The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-08

IS NRA ANTI-LABOR?
THE NRA is under attack.


Miss Mary Van Kleeck Of the Russell
Sage foundation has resigned as a member
Of the advisory council Of the United States
employment service in protest against the
administrations alleged anti-labor policies.
When such an expert makes serious charges
they merit consideration.
Specifically. Miss Van Kleeck says that the
collective bargaining rights Of labor. recog-
nized by the recovery lax, can not be pro-
tected if labor is denied the right 70 strike
under the new truce agreement.
That is true It also is true. as she says,
that the NRA evaded the company union
issue in the steel code hearings. Moreover. it
is true. as she says. that company union en-
ployers have more than fair share Of rep
resentat.on in the NRA organization.
This set-up does hold dangers.
But. despite these unfavorable conditions.
labor has Jared better than employers at the
hands Of the NRA to date.
Take the case of the textile code. the first
and largest in operation. The NRA gave
labor a far better deal in that code than the
union official himself had demanded in the
original negotiations.
The most remarkable feature Of the steel
hearings was the failure Of labor TO achieve
even minimum of organization in that in
dustry under the invitation Of the recovery
Law. and the failure of labor to present
strong case at the hearings.
There was only one powerful and adequate
voice raised in behalf Of labors rights-and
that was the voice of Secretary Of Labor
Frances Perkins: in other words. the Roose-
Welt administration.
Finally. take the case Of the mediation
board Only two Of the seven members are
direct labor representatives. But Miss Van
Kleeck has overlooked the much more i'm
portant fact that Senator Robert Wagner
the chairman. and DR. Leo Wolman. the econ
omist hold the balance of power on the board
and that both are proved friends of legitimate
labor interests.
AS for the right to strike which she thinks
has been sacrificed by the truce agreement
tina: is an inahenabe right which can not be
destroyed But it is a right that can be with
held for fair arbitration.
Ii certain employers do not live up to the
cods standards. as Miss Van Kleeck properly
fears. the ADMINISTRATION in the dispute will
be on the side Of labor and not on the side
OF the law-breaking employers
Far from sacrificing a right in the process,
labor in fact wins powerful ally in the gov
eminent.
The real trouble with Miss Van Kleeck is
that she hates to face the disagreeabe fact
that labor in America is weak and poorly led,
and that it has failed during the last few
weeks to take advantage of its unique opportu-
mites under the recovery law to organize
unions
AS a friend Of labor. she is inclined to
blame capital or the government for the sins
of organized labor itself II President Roose-
welt had been half as slow and indifferent to
the needs of labor as many of the union lead
ers themselves have been the country today
would have no recovery law with its charter
Of labor rights
Miss Van Kleeck might have admitted at
the outset that the internal weakness of or
gained labor is the most serious handicap Of
the administration in its effort to increase
purchasing power through higher wages and
shorter hours.
Then. with fairness to the administration.
she might have fired point-blank at those
NRA deputy administrators whose anti-labor
policy ieopardizes success Of the Roosevelt
pro-labor policy.