Evening star., 1937-06-06


ended last week, one of the
principal chapters will deal with the
career of a German immigrant lad
who learned his first word Of English
at the age Of 8 and went on from there
to rewrite the meaning of the Ameri-
can Constitution
This crowning achievement of his
long and successful career comes as
no surprise to Senator Robert F.
Wagner Of New York. Years ago, when
he was struggling to survive the grind
ing poverty Of New York's Avenue A,
young "Heinie" Wagner convinced
himself that the day must come when
American workmen would share more
literally in the fruits of their toll. To
that end he has devoted his life with
singleness Of purpose that has borne
amazing results.
His zeal for the lnder- privileged
began to take f. when he was 9
years old and Id to get up o'clock
every morning to deliver newspapers
to his tenement customers.
Things were hardest for us then"
he said, land have never forgotten
the endless worry that plagued my
father. He earned SIS month and
couldn't save dime. Fear Of what
might happen to his family darkened
his life and I realized then that
heavenly rewards are not enough
man must have some happiness and
some security on earth"
Won by Long Study.
With this brief background, it is
not surprising that the stocky, square
jawed Wagner was championing the
cause Of social reform long before it
spelled success on election day. He
Is not in any sense New Deal re-
former. although his major victories
have been won under the Roosevelt
banner
More than 80 years of patient, in
telligent and determined study went
into the drafting Of the national labor
relations act and the social security
act-recently approved by the Supreme
Court in language that lends new
meaning to our Constitution. For
the first time in the history Of the
country the high court has sanctioned
the right Of the national government
to deal with the ugly problem chill
dren Of expanding industry.
From now on American workmen
are assured the right to bargain COL
lectively for the advancement Of their
own welfare. No longer need they
live in haunting fear OF penniless
old age or watch their families go
without the necessities Of life should
they lose their jobs in some future
depression.
It is difficult to say how much of
the credit for the Incorporation of
these doctrines into the body Of our
law should go to Senator Wagner. He
claims none, but it is nevertheless
certain that his efforts contributed
largely to the result Had it net been
for his unremitting work these con-
cepts Of social justice might stin be
regarded as repugnant to the Con-
stitution.
Student Of Constitution.
Although not constitutional law
yer In the conventional sense, Senator
Wagner has made An intensive study
Of the Constitution, and the decisions
interpreting 1t. AZ practicing law
yer. Is . member Of the New York
Legislature and Is . justice Of the
courts Of that State, he was constantly
confronted with problems Of constitu-
tional law. studying them always in
their relation to Social welfare.
When he began work on the labor
relations act he made careful survey
Of the industrial field, personally visit
ing plants in various sections Of the
country to observe conditions at first