Evening star., 1937-04-18
BY JOHN C. HENRY,

Court decisions, American labor
q has been given two rather clearly
dshned avenues Of offense and de-
Tense In the immediate future. In q
general way they are, Of course, famil-
iar paths, but the legalistic and eco
nomic developments Of recent weeks
furnish them with new landmarks.
As its best and most Immediately
elective offensive strategy, labor has
it, greatest opportunity for intensive
crganization; chance to weld its
latent economic strength into a force
capable Of withstanding in some de-
gree the discouragements Of another
depression and the sniping of un-
friendly industry.
As secondary line Of attack, labor
faces new opportunities for successful
sponsorship OF legislation heretofore
blocked by the bogey Of narrowly cir
cumscribed Federal powers.
On the defensive side, admitting
flrst that a good offense along the
lines indicated above probably would
b the best defense, labor must guard
itself against excesses from within and
the undiminished industry propaganda
from without. In the latter, operating
through the voice OF powerful anti
labor sections Of the press and con-
vincingly-spoken anti-labor legislators,
exists danger which must be combatted
With the same wariness and subblety
- that being exercised by labor's foes.
Let us consider In more detail how
labor may plan these twin campaigns
Of o1ense and defense.
Labor Moves Speedily.
Sensing the organization possibiN-
ties stirred by the valuation of the
labor relations law, both the American
Federation Of Labor and the aggressive
Committee for Industrial Organization
moved speedily during the last week.
They realized the psychological effect
on men and women workers in varied
industries, persons who had been
standing by, uncertain whether they
should become part OF the articulate
labor movement, uncertain whether
they should risk the displeasure Of
their bosses.
Hardly was the full text of the
courts decisions in his ofice before
John L. Lewis and his aides of the
G. I. o. had ordered a squad Of crack
organizers into bloody Harlan"
County, KY, locale Of some OF the
worlds richest fields of soft coal and
Last outpost Of the strong-arm open
shop policy in the bituminous coal in
dustry.
Probably the most powerful union
IN the country, the United Mine Work
ef1 had been trying for years TO crack
bloody Harlan" but so completely
had they failed in the face Of the op-
position that is characteristic of that
region that union organizers freely
admitted their fear of entering the
county.
They left on the afternoon of the
courts decisions, however, and two
days later dour Philip Murray, first
vice president Of the U. M W., to whom
goes much Of the credit for the agree
ment with the steel industry, told
Senate committee that the protection
OF the Federal Government would be
demanded If necessary to enable the
organizers to bring the low-paid miners
Of that district the rights OF organ
tzation which are assured them under
the national labor relations law.
From the federation on Tuesday
came call by President William
Green for a special meeting of his
executive council. A major purpose OF
the session will be the mapping Of new
membership drives, some of them in
the very fields where c. I. o. recruit
ing Is contemplated or under way.
Caution on Legislative Front.
Thus did labor move to get its
primary offensive under way. On
the legislative front, more caution
Vas evident.
On Capitol Hill, friends Of labor
spoke Of speedy consideration Of
maximum hour and minimum wage
legislation, Of the Ellenbogen bill to
set up IN IN. r. A." for the textile
industry, and Of amendments to the
labor relations act to make espionage
an unfair labor practice and to give
the Labor Board enforcement powers
for which 1t must now turn to the
courts.
It was significant, though, that few
Of those who actually have led the
fight for labor legislation were i'm
petuous In their desire to rush addi-
tonal legislation.
Senator Wagner hailed the courts
decision, remarked that the labor
relations law seems adequate for the
moment and intensified his efforts
TO push through his housing bill.
Representative Connery visited the
White House and announced that
wage and hour legislation probably
viii await settlement Of the fight to
revise the Supreme Court. Senator
: LAFollette said he believed develop
nents resulting from last weeks de-
etsions should be noted before the
matter Of additional legislation is
pressed.
John Lewis visited the White House,
but declared that principle subject of
oonversation had been that of getting
the new Guf1ey coal bill into opera
ton. Labor legislation was discussed
tn general way" he said, but he
withheld any views on what might be
desirable or advisable until the court
night Is settled.
William Green and his federation
ehieftains threw their support to the
Wagner housing bill, but made no
brash comment about other legislation
It Is evident, then, that as far As
labor's active agitation for legislation
= concerned It probably viii, and
wisely 70, await definite indication
Of what must still be faced In the
I. shspe Of the constitutional bogey.
New Responsibilities Seen.
On the defense, however, labor must
move more quickly as evidenced by
tie promptness with which some
legislators and industry groups have
Increased their agitation for incorpora-
tion of labor unions, compulsory arbi-
trstion and prohibition of restriction
Of elements Of the strike weapon In