Evening star., 1935-06-07
Labor Raises the Issue"


Just as President Roosevelt seems
to have abandoned the idea of carry
the old constitutional order the Exec
utive Council of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor announces its cham
pionShip of constitutional amend
ment. The federation, the council
SAYS, should take the leadership in
the movement. 1t adds that an
amendment is necessary to meet
and overcome the objections to the
enactment of social and economic
legislation by the Congress of the
Supreme Court in its decisions hold
ing the railroad retirement act and
the national recovery act unconsti-
tutlonal"
The pronouncement of the fedora
tons executive council sounds very
much like the statement made to the
press by President Roosevelt when he
first discussed the N. r. A. decision
of the court, although the President
at that time did not say that he
would support a constitutional amend
ment He did say, however. that
''the issue" was one which the people
themselves should decide.
The federation council wisely Sug
eests that an exhaustive study be
made before A constitutional amend
ments is drafted and before organized
labor finally gets back of the pro-
posal. The Congress is to be given au-
thority presumably. under such amend
ment, to pass laws affecting hours
and wages of labor. collective bargain
ing. etc. It's present proponents make
the demand for constitutional
amendment so that labor may obtain
advantages. A constitutional amend
ment giving Congress these powers,
however. might permit the Congress TO
lay = restraining hand upon labor as
we'll as upon the employers OF labor.
It might. indeed. prove a two-edged
sword. Labor has in the past strongly
opposed compulsory arbitration OF It's
differences with employers. 1t has
demanded that it be free of restraint
In its dealings.
Should an amendment be drawn for
the sole purpose of having Congress
restrain employers OF all kinds Of la
bor-intrastate as we'll Interstate
giving the Congress the right to specify
hours and wages of labor, etc, and at
the same time leaving labor free to
strike and to force other demands, 1t
would be neither sporting nor q just
arrangement. The real truth OF the
matter is that freedom of action by
labor and employer, even though mis-
takes are made, may we'll be better
than a bureaucratic rule in which
government NAV dictate to both labor
and industry. That is something that
organized labor should consider care
fully before it embarks upon the cam
psign for a constitutional amendment
now indicated.
The announcement of the Executive
Council Of the American Federation
Of Labor in favor Of constitutionalizing
the N. r. A. and other New Deal ac-
tivities runs on all fours with the
original pronouncement of the issue"
by President Roosevelt. 1t may en-
courage the White House. Perhaps 1t
was designed for that purpose, in the
light Of the present plans for o mere
skeleton N. r. A. and in the further
light of the administration apparent
scduiescence IN plans to change other
New Deal legislation in the hope that
It will not be held to be unconsti-
tutional.
The country's reaction to President
Roosevelts apparent suggestion that
the old constitutional order be re-
vamped was not favorable. In fact,
quite storm of criticism arose, even
in quarters that had been favorable 10
the President. The executive council
Of the A. F. of L. sounds a more
friendly note. The country is still
wondering what the Write House Is
going to do about it.