Evening star., 1934-02-25
Complete Silence Surrounds
Breach Based on Com.
pany Union Conflict.
REMAINS AS CHAIRMAN
OF N. R. A. ADVISORY BODY
Budd Finn Row Adjustment On
Basis of Workers Poll
Now Proposed.

tIopyrlent. 1854. Dy the Associated PreSS.D
Differences of opinion on National
Labor Board policy, involving the
handling Of the more important cases,
have resulted in the withdrawal from
the board of DR.. Leo Wolman, Co.
lumbia professor of economics and
leading authority on labor relations.
Board members. including Wolman,
refused to discuss the development in
any way. 1t eliminated long restless
ness within the board over inability
to bring to q definite conclusion dis
puteS at the Weirton Steel Co. plants,
the E. G. Budd Manufacturing Co. of
Philadelphia and others in which the
company union issue had brought
strikes and lockouts.
A solution of the Budd case was
offered yesterday by the Compliance
Board which. unlike the Labor Board,
is an integral part Of N. R. A.
Keeps N. r. A. Board Post.
Wolman remains as chairman Of
the National Advisory Board of N.
r. A. Whether any other members
intended to follow his example as to
the Arbitration Board. which is
headed by Senator Wagner. Demo-
crat, of New York. was not known.
though some have been hoping for
a reorganization to insure attendance
at all times of both industrial and
labor members, and to expedite solu-
tion Of the type Of cases In which
members feel delay makes equitable
adjustment hopeless.
The internal friction has been
matched by dissatisfaction outside
Labor men still are pinning much de-
pendence on the board to help them
through the tougher fights over
unionization, though they are openly
critical Of delays
Industrialists in growing number
have been taking the attitude that the
national board and its regional boards
are hostile to them, and they have
used this assumption to buck Govern
ment attempts at adjustment of dif-
fculties. Most of these, however, are
the very ones who propose to main
tain at all costs, company unions
created with the help of the manage
ment, as bulwark against the Amer
ican Federation Of Labor and other
outside unions. This fact has dis
counted their opinions heavily In the
minds Of officials.
Workers Vote Proposed.
Yesterdays action on the Budd case
by the Compliance Board, proposed
that the Philadelphia auto body con-
cern agree that its workers be polled
under supervision of William H. Davis.
compliance director, to determine
whether they want organization for
collective bargaining. A company
union and an A. F. of L. unit exist
there.
If the company refuses, as in the
past it refused all proposals of the
National Labor Board and of the Phil
adelphia Labor Board, officials say N
r. A. will remove its Blue Eagle, ask
the President to cancel all contracts
Budd has with the Navy for cruiser
and destroyer equipment, and ask the
Attorney General to consider prosecu-
tion for violation of the industrial
law.
Complete absence of the Labor
board from the present picture Sug-
gested that the many conferences be-
tween Davis and Budd representatives
already had led to a virtual agree
ment
A chief cause of friction within the
Labor Board has been over whether
the board should use legal authority
or moral force as It's chief instru-
ment.
Law Change Proposed.
Wagner, dissatisfied with its prog
ress, recently obtained an executive
order from President Roosevelt spe.
cifically authorizing the board to con-
duct employe elections. Believing
still more is needed, he has been
drafting bill to give the board con-
gressional sanction, outlaw manage
ment-inspired company unions and
define what collective bargaining is.
Wolman has not aired his views re-
Gently, but in the early days Of the
board he insisted that practical con-
ciliation Of disputes failing, the
agency should use the moral force
Of public opinion to back its judg-
ments.