The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-09-07
by William Bruckart


ministration leaders than has yet taken
place.
If he succeeds in accomplishing the
purpose assigned to him by the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Richberg will face the OPP
position Of the newly formed Ameri-
can Liberty league and the conserva-
tive element throughout the country
with well oiled machine to carry out
his policies.
The critics Of Gen. Hugh s. John
son, national recovery administrator,
Their Turn to laugh. The gen.
to Laugh eral. who has be-
come famous for his
frequent threats to "crack down"
where industry failed to live up to
the codes which the administration
laid down, has run afoul of one of his
own agencies, the national labor rela-
lions board.
Some months ago the general fired
John L. Donovan, labor board ad-
'AoOA apparently OCCdu0G MIL bOuU-
van had been active in organizing a
union among employees of the MIRA
of whom there were some 1900. Mr..
Donovan was dismissed officially for
being inefficient" and for "insubordi-
nation" but few observers ever accept
ed that as the explanation.
Now, General Johnson has been
directed by the labor board to re-em-
ploy Mr.. Donovan, and told that If he
did not reinstate the dismissed worker
he would be violating one of the pro-
visions Of his own law and one which
he had used many times in his threats
to crack down.
The incident has a further sig
nificance, however, as observers here
see it. There is much discussion
around Washington to the effect that
General johnson in the Donovan case
was reaping the crop which he had
sown in his many promises to organ
lied labor. In other words, it is made
to appear in the opinion of many per-
sons that the general promised too
much and when he found the vulner-
able spots in his own program he
sought to get away from his oft re-
peated preachments only to be con-
fronted with the ruling made by his
own labor board after that body had
made an investigation of the merits Of
the case.
No one can tell at this time how
far-reaching the Donovan case deci-
sion may prove to be. Some observers
figure that way will be found to
eliminate Mr.. Donovan from the NRA
organization later but If that takes
place it seems assured that organized
labor itself will rise up and there
will be not one group but many to tell
General Johnson of their interpreta-
ton of the labor provisions in the
recovery act. Suggestions have been
heard likewise to the effect that If an
employer, private or public. is not per-
mitted to discharge worker for in
efficiency or INSTRUMENTATION, employ
ers of labor through the country, sub
servient to the national recovery act
and the codes, are faced with situa-
ton the scope of which cannot now
even be limited.
1t has been anticipated generally
that the administration will have
greater difficulty in
House May the house of repre-
Make Trouble sentatives next win
ter with the new
crop of members than obtained during
the last session of congress when the
house was quite subservient to the
White House orders. Advance notice
Of the difficulties already has appeared
in the shape Of four-cornered race
for the speakership made vacant by
the death of Henry T. Rainey of Illi-
nois. It is said now that the White
House is prepared to stay out of the
fight because, additionally, the Chief
Executive has not messed with the
choice Of house leaders. 1t is fact
nevertheless that the present list Of
entries for the speakership assure
battle between the friends of the
brain trust and the more conservative,
practical politicians In the house mem
bership.
To date Joseph W. Byrns, the pres
ent floor leader and long time repre-
sentative from Tennessee, appears to
have the jump on the other candi-
dates. 1t cannot be overlooked, never
theless, that Representative Sam Ray
burn of Texas, chairman of the pow
erful committee on interstate com
merce, and Representative William
Bankhead, of Alabama, are very much
in the race. Representative John RAN
kin. of Mississippi. must be considered
also because Mr.. Rankin has been
active In assisting the Democratic or
ganization in the house in the last two
sessions and he has many friends.
No one can tell. of course. what
kind of a jam will result and what
trading will be initiated between the
various candidates in order to get the
most political advantage out of the