The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-18

influences of initiation!
The announced purpose Of
the Wagner bill is to promote
industrial peace by orderly col
lective bargaining. To this al
legged end, it sets up a national
labor relations board of three
men, to serve as an independent
executive branch of Govern.
ment.
In reality it is bill to pro-
mote industrial strife. 1t will
result in involving the Federal
Government in all sorts of labor
squabbles, and put Uncle Sam
in the attitude of backing A. F.
of L. organizers.
How could one expect an un.
biased and socially just piece of
legislation under the circum.
stances? The bill has been spon-
sored and put through by the
A. F. of L. lobby. It is largely an
attempt to revive and strengthen
that organizations Interpretation
of Section IA of NRA. 1t is being
passed at time of political tur-
MOL in which organized minorities
prevail.
Senator Wagner says that it rep
resents the long evolution of Amer
lean experience, but he adds that
it is responsive to omlnous in
dustrial disturbances of last sum-
mer, when blood ran freely in the
streets and martial law was in the
offing." The latter is the fact.
The Wagner bill is backed by
threats!
Again, the bill represents the
typical New Deal attempt to
stretch the Constitution to regi-
ment American life under Fed
eral control. This new alpha
betical BOARD" is to deal with
all labor organization disputes
which "affect commerce." 1t Is
q futile attempt to extend Fed
eral power under the commerce
clause, and thus to center in
Washington control over all
labor relations.
AS I see it, the gist of the
scheme is Cd to require that any
group of laborers must be repre-
sented by an organized majority"
and 90 to clear the way for
A. F. of L. organizers to make a
drive to create such majorities,
which will therefore be dominated
by it.
It clearly prohibits any employer
from interfering" in any way
with organizing employees. 1t sub
jects employers to drastic prohi"
billions of unfair labor practices. %
But it opens the way for any inter.
ference or practices by organizers
representing the A. F.. of L.
The "closed shop" and militant
relations between employer and
employe, are the spirit of the bill.
According to Senator Wagner
himself. the bill "outlawed" any
labor organization that is inter-
fered with by any employer. It
"legalizes" closed shop agree
mentS.
Surely this is no spirit for CO.
operation and peace.
The Wagner bill is not only
One-Sided, but it is vague. It Is,
therefore, bound to promote dis.
putes and labor conflict. I pre-.
dict that its passage will pro-
mote industrial warfare, and
therefore increase unemploy.
ment.
incidentally, it is bound to drag
the Government into all sorts of
intra-labor disputes and juriSdic-
tional squabbles.
We should do one or two things:
Cd We should merely provide i'm.
partial machinery for the de-
termination of predominant labor
groups, whether majorities or
pluralities, and the fair election
of their representatives. Or (2)
we should go in for the complete
RECOMMENDATION of both employers
and employees under a collectivist
system that would discipline the
labor army" as we'll as control
the business leaders.
The Wagner bill does neither.
DenOSit Men