The Omaha guide., 1935-02-23

HGHLIGHTS
Happenings That Affect the Dinner
Pals, Dividend Checks and Tax
Bills of Every Individual. National
and International Problems Insep-
arabic from LEGAL Welfare.

longer found DAILY in newspap
headlines. But this doesn't mean that
labor is satisfied either with govern
ment labor plans or industry. It is
far from holding out the palm Of
peace now as it was a year ago.
Washington observers have been
~forecast.ng a labor blow-up for some
months-and it looks as if that long
feared event put in its official appear
ance on February 2. On that day.
burly, hard-boiled John H. Lewis, head
Of the United Mine Workers. thrust a
thick wedge between the American
Federation of Labor and the Roose-
welt Administration.
Focal point of Mr.. Lewis attack
was Donald Richberg. who is often
termed "the Assistant President
Reason for the attack was renewal Of
the existing automobile code, which
the Federation has bitterly opposed,
in that it permits men to work 4S
hours per week-as compared to the
3O-hour week for all industry, which
the Federation passionately espouses.
You may not believe in Mr.. Lewis
opinions-millions Of people don't
but it is generally agreed that he is
sincere, honest and outspoken. He
represents the old-time, b~elligerent
type Of labor leader who has definite
opinions and doesn't mind airing them.
When he becomes involved in a YER
bal duel, he never wears gloves.
Mr.. Lewis said fatty that Donald
Richberg is a traitor to organized
labor" He stated that Mr.. Richberp
has deserted his former comrades. 1t
is interesting to remember, in this
connection, that Mr.. Richberg made
his reputation as a a rd-fghting labor
lawyer, nat when General johnson
appointed him to the post of NRA
counsel, conservatives feared he would
be excessively ~pro-labor in his atti-
tude.
Mr.. ~Richberg's reply to the union
charge of treason, was that it amount
ed to a demand that he put union in
terests above loyalty to his govern
ment. He added: eff a refusal to
yield to such a demand be treason, let
those who charge it make the most
of it."
Mr.. Lewis is often at outs with his
A. F. of L. associates, and his opin-
ions might have been largely d;sre-
garded as being Of a purely personal
nature, had not A. F. of L. President
Green followed him up by saying
that the Lewis statement reflects
the F~ederation's feelings very strong
ly." Mr.. Green then said that he
would shortly 60 to the White House
with a union protest against delay in
c~odihcation Of the tobacco industry.
That brings up another important
point in the widening gap between
Administration and labor leaders.
Cigarette manufacturers, afraid of
u~nionisation Of their Industry. will
have nothing to do with the proposed
tobacco code. That, to labor's way Of
thinking, is bad enough-and it be-
comes infinitely worse in the light Of
the fact that the MIRA chairman IS
). Clay Williams, formerly president
OF n of the "big three" cigarette
makers-the R. j. Reynolds Tobacco
Company. MIRA officials have said
several times that Mr.. Williams with
draws from board meetings when the
tobacco code is being discussed, in an
effort to avoid charges Of prejudices-
but labor doesn't seem to be con-
WINGED. They don't call the NRA of
ficials liars directly-but they init
mate just about that.
1t is noteworthy that union leaders
have not yet criticized the President
all the criticism is directed toward
various Of his aides. However, Mr..
Roosevelt makes all present govern
ment policies, and Mr.. Richberg. Mr..
Williams and others are directly re-
sponsible to him. 1t is therefore nos
s1ble that the labor leaders will event.
ually come out with direct criticism
u the President-and the potential
political results of that would be ire
nendous. A. F. of LIS membership
IS imposing in size and it is usually
considered a potent political influence.
Whether that is true or not will be
seen in the future-some believe that
the rank and file Of labor does not
follow its leaders blindly, that Mr..
Green and Mr.. Lewis and other un-
ION heads control fewer votes than
they think.
At any rate, the Labor-Adminis-
tration battle is likely to be one of the
most important internal problems of
the next year. Whether strikes will
resultant on a greater scale than a
year ago-cannot be safely forecast
now.