The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-04-29
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National Topics Interpreted KB E@IM6S
by William Bruckart MITIfTTX
National PressB

stated the definition of interstate
commerce, it has paved the way
for congress to legislate sit-down
strikes out of existence and to sub
ject strikers and agitators of such
strikes to punishment. Whether the
bunch of politicians who make up
congress have the courage to take
such action is quite another mat
ter. Yet it is certainly proper to di-
rect attention to the fact that they
have such power.
Now, we come to the point, men,
toned earlier, of the danger inherent
in any situation where congress
starts legislating on the question of
human rights. Congresses before
this time have been fair and con-
crosses hereafter may be fair in
enacting legislation dealing with the
delicate matter of human rights.
But where is the assurance that
they will do so? How can we tell
but that at some future time a con-
grsss subservient to big business
may decide to lay down ridiculous
rules about employment. 1t is pos
sible, for example, that some con-
gress may say that employers may
not hire workers above fifty years
of age. They seem to have that
power-if they can make it appear
that age becomes important to the
maintenance of constant production.
And, it might be added just here,
that with the social security act and
the taxes on workers and employ
ers for unemployment insurance
and old age pensions, some con-
gress might decide to protect the
pension and insurance funds by
making sure that workers paid in
their contributions for so many
years before retirement.
l admit this sounds ridiculous.
I intended that it should sound ride
ulous. It has been mentioned as an
extreme case to show what may be
possible if these new powers are not
wisely used. 1t exemplifes, more
over, what a factor uncertainty is
when too much power has been
granted any agency of the govern
ment, be it national or state or To-
cal.
Now to touch upon some of the
unsettled issues resulting from
>, the courts pro-
Unsettled nouncement:
Issues All that has
been obtained I'M
der the Wagner act decisions is
complete recognition of the right of
organized labor groups to bargain
collectively free from employer
domination. The principle of ma
jority rule is laid down. An en-
ployer must deal with the repre-
sentatives of a majority of his work
ers. The rights of the minority,
whether that minority be a COM
pany union or an independent union
are rather much overshadowed al
though they can present their griev-
ances to the National Labor Rela-
tons board.
It is in that situation that trouble
is foreseen. Most of the recent
strikes have resulted from disputes
over union recognition. Largely this
union recognition question resulted
from the maneuverings and agita-
ton by John L. Lewis and his Com
mittee for Industrial Organization.
But it is not to be forgotten that
the American Federation of Labor
has several million members in it's
craft unions. Thus, it can easily be
foreseen that the National Labor
Relations board is going to be con-
fronted many times with fight be-
tween the c. 1. o. and the A. F. of
L. Each one of these organizations
will claim that it represents a ma
jority of the workers and, therefore,
is entitled to be the spokesman for
all of an employers workers.
Most of us have seen how bitter
internal labor rows can become. !
am sure that most of my readers
will recall cases within their own
knowledge where carpenters and
bricklayers have fought it out over
the question of which one was to do
certain work in construction. It has
happened hundreds of times and
each time bitter hatred has devel-
oped. When the right to speak for
a whole body of employees becomes
the question for determination, it
seems to me perfectly obvious that
the controversy will develop into
one of white heat. And the labor
board will have to decide which one
should serve as the employees rep
resentative. In the meantime, the
employer can have nothing to say.
He will be caught between the up
per and neither mfllstones because
thus far the labor board has re-
fused to receive petitions from the
employer, regardless of what griev-
ance that employer may have
against the labor union.
All of this may sound a bit fan
tastic; it may sound as an attempt
- to borrow trouble.
Fix Hours 1t is neither. The
and Wages situation is dis
cussed for h
reason that it is quite apparent
there will be new attempts in con-
gress now to write legislation con-
trolling hours and wages. Repre-
sentative Connery of Massachu-
sets, speaking as chairman of the
house labor committee, declared
the othec day that such legislation
would be drafted and he entertained
no doubt that it would pass the
house. Conditions in the senate are
different, but Mr.. Connery's opin-
ion must be accepted as worthwhile
in so far as the house is concerned.
Thus, if congress undertakes such
legislation it is confronted with the
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