Evening star., 1934-03-09
N.R.A.LAB0RPLEA
SHOCKS INDUSTRY
Johnson's EspousaI of Union
Seen Making Cooperation
More Difficult.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Business men who came to WASH
ington expecting the Government Of
the United States, In the person Of
Gen. Hugh johnson, would hold the
scales even in interpreting the law
were shocked at the ouspoken cham
pionship Of organized labor and the
denunciation Of the so-called COM
pany union.
Recent surveys show IS per cent Of
the employees are members Of unions
Of their own choosing which are not
amliated with national unions and
that about 10 per cent are members
OF what is known as organized labor,
while the balance of the employees
deal individually with their en-
ployers.
Under the circumstances, the open
espousal Of the cause of organized
labor will mean a possible total Of
$500, 100000 in dues for organized
labor, the largest fund of this kind
ever massed In America. There is no
requirement. Of law and no regulation
Of the national industrial recovery act
as yet-though the power to call for
1t exists-whereby labor unions are to
make financial reports either to the
Government or to their members.
Want Financial Statement.
Many business men. disappointed
at Gen. Johnson's reversal of all his
previous utterances and statements,
which endeavored to present the
N. r. A. as impartial as between the
types Of labor organization or COL
lective bargaining, were saying today
that II they must submit to the Or
ganized labor domination they be-
lieved the public interest required
financial statements of all salaries
and expenses incurred by labor off,
cials. walking delegates and legisla-
tive representatives., together with all
sums spent annually in connection
with lobbying at the Federal and
State governments.
To be sure, business men are not
pro-labor and Gen. johnson knew his
audience when he asked that eco
nomic peace be established. But while
the fight between organized labor and
the employers has been going on for
years. never has a Government off,
cial gone as far as did Gen. Johnson
For several months. the leaders Of
industry have been trying to keep
peace In their own ranks by insist
ing that all official statements should
point out clearly that the law meant
the employees were free to speak
through unions of their own choosing.
After considerable controversy. such
statements have been carefully
phrased and finally approved by the
President Of the United States and
the head Of the N. r. A.
1t may be that johnson thought his
speech could be considered as a sort
Of unomcial utterance, as a bit Of
intimate advice given American In
dustry over q national network Of
broadcasting stations, but the Ian
guage of his address goes into the
records and business men today were
re-reading it to see that the General
really went as far as he did.
May Precipitate Strikes.
Here is the excerpt which will be
used from coast to coast by labor
organizers in what may precipitate all
sorts of strikes and controversies:
There is no law prohibiting a COM
pany union as such If there is no in
terposition whatever by employers,
and II the men freely choose it. But
90 out Of 100 times, you and I know
that this Is not the case. Let's not
kid ourselves, let us act before Con-
gress acts. Call in Senator Wagner's