The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-03
BEHIND
 THE SCENES l IN WASHINGTON
Sizzling Scrap Is Certain Over Neutrality Law in Con- gress U. s. May Be Ranged Against League in Policy ... New Radio Union
 Stirs Worries for A. F. of L.
BY RODNEY BUTCHER
 Democrat Washington Correspondent

Washington, Jan. 3-Neutralit, legislation is certain to bring on ; dog light almost as soon as tn new Congress convenes.
 The present neutrality law, admittedly . st0p.gap, Is going to get . very thorough cOmblng- over at the hands of such men as Senators Nye, Bone, Vanden- berg, and Borah.
 This debate will be complicated The only way to keep 1t at al straight is to remember two prin' ciples:
 l. The league principle is [, find the aggressor in any war, ant to punish that aggressor by sane tions, that is, by refusing to sel certain war materials to him.
 2. The American principle, fl the present law, provides no at tempt to determine which party t' war is to blame. It simplyy pro yides that the United States vii trade in certain articles with neith CT. The aim here is not to punisl either side, but simply to with draw from dangerous waters. Not Guided by League
 Thus in the present American plan, 1t is entirely a matter O chance whether American actior supplements league action in pun ishing an aggressor.
 In the case of Italy, because cutting of war materials iron Ethiopia means nothing, the Amer ican course in cutting them of from Italy did correspond roughl. with the league action. But ther' Z is no reason to think 1t might il x another case.
 Suppose Italy bounced t0mor- row on the British fleet, and war was on. The American law leaves no discretion. We would have to cut off all trade with both Britain and Italy in war materials immediately, quite rec gardless of what our Sympathies or beliefs might be.
 If neutrality legislation along thu present line is extended to include many kinds of near-war material such as ou, copper, trucks, tractors scrap iron, and the like, participa. ton of Britain in a war would take Q big slice out of foreign trade.
 
 Binds Presidents Hands
 The thing that is worrying sem aturs is: what do we want to &C., cofnplish? President Roosevelt when the present law was passed inclined toward letting the presi- dent have some discretion. But Congress did not permit this, noi is 1t likely 1t will this winter.
 That means only one thing: the working of the neutrality law may find us in direct opposition to the league instead of roughly pafalleling It's efforts, as now.
 It is all a question of whether we want to tryy to keep out of war regardless, or of whether we want to aid such efforts as are being made to prevent and stop wars. As ERecretary Wallace used to say, America must choose"
 A. F. of l.. Faces "RevOlt"
 There is considerable new worry at American Federation of Labor headquarters over the revolt" of the Radio Workers and Allied Trades Union.
 This new industrial union in the radio and electric refrigerator in- dustry has built up some 55,00O members under the aggressive lead ership of James B. Carey, a young man who jujmped into field in which the old-line electrical craft unions had largely failed.
 Now Carey, with a large and going organization, demands an international charter as an indus trial union. The Radio sud AL lied Trade Is now merely q feder- al union under direct A. F. of l.. supervision.
 If the international charter is granted, it will mean that this new union in growing field will be in- dependent.
 The story of the auto unions in Detroit and the rubber unions in Akron is being told all over again. Can't Laugh This Of
 But with the aggressive Lewis pushing for industrial organization 1t is harder to laugh of demands like Carey's, and harder to delay.
 The rub is, as usual, the fact unions claim jurisdiction over many of the employees in the Radio and Allied Trades, and they aren't giving 1t up. even though they themselves had failed to Or- ganize any large percentage of radio and refrigerator employees.
 These are now pretty much mass. production and assembly-line work. CTS rather than skilled craftsmen.
 Carey, firm in the saddle after 6 recent convention of his organiza- ton in Pittsburgh, waits for ac- ton. He hasn't yet said "- ol else" But it's always in the back. ground.
 Which is just another reason why the meeting of the Federation's ex- ecutive council in Miami nexI month is going to be one of thu hottest that 1t has held for many 2 long year.
 The whole Lewis move for in- naturalization must be considered with the booming voice Of Lewis congpicuously absent.
 < kCopyright. 1856. NEA Service, Incl M --------~~----------