The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-01-11


that prior to Americas entrance into
-, the World war, the
Wdtcnrut then President Wood
Waiting row Wilson pursued
an announced policy
OF "watchful waiting" Mr.. Wilson
justified that policy on the high plane
OF a love for peace and the country
supported him in that decision.
We are seeing stimulation Of that
course at present although the coun-
try is at peace and not at war. The
policy of watchful waiting, adopted by
President Roosevelt, has reference not
to international relations but to do
nestle affairs. To be specific, it re-
lates solely to the political situation
in the new congress. The President Is
confronted, as everyone knows, with
a huge bloc of extremely radical men,
bers in the house and senate and he
has his hands full in compelling the
congress to rubber stamp administra-
ton legislation.
Recent developments, White House
announcements and other straws tend
ing to show which way the wind blows
indicate definitely that Mr.. Roosevelt
Is going to avoid open clashes as far as
possible. He is not going to test the
mettle Of the radical group too far
without being sure of his ground.
Therefore, we may expect to see
considerable delay in enactment of
new banking legislation and in dealing
with highly controversial questions
centering in section Z (a) of the ma
tional recovery act. Likewise, there
will be hesitancy on the part of the
administration to push forward pro-
gram Of revision for the Agricultural
adjustment administration and the
policy of waiting may be expected to
be disclosed in some other phases of
legislation such as the unemployment
insurance scheme.
do not mean to convey the impress
sion that there will be an entire alb
sence of bills-some Of them already
are ia the congressional hopper-deal-
ing with these various questions. But
definitely, it can be said at this time
that the White House is watching con-
gressional developments to determine
just how far to the radical side It
must go in order to avoid a wide open
split between the ultra-radicals and
the New Deal contingent. Just where
the conservatives will figure in this
picture is yet too early to determine
except that certainly they can prove
themselves to be thorns in the sides
of the Democratic leaders at most in
opportune times.
To better indicate problems con-
fronting the President with respect to
his relationship with
Toughest OF congress, it is neces-
Questions sary only to call at
tention to that most
controversial of all questions-section
(a) of the recovery act. This pro-
vision has had numerous interpreta-
tons placed upon it and its effect
generally has been to assist the inter-
national unions in strengthening their
organizations throughout American in
dustry. Section (a) specifies, in eff
feet, that the union in any factory
having the most votes speaks for all
of the employees in their dealings with
the plant management. This provision
is what the American Federation of
Labor describes as collective bargain
ing. 1t has resulted in many cases in
disruption of the so-called company
unions, organizations having no affilia-
ton with any other union but usually
fostered by the corporation of which
the workers are employees.
The consensus among unbiased OBJ
servers here seems to be that the Fed
Grafton of Labor overplayed its hand
last winter in enforcing such a far
reaching Interpretation of section Z (a)
as to give the larger union the voice
of all employees. At that time NRA,
with Donald R. Richberg guiding the
policy, committed itself definitely in
favor of such a construction. Current
developments are generally accepted
as showing that either the NRA admin
istration or union labor failed to look
far enough into the future to foresee
the reaction that is now taking place.
AS matter of fact. tremendous pres
sure is being exerted on individual
members of the house and senate for
q revision of this section, and some
thing will come Of it before congress
adjourns. OF course, when union la
Dor acts in concert, 1t usually turns
the gizzards of politicians very white
from fear, but in the present instance,
the politicians are torn between the
devil and the deep blue sea.
Industrialists after all, are the boys
who usually contribute to campaign
funds. The politicians do not dare
ignore that segment of political
strength, either. Consequently, it is
apparent now that there will be an at
tempt to rewrite section (a) In a
manner that will eliminate its ambigu-
tiles and take away from Mr.. Richberg,
now the policy director of NRA, the
authority to do so much interpreting.
At the same time, the President has
q problem of some consequence on his
hands In the AAA.
Another Chester Davis, the
Problem administrator, is gen.
orally regard e d
among Washington observerssas a man
with both feet on the ground. Such
is not their view. however, with respect
to some Of the other individuals In the
department
Take 81. r. Tolley, for example. Mr..
Tolley has the title of director Of plan
ming for the Agricultural Adjustment
administration. His relationship with
Mr.. Davis is almost identical with that
between Undersecretary Rexford Guy