The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-04-04
Dehind the Scenes
IL in Washington
Labor Wooed and Wheeled Into NRA Support :.
Richberg Plays Role Of Scorched Offering Hun
man Stars In Part Of Peacemaker.
WITH RODNEY BUTCHER

Richberg Plays Role Of Scorched Offering Hun.
man Stars in Part Of Peacemaker.
Washington. April 4-Recent surface Developments
involving the White House and labor and NRA don't
make sense to lot Of people-even here In Washington
They're easier to understand II you look behind the
scenes to what the chief actors were doins-and
white House gestures to labor were imperative.
It looked as Congress were preparing to cut The
Blue Eagles throat Both industry and labor largely
desire NA continuance. but the critics were bowling
MIRA was being investigated by Senate finance
committee almost utterly ignorant OF its operation the
widespread that Roosevelt really wanted
Ito give MIRA decent burial Reports came in Of manu-
facturers curaling production they might make high
er profits through lower costs after expiration of MIRA
June Is.
The NRA organization was badly demoralised and
It's administrative board the National Industrial Recov-
Board was threatening to disintegrate through ~
|signation Of four Of its five members
Roosevelt needed articulate solid support for NIA
that it wasn't wise to have a ndusials ct the organ
izations head such as retiring Chairman Clay Williams
LOT NIRB.
BIG MAN NEEDED
The Job required big figure. acceptable to both
industry and labor whose appointment would b evt.
dence to Congress and the country Of Roosevets dete
mination to continue MIRA, who could reinject life into
MIRA while strengthening the administrations Legislative
with this in mind. Roosevelt decided On Donald
Richberg, his assistant president"
But Richberg had become anathema 70 @.
ganised labor. John l. Lewis powerful leader
Of the miners, attacking Robbery publicly
and violently-with tacit support from other
leaders.
Richbergs attitude on collective bargaining had IN.
furiated labor and 1t had been Richberg who several
months before had blocked efforts by Secretary Perkins
to give labor equal representation with industry NB
Labor opposition seriously impairng Richberg,s
effectiveness F. DIS rght-hand man and seemed sure
to be factor in his resignation sooner or later.
DON TAKES 1T ON CHIN ;.
It also becoming serious political liability to
the administration and adding to Roosevets third PARTY
worries And 1t distinct handicap in the face Of
strike threats OF various Importance In coal. textile
steel. tire. and automobile Industries.
So Richbers, who has lnitless capacity fer
taking It ON the chin while standing - . baffer
for the president went out and took II the
chin.
A Daniel entering the den. he invited himself to
labor support for NsA The laborites mauled him for
four hours.
To I'll Of which Richbesy replied u,eskly With SOFT
answers.
HILLAGAN SAVES DAY
Thereafter, Sidney Hillmau Of NIRB and the Anal.
gamated Clothing Workers entered the picture
ciliator and chief fxer He hadn't attended the LAB
meeting Being an intelligent labor eade be repec-
dent Bin Green Of the A. +. Of I.
He had eonfEences With 1johbesy ana
Roosevelt and with Lewis and Green untn
everyone understood what each slde wanted anA
what each would accept.
The labor leaders promised to stop batting Rich
berg the head to Cooperate with him MIRA chisf
and to come out strong Tor support Of NRA.
LABOR GETS CONCESSIONS
In return. they received: !. Equal representation
With industry on NIRB through appointment Of Phil
Murray Of the miners union-whch was equivalent TO
appointment Of Lewis Richberss severest critic. 2.
Assurances Of friendship to labor and what could q
least be interpreted sympathetic attitude toward
the Wagner labor disputes bN-refected BY Rchberga
subsequent assurance that he supported The Wagner bn
Tin principle"
| Through the arrangement labee Win alDo
have the continued NIRD services q Hnl1nan,
whe ha1 rsslgned partly IN llagult and partly
i b aeelse = pay nsee atte1eaeo = hi en-
union.
i Richberg meanwhile nurses the White House.A =
lot l. rapprochenent tendey. Asked 70 give his cur.
rent Interpretation Of NlAS Section 7-a CHS previous
Interpretations had led to the estrangeent hs replied
with = WY snile
II don't interpret Il any more
i (Oopyright. 1885, NEx Service. 1neJ
| Remainder the good old days. when the people We'd
to support the government. ana not vice VegDef