, 1935-03-08
The World
AT a Glance
By LESLIE c HE
Central Press Staff WRITER

~ - N1AI1\A
BY LESLIE EICHEL
Central Press Staff WRITER
NEW YORK, March 6.-Midwest-
EN- conservative senators have
been supporting the American ted-
Grafton OF Labor because they be-
live with the A. r. Of L. that serious
disturbances will take place unless
the A. r Of L Is supported.
Thus n sees senators from the
states most vitality afiected-Ohio
and Michigan-turning against Pres
ident Roosevelt.
Autos and rubber, plus steel. are
the industries IN which the "A. r. OF
S making its life or death strug-
gle.
,he a +. OF l.. Is none too strong
III any OF those industries because
they are the most powerful indus
tries and can resist most strongly
and because in those industries there
have arisen strong independent
unions. which look upon the A. r.
OF l.. a too conservative and as
outmoded
Furious Struggle
The struggle IN those industries Is
more furious than the general pup
lie knows.
II Is with companies affiliated
With the larger concerns that the
issue has been joined first. But II is
IN the main plants Of the parent
companies that hatred is seething
most.
At u Of the smaller rubber
plants, city gapgsters we're hired TO
battle picketS. And. in the warfare
that followed. there we're actual
bombs, not only gas bombs (which.
incidentally, invaded a school dis
trict and gaSSed children. tool.
In the main plant Of the parent
companies. men who talk union
tother than company union are
marked men. There is no denial OF
that.
And labor Is being imported
cheap labor-so that there are plen-
~ Of surplus men. Thus living stand
ards are falling. not rising. in the
large automotive centerS-while
food and clothing costs and rents
continue 10 rise.
Green
Some senators have warned in
uustry that attacks on William
Green, president Of the American
Federation Of Labor. might elimin-
ate this conservative figure and
bring 10 the front a fighting. indie
pendent labor leader. who could be-
come a powerful force.
Green's appearance In Detroit
strengthened him somewhat.
His battle CRY there was that cleo
tons held IN auto plants we're a
farce.
Said Green.
The conditions under which the
automobile labor board is holding
elections invalidates those elections.
Elections are held in the plants
contrary 10 the procedure eStab-
llshed by other labor boards. The
name OF the organization by which
the workers want 70 be represented
IN collective bargaining does not
appear on the ballot. so that work
erS arc given no real opportunity 70
vote for a union.
The very purpose Of the elections
IS 20 Illustrate rather than TO fur
ther collective bargaining. There can
be no collective bargaining unless
the employees can oppose their full
strength TO the strength OF the en-
ployer"
Other Bad Spots
Other regions IN which the condi-
ton Of workers is receiving attention
al the moment are In Arkansas,
where the condition of sharecrop-
perS Is described as desperate" and
shameful" and IN the coal regions
Of southeastern Kentucky. where
miners again arc trying 10 organize.
Shortage Of Men
In the meantime there Is a short
age Of expert tool and die makers IN
spite Of the surplus men.
Again the unions blame the cor
porations.
SAYS Joseph A. Names. organizer
for the Mechanics Educational Soci-
ETY. Of America:
Competition has forced wages
down 10 a point where many good
men won't work for them. THEY'D
rather 60 without work. The MIRA
didn't stop that. IL Just made a max
lmum wage out Of a minimum wage
And that Is why labor has fought
President Roosevelt's security" waHS
for relief work. Labor fears the $50
a month would become the standard
vsge-and labor would lose two cen
turtles Of gains
Real Question
Back OF all Of this, neutral OBJ
servers see an intensifyinc struggle
that will end IN a battle OF two op-
posing forces. with loss to millions
unless the government steps In which
a definite forwarding looking pro-
gram.
II radicalism does take hold OF
labor and cauSeS desperate men "a
take overt acts 10 protect what
they consider their rights, then the
government Immediately is drawn "a
the side OF the employers. And. II the
example Of italy. Germany. Spain
and Austria Is followed. powerful
financial interests virtually absorb
the government. and fascism fol-
lows. with its destruction OF al
rights.
That Is the thought expressed by
many neutral observers to ties writ
er.