Evening star., 1936-07-31
An n,b., at,t., ana f,anaa.
Member Of the Associated Press.
A Point Made Clear.

What Governor Landon said in his ad-
dress of acceptance regarding the right
of labor to organize free "from coercion
or intimidation by the employer, any fell
low employe or any other person" might
have been interpreted to mean exactly
that. But, when does coercion cease to
be coercion and become mere persuasion?
1t is coercion when an employer offers
an employe the choice between holding
his job and refusing to join trade union.
But is 1t coercion when the paid Or
ganizer of a trade union seeks to per-
suade men to join the union?
Comments from some elements of or
xanized labor already friendly to Mr..
Roosevelt sought to place the latter
Interpretation on Governor Landon's
speech. The letter from Norman Thomas,
asking for clarifying explanation, has
given Governor Landon an opportunity to
remove all doubt about what he meant.
He has done it in manner that should
be acceptable to everybody, explaining his
views unequivocally and standing on his
record as Governor. in dealing with
recent labor dispute, to demonstrate his
meaning He says:
The workers have the right to meet
among themselves or with others of their
own choice to promote organization, with
complete freedom from interference from
any one whatsoever. The workers should
be fully protected in this right by the
public authorities. This necessarily in
cludes the right Of a labor union to
promote by lawful and proper means the
organization Of an unorganized industry,
which includes the right to send in an
organizer.
Organized labor is not above reproach
tn the matter of intimidation or coercion.
A battle is battle and cracked heads
have testified in the past to the coercive
action of union agents and picketS, just
sx the fear of reprisal from employers
and the use of company police and armed
thugs have marked other forms of in
timidation and coercion.
1t will never be possible to eliminate
entirely the element of coercive action
on either side in the organization OF
labor AS long as men are human both
sides will use as much of it as can be
got away with under the law. But
Governor Landon's narrative of his own
action in the so-called tri-State strike
in lead and zinc mines can certainly
be used as an example Of the role OF
the government when called on to
preserve order in labor disputes. There
the National Guard disarmed all
civilians, including the employed COM
pany guards. Property was protected,
along with the right of the strikers
TO hold their meetings, and "sunmen
from other States who had made it q
practice 10 threaten striking workers in
Kansas were forced to stay out of the
State"
Governor Landon has made himself
clear on this point. Prevention OF 'coer-
cion" does not mean the prevention of
the right Of labor to assist local organi-
zation through the work of paid organ
tzers. nor does it mean interference with
the right of assembly and of free speech.
Norman Thomas is to be commended on
his request to hear from Governor Lam
don a full explanation of his attitude
before attempting to interpret that at
titude, and Governor Landon is to be
commended for q candid, clear-cuts
answer.