Evening star., 1937-04-13

Impetus to the organized labor
movement and demise of the company
unions was foreseen by William Green,
president of the American Federation
OF Labor
Labor everywhere" Green said,
will welcome the decisions of the
Supreme Court upholding the con-
stitutionality Of the national labor re-
lations act with feelings Of approval
and genuine satisfaction. The de-
cisions are in keeping with the eco
nomic and industrial changes which
have taken place and the development
OF human relations in industry, which
now play such an important part in
the social life of the Nation, and rep
resents progress as well as the estab-
lishment of rational relationship
between employers and employees.
The decisions are fraught with
deep significance and will prove to be
of tremendous Importance. Labor
will now be free to organize without
fear Of discrimination and persecu-
ton. A new impetus will be given the
organized labor movement. 1t means
the end Of company unions.
THE Supreme Courts decisions
must be held as triumphant achieve
ment for the American Federation of
Labor and its friends who fought so
persistently and so hard to secure the
enactment of the national labor rela-
tiens act"
John L. Lewis, chairman of the
Committee for Industrial Organization,
interpreted the decisions as proof of
the need OF revision of the Supreme
Court set-up. The Presidents plan,
he said, "is the immediate answer"
"Legalistic Whims" Hit.
His comment follows:
An astounding judgment The
quibblers Of ancient Greece were intel
lectual sluggards as compared with our
Supreme Court. Apparently, the
destiny of our republic and the we'll
being Of its population depend upon
the legalistic whims and caprices of
one man. Yesterday the Guffey coal
stabilization act was struck down.
Today the Wagner labor relations act
Is sustained. If today the court is
right, then yesterday, forsooth, the
court was wrong.
The court Is as variable as the
winds, and the people wonder how long
they are to be the victims Of its in
stability. Obviously the situation needs
change. The Presidents court plan is
the immediate answer"
Had the labor relations act been
effective before, the major strikes in
the automotives industry would never
have happened" said Homer Martin,
president Of the United Automobile
Workers, at Detroit.
Many others linked the events Of
yesterday directly with the fight over
the Supreme Court plan.
Attorney General Cummings said
that for more reasons than one, the
decisions show the wisdom and sound
ness Of the Presidents plan"
Congress Is Stirred.
The decisions stirred Congress more
than any since the A. A. A. and N. r.
A verdicts. Conflicting comments
poured from party leaders, with some
suggestions Of compromise on the
court issue from Senators still uncom-
mitted on the measure.
Senator Brown, Democrat, of Mich
igan, who had been counted as nom
committal but was regarded as friendly
to the court reorganization proposal,
said the courts verdict "opens the way
for compromise
Senator Schwellenbach, Democrat.
OF Washington, another Senator in the
same category, remarked at first that
the decisions would have no effect,
but added that perhaps they would
lead to increasing the court by three
or four justices instead of six.
Senator Duffy, Democrat, Of Wis
consin, third doubtful Senator,
commented that the decisions would
take the pressure off" the bill.
One of the Judiciary Committee
members, who has been classed as
doubtful" but friendly to the pro-
posal, Senator Hughes, Democrat, Of
Delaware, commented that the deci-
sions might lead him ito conclude
it won't be necessary to 60 so far"
II would like to see some kind of
compromise" Hughes added.
Senator Robinson, Democratic
leader, refused to link the decisions
with the hill, while Senator Brnes,
Democrat Of South Carolina, another
administration spokesman, contended
that they would not affect a single
vote in the Senate"
Many members Of Congress re-
marked that regardless Of the fate of
the court legislation, the way was now
open for liberal" legislation, and for
orderly settlement" Of industrial dis
putes.
Every one conceded that If the de-
cision had gone the other way, they
would have given impetus to the
Roosevelt bill. Only time could tell
what effect the favorable verdict might
have.
Sees Court Bill Defeat.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Of Mon
tana natly predicted that the decision
meant "the defeat" Of the court bill.