The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-02-12

men who were openly defying the laws OF
Michigan and the orders Of It's courts ana
finally accomplished the sell-out OF all the
workers not controlled by Lewis, and also
the public at large.
All the while these proceedings were
going on the plants Of the corporation were
being held unlawfuily and by force, IN
defiance of the laws of Michigan and Its
courts: and President Roosevelt was fully
and completely aware of conditions, ana
his action amounted to nothing more or
less than a course giving encouragement
TO, and aiding and abetting, an Insurrec-
ton against the State of Michigan.
Now, it is perfectly clear 10 Intelligent
and unprecedented citizens, that John Lewis
is fairly launched by this General Motors
settlement upon his career to the throne
of labor car of the United States; to the
achievement of his purpose 10 wreck the
American Federation Of Labor and the
more conservative labor unions, TO force
all workers into his communistic lone big
union; and, ultimately, to make OF the
industrial employers of the country mere
"bellhops" wearing the livery and collar
of Red labor.
These are some of the reasons why The
Times-News believes the outcome OF this
so-called strike is the BEGINNING OF
TROUBLE in this country.
In this connection we append extracts
from an article by Frank Kent which APP
peared in yesterdays Charlotte Observer.
This was written before the General Mo-
tors settlement was effected, and is highly
enlightening
Not the least interesting phase Of the present
situation is the parallel which can De drawn be-
tween Mr.. Roosevelt's effort TO seize the Supreme
Court in Washington because it refused % &C
quiesce in the unconstitutional measures desired by
the New Deal and the utter defiance of the lower
cour, by Mr. Lewis and his labor union in Mich-
gan, where the judge characterized its sit-down
strike as illegal and ordered the strikers to e7acu
ate the plants.
The connection between the two is easily es-
tablished and deeply disturbing to those who be-
leve in law and order. A greater menace to the
stability of government is hard 10 imagine. Con-
slider for q moment the strike situation. In the
beginning, the General Motors took the sound po-
sition that they could not and would not confer so
long as the stdown strikers in illegal posses
sion of their property. The court issued the in
junction. which the strikers treated with contempt,
booing the sheriff. sending profane word as 10
what the court might do. The order is boldly de-
fed and the sit-down strikers continue as though
il had not been issued.
Despite this, General Motors yields. Its repre-
sentatives 90 into conference with Mr. Lewis and
his aides They do this because Governor Murphy,
in close touch with Mr. Roosevelt publicly pro-
claims that 1T is the wish of the President Clear
ly this cannot be ignored by the company, as was
the request of Madame Perkins, without putting
itself at great disadvantage, 1t is therefore, forced
TO abandon It's position, compelled to confer.
For this situation it seems clear Mr.. Roosevelt
is responsible But for him the company would
not be comforting. But for him it would be stand
ing firm for its legal rights, but in face OF the
wish of the President it was impossible to stand
firm. Perhaps a peaceful settlement may justify
in a material way the Presidents course, but the
fact that will remain is that instead of putting the
weight of the government behind the court and
insisting hrs upon respect Tor us order, the fresi
dents influence was exerted to bring about the
thing which the side in contempt of court and de-
fance of law wanted-to-wit, a conference. Out
of conferences come compromises and any sort of
compromise will be victory for Mr. Lewis-par-
ticularly compromise effected while he is volat-
ing the law with complete impunity.
at would seem that the first concern of govern
ment would be in upholding the law and enforcing
respect for the courts. All other considerations it
would seme, should be subordinated to that. That
is basic. That is what governments are for. Put
in this case, that principle is ignored and the gov
eminent weight is on the other side. And just as
the Presidents influence is exerted to bring about
the conference the court-defying labor leaders
want in Michigan, so in Washington the influence
of the labor leaders is thrown behind the Roosevelt
| plan for Reform of the Judiciary" under cover OF
which he proposes to bend the Supreme Court TO
his will
"The analogy is apparent. Both lose in the
courts One defies the law the other schemes to
secure his own judges. Each supports the other"