, 1935-02-12
The World
At Glance
BY LESLIE EICHEL
Central Press Staff WRITER

d ~ ~ 04Ak1NN /
BY LESLIE EICHEL
Central Press Staff WRITER
NEW YORK. Feb. l2.-The condi-
tion Of the NRA seems to be very
low.
Both business and labor virtually
have abandoned II.
The Roosevelt administration
seems TO be making a pretence that
IL still is operative. But there is
hardly a business that pretends to
be operating under it-except for
price monopoles, in certain fields.
Labor openly denounces NRA codes
as depriving 1t Of rights.
While o-Ordinator Donald Rich
berg goes up and down the coun-
try making speeches concerning the
progress Of the NRA, the process
Of disintegration continues faster
than ever.
Not only that, even the admins
tration itself attacks ITSELF Most
notable attacker is Francis Biddle,
chairman Of the national labor rel
ations board.
Numerous persons have called this
writer's attention to these facts
thus he states them.
Some Happenings
Francis Biddle. NLRB chairman,
IN attacking the administrators la
Dor policy and calling for q newer
New Deal. has chosen vital spots Of
attack. He has spoken in large in
dustrial centers where there is sup
pressed anger among workers
Cleveland. Detroit. Akron. Cincin-
natl.
He has followed up Donald Rich
berg.
President Roosevelt may have to
choose between either on Of these
two men-or sacrifice" both Of
them. But Biddle is likely to be re-
tanned to appeaSe labor.
II is a queer feud.
Richberg ono was considered q
radical lawyer for railroad brother
hoods. Employers feared his advent.
Biddle was a wealthy, a~ristocratic
corporation lawyer OF Philadelphia.
Employers welcomed his advent.
Now the situation Is reversed. La
Dor Is shouting for the "head" Of
Richberg while II cheers Biddie.
That such a condition OF disor-
ganization could develop. however.
Is indicative Of the collapse OF the
driving power and cohesion OF the
administration.
That oollapse-critics says due
to a lack Of definite policy. It may
be due TO a desire OF a kindly chief
executive TO please all groups-one at
a time.
Danger
The danger OF a "multilateral" pol
icy may be demonstrated first in De-
troit.
When President William Green Of
the American Federation of Labor
raised such a loud protest over the
extension Of the auto codes with
out labor being consulted" he was
speaking for the rank and file.
The rank and file Of the A. +. OF
L., are looking toward independent
movements. Such an independent
labor movement in the automotive
induStry-the Mechanics Education
al Soclety-is likely to seek rights"
code or no code.
More than that. however, the A. r.
Of L. administration may find itself
In the same position as the RooSe-
NnN~ Nv1tnsmNwnNs wl4My 49,.
heavy organization on its hands, but
the rank and file doing as they
please.
Revolt over NRA rule Is most vio-
lent. however, in the steel ineustry.
The steel companies have defied
the government TO force collective
bargaining with the "A. r. Of l.
And the workers have defied the
government not 10.
Steel companies have discharged
organizers with impunity, and steel
workers have threatened to strike
regardless Of government interven-
ton.
Out OF the governments lack OF
organized SteadfaSt judicial policy,
two radical elements r emerging
and that means just the opposite Of
peace.
Listen to william .Spang, leader Of
the rank and file" steel workers,
speaking IN Pittsburgh:
"Tlghe teveteran conservative
president Of the steel works union
Is not the boss. The rank and file
membership Of the Amalgamated as
ISOLATION OF Iron. Steel and Tin
Workers is the boss and T1ghe is our
servant.
We r fighting not only the
United States Steel corporation, but
also our own organization. for ~
rights 4.
This charge OF being radical
red and foreign Is a cry Of wolf,
wolf. when there is no wolf. I'm
fighting for Just one thing-to make
the A~malgamated a live, fighting
union.
"All we've been able to get Is prom
iseS ~.
II have no book learning. but 7
know enough that the steel con-
panles r organized and 30 can
crush any one uprising. I know. too.
that II We steel workers ret toEeth-
er and show our power. there won't
be any need TO wade through hear
inEs and courts.
Wen get recognition and action
on our demands. That's what we
mean to get"
In the meantime. private police Of
steel companies r being heavily
armed.