The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-21
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES

A BITTER fight on the Wagner labor dis
n putes bill is being waged by the leading
American industrialsts and their organizations
The shock troops Of reaction are headed up
by the National Association of Manufacturers
and the United States Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber Of commerce, for example, has de-
nounced the bill as an effort TO promote the
oganization Of labor, to put an end to the open
shop to set up a series Of prohibitions against
employers. and to grant to federal agents broad
nquistorial powers to go into the affairs of every
person who employs any other person, even in
domestic service"
AS usual, the reactionary American employers
fail to recognize when they are we'll off Pro-
gressive students OF the proposed act see clearly
enough that it is more favorable to industry than
to labor.
One Of the more intelligent of the progress
sive criticisms of the Wagner bill is that which
has been prepared by the International Juridical
Association Of New York City and is being cir
culated with its explicit approval by the Amer
lean Civil Liberties Union. The substance Of this
progressive criticism follows:
Unless directly elected by employees and
employers, respectively, all members of the ma
tional labor board should be designated as
representatives Of the government and none of
them designated as representing any other par
ticular group.
The enforcement of the provisions of the act
outlawlng unfair labor practices should not rest
entirely with the national labor board. En-
ployes should be granted the right to secure in
junctive relief against violations of the act and
the right to appeal decisions of the board to the
courts.
IT ME right to strike or picket should be more
l. explicitly protected from any abridgment by
this act the MIRA or any code, license or agree
ment adopted hereunder.
THE act now prohibits agreements whereby
employment is conditioned upon membership in
labor organization of less than a ajority of
employees 1t also should provide for the repre-
sentation OF substantial minorities by prohibit
ing closed shop contracts where such minorties
wish representation by another labor organiza-
ton.
In no case should such contract be per-
mltted between an employer and labor organ
ization which is, or has been fostered by unfair
labor practices The act should not sanction dis
elimination as to wages and working conditions
between different groups of employees.
Provision should be made Tor the represen-
tation of substantial minority groups.
Existing labor agreements procured by I'M
fair labor practices as we'll as agreements in con-
f1ict with the act should be abrogated
The unfair labor practices enumerated in
the act should be expanded to include the use
of espionage and blacklists"
N letter to Senator David !. Walsh, chairman
4 OF the senate committee on education and
labor, the Civil Liberties Union adds its own
comment on the Wagner bill cautioning against
anything tending to limit the complete freedom
OF labor to protect its rights through collective
bargaining:
In considering the bill before you to create
the national labor board by statute, we desire
to voice the view of a considerable number who
regard the regulation of labor relations by the
federal government as dangerous to the rights of
labor to organize and strike. Experience under
the administration of the MIRA and the existing
national labor board has made that evident
mo such piece of machinery as is proposed
with its various devices for Cancellation. can
help but impair labor rights in the long run
however much its authors may intend precisely
the contrary The net effect of the NRA on
labor relations and the intervention of the ma
| tlonal labor board in strikes has been to weaken
the power of collective bargaining in terms of
building bona-flde unions, of enforcing union
! recognition and of raising the woefully made
quate wages fixed in the codes.
| 1.-THE sole interest of the American Civil Lib
critics Union in this bill relates to those clauses
affecting the rights of labor to organize and
strike. That, we submit, also is the primary
interest of the organized working classes of this
country q whole. Nothing should be done to
curtail such rights, inherent in the proclaimed
principles Of civil liberty