Evening star., 1937-04-09
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

udy NOIcu W IdUlc IIlc LIES IcSOlutlOIl
for an investigation Of the sit-down
strike-a companion piece to the Senate
action few days ago when that body
defeated the Byrnes amendment to the
Guffey coal bill denouncing the Sit
down strike. The unwillingness Of the
administration to go on record in con-
nection with the sit-doWn strike Is held
by many persons to be the reason for the
defeat of the Dies proposal in the House
and the Byrnes amendment in the Sem
ate. After the exhibition of adminis-
tration strength in the Senate, which de-
feated the Byrnes amendment, it was
clear that the Dies resolution, calling for
an inquiry into sit-down strikes, might
not only have hard shedding In the House,
but might well be defeated. 1t was de-
feated, although a direct vote on the
resolution was avoided by the device of
motion to lay it on the table.
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The Dies resolution had been reported
favorably by the House Rules Committee,
although administration leaders had
sought to prevent such action. With
the backing of the powerful Rules Com
mittee, a resolution usually does not have
much trouble getting through the House.
The House leaders expedited considera-
tlon OF the resolution, which had privi-
legged standing, as having been reported
favorably by the Rules Committee The
rank and file of the House, however, not
only understood that the administration,
represented by the President, had kept
hands-of policy in the sit-down strike
issue, but also believed that the House
leaders were lukewarm to the Dies reso-
luton. 1t did not take much, under
these circumstances, to prevent favorable
action on the resolution.
The charge was made that the anti
slt-doWn strike resolution was being fos-
tered by Republicans and by anti-New
Deal Democrats. These seemed to put
cap on the whole controversy, and the
resolution was doomed. The opponents
OF the resolution also issued a warning
that II the Representatives voted for it
tney mad better watch their Step-that
they would suffer when next election
rolls round. 1t was too much The "lib-
erals IN the House on general principles
opposed the resolution, which called for
an investigation of labor leaders activi-
ties, although Mr.. Dies, the author, In
sisted that it was to ascertain whether
the employers also had had a hand in
fomenting these disorders.
Representative Harlan of Ohio, Dem
ocrat, was effective in the debate. de-
claring that the Republicans-particu-
larly those who wished to succeed Dem
ocratic members of the House-would
benefit by the passage Of the Dies reso-
luton and the ensuing investigation Of
labor in Northern cities. In fact, he
made it clear, to some of his colleagues
at least, that the Republicans would ben
eft a great deal from Democratic dis
sensions A row over the sit-down
strike, with the President and minority
of the Democrats on one side and the
Republicans and a majority Of the Dem
ocrats on the other, on this or any other
question would be hard blow for the
Democratic party. And so the party issue
was forced into the sit-down strike row.
But underlying it all is the fact that
the administration has insisted upon
keeping hands-off policy 1t Is per-
fectly apparent that had the administra-
ton taken an open stand against the
sit-down the Dies resolution would have
gone sailing through the House.
Mr.. Harlan said to the House, COM
menting on the Dies resolution: 1T is
very poor politics. I am going to talk
now to the Democratic side Of the
House" And he continued in this vein
There are certain members on our
side of the House whose political success
does not depend upon whether or not
there is a national Democratic party.
Most Of us, though, who constitute this
great majority come from sections Of
the country where conditions are such
We do not want questions of this kind
needlessly stirred up for political capital,
and that is all there is to this. Why is
it that the other side Of the House is
almost unanimously for this resolution?
1t seems to me when you cannot find
the leadership OF our party back of
resolution, and you find the opposition
solidly in favor of it, you ought to want
to look into the common sense of it.
You ought not to have to look very close
ly into that rat role for poison"
After the Dies resolution had been
tabled, Representative Warren of North
Carolina, who had made the motion to
table, sought to bring up for considera-
ton the concurrent resolution which the
Senate has just passed, which calls sit
down strikes illegal, but seeks to placate
the sit-downers with declaration against
the use of spy systems by employers and
another declaration denouncing those
employers who do not fall in line with
the Wagner labor relations act. Withrow
and OConnell Of Montana objected to
the unanimous consent asked by Warren
and nothing was done about the matter.
1t is expected, however, that the Senate
resolution, which has apparently not
aroused the opposition of the admins
tration-anu which had the support Of
the administration leaders in the Senate
will eventually be adopted by the
House.
The manner in which the sit-down
strike resolutions and amendments have
been defeated in House and Senate may
not be directly connected with the fight
over the Presidents bill to increase the
membership of the Supreme Court, but
at least there is a strong implication that
the President can have his way in both
Houses. After the Senate had turned
down the Byrnes amendment denouncing
the sit-down strike as illegal by vote
of 48 to 36, 1t seemed to many persons
pretty clear that the President will be
hard to beat on the court issue, although
the alignment of Senators will not be
Just the same. Senator Borah of Idaho.
for example, stepped out against the
Byrnes amendment, but is strong
opponent of the plan to increase the
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