Evening star., 1933-10-11

the bituminous coal code and what
grew out Of 1t. The situation demon
strates both the best and the worst in
N. I. r. A. In that case, as the facts
and principles grew clear, there was no
opposition from enlightened operators
to contracts with the United Mine
Workers. They recognized the need for
partnership to pull themselves out Of q
hole and to discipline their own indus
try. The moment that contract was
made, practically the whole RESPONSE
bility for the rescue Of that industry,
and In some measure for the success Of
N. r. A., fell squarely on the shoulders
Of John Lewis. Could he perform un-
der his far-reaching agreement? Could
he control the divergent efforts of all
groups Of miners? In q word, is union
labor responsible instrumentality?
Make no mistake about it. the very
foundations Of organized labor are at
test here and now.
Minority Threatens Enterprise.
But what Is happening? What are
the hazards? A minority on each side
industry and labor-is threatening the
whole enterprise. A minority Of miners
using force and violence in defiance of
the public peace is hampering the re-
sponsible leadership of the United Mine
Workers and preventing its compliance
with its contracts. A minority of oper-
ators have thus far omitted to accord
the rights and privileges to labor which
80 per cent Of the industry have con-
ceded. The purpose of the people Of
the United States as expressed in
N. I. r. A.-the concerted effort of both
employers and employes-the peace Of
a great State are all thus put in
jeopardy by the willfulness of less than
10 per cent on both Sides for here and
now want to pay tribute to the leader
ship OF the majority on both sides. John
Lewis Is. living up to his contract 100
per cent Such men (on the employers
side) as John Morrow. head of the
Pittsburgh Coal Co.; Ralph Taggart
James Francis. Charles O'Neil, who have
labored since before this act was passed
as few men have ever worked before for
peace and progress In this tortured in
dustry have done and are doing their
full share. Nowhere in the Presidents
recovery program is there clearer ex-
ample of teamwork between government,
industry and labor than this-balked
and frustrated by recalcitrant few.
10 Per Centers Give Trouble.
"As Donald Richberg said not long
ago, 1t is the 40 per centers" that give
us the trouble. In this case his words
were prophetic. Just about 10 per cent
of soft coal production-just about 10
per cent Of coal miners-are involved IN
this resistance. Does any one suppose
for a moment that In Democratic
country like this 10 per cent Of any
group can hold up the progress Of the
Presidents plan (which has become the
peoples plan) in this country I leave
the answer to that question with you
II used the coal industry as an Illus
tration because 1t is the most typical,
but the same sort Of thing is going on
ception about this Two or three hun
dred thousand men are out on strike.
But tor some curious reason strikes are
phenomena Of recovery. DR.. Alexander
Sachs. chief Of the research and plan
ming division provided for in the ma
tional recovery act. who, to my mind,
is one Of the worlds greatest economists
If economic prediction be test OF an
economists value-Alexander Sachs tells
me that there are far fewer strikes IN
this recovery than in any other in his
tory-here or elsewhere. II that means
ANYTHING, it means that the ill-informed
and inimical chatter about the recovery
program being responsible for strikes Is
just plain moonshine.
Strikes Not Necessary.
But the matter does have this seri-
Gus aspect for you. Labor does not
need to strike under the Roosevelt plan.
1t has a disinterested forum-flrst in
the open hearing at which sit in coun-
Gil your foremost leaders, together with
leaders in industry and full and ade-
luate representation Of consumers. to all
Of whom want also to pay my tribute.
Men and women seem to become In
spired in their participation in the
Presidents plan. I can't mention all
the members of the advisory boards,
and what I say for Mr.. Teagle, DR..
Wolman and Mrs Rumsey goes for all
of thenl-more conscientious and de-
voted public service was never rendered.
So say that labor has its tribunal in
the first instance. But that IS in the
formation OF codes. The complaint has
been about their execution. The Presi-
dent has also provided for that. Sena-
tor Bob Wagner, the senatorial sponsor
and co-author Of the recovery act and
champion of human rights for years. is
head of as distinguished board as was
ever set up to pass upon these disputes
and he is rapidly organizing his work
to cover the entire country.
Rights Are Protected.
Thus, from the beginning to the
end Of this process you are given COM
plete and highly effective protection Of
your rights. The plain, stark truth is
that you cannot tolerate the strike.
Public opinion is the essential power in
this country In the end 1t will break
down and destroy every subversive in
fluence If now. when the whole power
Of this Government and its people are
being given to an effort to provide and
maintain to the ultimate the rights Of
every man who works for pay, you per-
NIT or countenance this economic sab
otage. that public confidence and opin-
ion will turn against you, and, as Eddie
McGrady said to you the other night,
the turn will be either to the extreme
right or to the extreme left, and either
would result in your destruction, as
you know better than can tell you.
II must say some things that you
may not relish. But We have law to
execute. We have to interpret 1t. The
EtcCOFcIy AuIilIIuSCI dtlOI WOuIu ld1l II
we swerved one instant from impartial
and honest Interpretation of that law.
In my own opinion. at time of great
crisis such as this, it is almost treason
able to depart from or exceed the man
date Of the Congress Of the United
States. I am lawyer and feel quite
confident Of my knowledge of this law
because helped to write it. But
have been an industrialist, and lest
should, by unconscious prejudice or
lack of view, swerve too much to the
industrialist side, asked for Donald
Richberg as general counsel. I wanted
to maintain balance. Our whole Or
ganization is planned to maintain bal
ance. An industrialist and q labor
leader sits in on everything we do.
have been much criticized hu INV ndlls.