Evening star., 1933-08-08
UNION LABOR WAR
SHOWDOWN IS SEEN
Cleavage Arising Between
Conservative Groups
and Radicals.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Union labor stands at the cross
roads The truce declared over the
weekend and the decision to create Il
National Arbitration Board to settle by
peaceful negotiation the disputes that
arise between employers and employees
is developing cleavage between the
conservative groups in labor's ranks
and the radicals.
The unWillingneSS Of large numbers
Of coal miners in Pennsylvania to ac-
cept even the temporary settlement and
the belief that communistic activities
are responsible for their attitude is in
line with the widely expressed view Of
labor observers that at last show
down has come between the various
elements that seek to control labor III
America.
Issue Is Revealed.
The resignation of Miss Van Kleeck
of New York. from the Federal Ad
viSory Council OF the United States En-
ployment Service and her communlca-
ton addressed to Secretary Perkins Of
the Department of Labor reveals the
issue. Miss Van kletek says the Ma
tional Arbitration Board takes away
the power of collective bargaining from
the working men. The Secretary Of
Labor here woud contend that the law
assures collective bargaining.
DlSlntereSted observers are inclined to
the belief that there is much i'll Miss
Van Kleeck'S contention in so far as
national arbitration does preclude the
possibility of Nationwide strikes and
the right to disturb industrial peace ir-
respective of the Government or the
public interest. To that extent the ma
tional recovery act by its strict delega
ton Of powers may grant labor the
right of collective bargaining, but not
the right TO upset the applicant alto
gether and prevent national recovery.
Nobody not even labor. has such a
privilege under the N. R. A. plan.
There are radicals who believe labor
should have the opportunity and should
indeed go ahead to demand from EN-
ployerS the maximum advantages IL
respective of whether this ruins the EN-
ployer or the whole system Of private
initiative. These radicals do not believe
In the American tradition but in new
form of workers control
Labor leaders like the late Samuel
Gompers and now William Green at
the head of the American Federation Of
Labor have always been Sniped at and
fought by the radical groups, and while
in recent weeks the A. F. of L. has
sought to extend its membership aggres-
Sively. the signature OF its leaders on
the labor truce shows that Mr.. Green
and his colleagues are primarily inter
ested in the national welfare and not i'll
producing industrial chaos.
L. S. For Conservative.
The Government will naturally be
found lending its moral and material
support tc the conserIa ative labor lead
ers as against the radicals. National
arbitration will be defended as a legiti-
mate and honest way to settle dis
puteS, and the precedent OF the War
Labor Board. il which labor and capita!
worked together III the common inter
est. will be cited. as Justltying the action
taken by President Roosevelt.
Naturally some OF the radical labor
groups do not like the personnel OF tnis
National Arbitration Board. But II
must have representatives of industry
on it and these are the lnen chosen by
industry itself and accepted by the
President. AS for labor these are the
men who lead the largest single labor
organization IN the country. II lett To
a vote on working men the men on the
National Arbitration Board represent
ing labor would be Overwhelmingly
chosen. 1t is not. OF course. the obll-
CATION of the President to appoint labor
agitatorS whose sole purpose is TO frlls-
trate peaceful negotiations and bring
on widespread strike and lockuutS.
But the problem will not end with
the appointment of the National Arbi-
tration Board by the President. 1t Will
be the basis of further agitation III the
ranks and there will be efforts to re-
cruit members tor the left wing OF the
labor movement The conservative
union leaders and their followers who
saw America through the war have
Job on their hands and one that Will
deserve the sympathy and keen under
standing of the employer group.
(Copvright, l9331