Evening star., 1933-10-11
No Need for Strikes.

Under the plan of the N. R. A. labor
no longer needs the strike as weapon
to obtain full justice, Gen. Hugh S.
johnson bluntly told the American
Federation of Labor in an address last
night. He went further. The plain,
stark truth" he said to the labor
leaders, sis that you cannot tolerate
the strike" And Gen. johnson warned
labor that If it permitted the use Of
strikes on large scale at time when
the Government and the whole people
are intent upon seeing that the rights
of every man who works for pay are
protected, the people will turn on labor
unionism and rend it.
The N. r. A. seeks to give to labor its
fullest opportunity as it seeks to give the
same to industry. The Government steps
in as an umpire and to aid in the proper
organization of both labor and indus
try. Organization and then co-opera-
tion by both are the essentials to sue
cess of the national recovery plan Gen.
Johnson's contention that the United
States is no longer a pioneer country
that complexities of modern life have
made necessary organization and Coop
Grafton, with Government supervision
Of labor and capital on a tremendous
scale-undoubtedly will be attacked by
the friends Of rugged individualism."
His declaration hat in this new era of
mass production and chain distribution
there is little room in commerce and
industry for the adventurer on a shoe
string" will be challenged by men who
insist that the days of the corner gro
cery and dug store should be restored.
But developments in industry and COM
mtrce in this country in recent years
seem to bear out the contention of the
national recovery administrator. Either
the great industrial and commercial
machine which has been built up must
be scrapped and the country must be-
stored and bulwarked. Its parts must
operate effectively and together If the
latter course is to be followed. That is
the very purpose of the N. R. A.
The Government, Gen. johnson made
it clear, is engaged in huge effort
backed by congressional action in the
shape of the national recovery act-to
bolster the industrial and commercial
system and civilization as they have
developed in this country. If the ef-
fort fails, then, in the opinion Of Gen.
Johnson-and great many other
leaders-the industrial civilization will
collapse and something else will be set
up. Last night the national recovery
administrator made his plea to organ
lied labor for cooperation. He has
made other pleas and given warnings
equally clear to capital and industry
that they, too, must cooperate.
Organized labor has clung to the strike
in the past. Today it is using that
weapon in many places in this country.
Two or three hundred thousand workers
Gen. johnson said. It is
brutal and dangerous weapon when
justice may be obtained through the
operation of the codes and the N. R. A.,
with the Governments Labor Board,
headed by Senator Wagner of New York,
as an additional aid to bring about
peaceful and just adjustments of the
controversies between labor and capital.
1t is clear that if the N. R. A. is to
work successfully neither capital nor
labor must be allowed to run amuck. If
the Government can do even-handed
justice to both, both should be satisfied.
1t is almost hoping for the millennium
to expect that they will be satisfied But
they have the chance. they have the
A danger lies in the efforts
which both labor and capital may make
are making-to gain the upper
hand. The side that controls the
umpire has the advantage.