The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-04-24
The President, as Conciliator, Interprets
 Section (a).
Engineering and Mining Journal.)

From the time of it's enactment last June, Sec tion (a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act with its mandatory provisions for employee repre- sentation and collective bargaining, has been garded potential source of trouble to the i Administration in it's program for recovery The
 law has been the subject of varying interpretations by the National Labor Board and the National Recovery Administration, of the rights of employers and employees, organized labor unions and company unions majorities and minorities. But in all of fcia announcements the inevitable thread of pub lie interest the dominant factor has through the fabric of interpretation, thus revealing the ulti mate objective of the Administration In the rugged language of General Johnson it is the Governments duty ito that industry does not hornswoggle labor that labor does not bullyrag industry; that neither separately both in concert shall plot the consuming public"
 Nine months after enactment of MIRA the issue of Section 2 (a) was joined in the automobile
 industry. Brought to head by threat of a dis astrous strike by the American Federation of Labor there followed two weeks of conference between the Administration and representatives of manu- lecturers and union labor. Obviously committed to the execution of law that had his approval the President had to assume the role of conciator and finaly settle the matter. He is to be mended for inducing both sides to accept a con- promise in the public interest" and thus avoid industrial dispute of far-reaching consequences The language of the Presidents official inter- pretation of Section (a) is encouraging. He IACSo5AlA1So "a group groups with pro rata membership on
 bargaining committees. Through MIRA he sets up an impartial board to deal decisively "on the basis of common and justice" with questions in controversy. He "favors particular union particular form of employee organization or repre- sentaton.' He seeks only freedom of choice with out coercion, restraint, intimidation from any source" He reminds labor that organizations of employees seeking to exercise their representative rights cannot at the same time be unmindfu of their responsibilities"
 In our judgment the Presidents concilation is the right approach toward better industrial rela- tions-conference and compromise strife and a test of strength More steps of like character
 are needed They far more likely to evolve gradually sound policy of industrial relations
 than will be achieved by legislative fiat through the Wagner bill any other form of and
 unfamiliar prohibition that is suddenly forced on
 the country
 Labor is entitled to organization But opoly in labor control is just unwelcome a form of dictatorship is of capital control Organ
 ized industry is being brought and under
 Federal regulation through MIRA and other agencies, and organized labor cannot escape the same treat ment-even to a denial of it's right to strike-if in
 it's reach for power it begins to monopolstic tendencies. Who, then, shall be the arbter? Per
 haps, in the rapidly shifting American scene we
 alone will settle these matters. Who knows?