbed of material advantages to ma
vyyard workers should be passed.
When that suggestion is made thu
senate committee headed by Hale O.
Maine may turn a somersault ant
come down anxious to give even NOR
than ships to the union workers
in government yards.
o While the Hale amendment contain
) clause requiring that naval officer
: buy from private plants only sue
equipment as can be so secured a
advantageous terms the union spokes
! men know by long experience that tn
: naval officers are eager to serve tn
private and to neglect the govern
+ ment plants. They look to futur
q private employment in private cor
. Germs, and meanwhile they enjoy Sc
. cial favors from sources enriched b
q private dividends. The few who ar
f loyal to government construction ar
. the exceptional men. By force of tn
+ influence of the majority, govern
g ment establishments lie almost id,
: while hundreds of millions of dollar
y annually, dCSoIu1uS W " OOInlSh, d.
= spent by the government on privat
cOIItI act wUTK Tor various depar
+ ments when the same work could
e done as cheaply in the government
! own shops and yards.
,
d Since all nations are adhering |
IS the treaty-contingent upon its con
g ing into force when the America
l. senate shall ratify it-President Coo
r idge has discovered that he has
his hands a more extensive respons