Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-29
The President and Labor.

Friends and foes, who have been
clamoring for a Hoover ready to speak
his mind and act accordingly, have no
cause to complain in the light of pres
ent-hour events. In announcing the
selection of William N. Doak of West
Virginia as Secretary of Labor, the
President found 1t necessary to make
the appointment in direct defiance Of
the wishes of the American Federation
Of Labor. President Green Of that great
and representative organization had
taken the position that the labor port
folio, by right of tradition and because
the federation is the spokesman Of
American organized labor, should be
given exclusively to q man afiliated
with it.
Mr.. Green specifically opposed the
appointment of Mr.. Doak, who is the
legislative agent OF the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen at Washington and
q past general officer Of that important
union. The big four" rail brother
hoods have never associated with the
American Federation Of Labor That
non-affiliation has signally failed to rob
in the labor movement. They have pre-
ferred to paddle their own canoe-psr-
haps 1t should rather be said, to push
their own hand-car. AS independent
unions, the brotherhoods have become
wealthy and politically potent. The
~ 6a -
ship makes them a specialized group,
but as the labor factors in the basic and
national industry OF rail tranSporta-
ton, they are unquestionably an ele-
ment of the first rank in the grand
army Of American wage earners.
President Hoover sets up the incon-
trovertible theory that he cannot sta
Billie the right Of any one branch Of
the labor movement to monopolize high
Federal ofice-in this case, cabinet Of
fee. The Chief Executive goes further.
He asserts that President Green's
"enunciation"-that none but a Fedora
ton Of Labor member is entitled to the
cabinet post dealing with workers in
terests-left him no alternative but to
maintain "the principle of open and
equal opportunity and freedom in ap-
pointments TO public ONCE" In effect,
that is a declaration of presidential
independence. 1t is directed, for the
moment, at the American Federation
Of Labor. 1t applies as equally. let us
say, to the New York Stock Exchange or
the Association Of Railway Executives
or the National Grange or TO any or
gained group which would set up the
principle that only a man carrying It's
card Is eligible to national honors at
Washington.
1t will Be misfortune both for the
administration and for tn. labor
movement 50 ably represented by VIII
Lam Green If the episode generated by
Secretary Doaks appointment leads to
anything like an estrangement between
President Hoover and the federation
The country's principal interest in the
affair is the satisfaction that will be
felt in Mr. Hoovers choice Of a sue
cessor to Jim the Puddler," Senator
elect Davis Of Pennsylvania, who on
Monday will end a record and honor
able career Of rOundly ten years In the
Labor Secrl taryship. OF Mr.. Doak's
fitness for cabinet honors, Mr.. Hoover
has long been Convinced.
In placing the trsinmens spokesman
In his cabinet, the President returns TO
his first love-the selection he desired
TO make when he took c:ace in March,
1929. Apparently nothing has happened
IN the meantime TO make the White
House think 1t could do better than
intrust the portfolio to the self-made
American who once was switchman
IN the freight yards of Bluefeld, w. Va.