Evening star., 1937-01-25
Lewis Tactics Criticized
Roosevelt Rebuke on Demand for Strike Support
Held in Order.

halted the evacuation and retained the
two Flint plants with His sit-down
strikers-as hostages" General Mo-
tors, on its part. claimed violation of
the agreement and broke of negotia-
tions.
For the Government, which we guess
wants to arrive as speedily as pos
sible at q peaceful solution, with some
recognition Of the trade union, Lewis
action and his statement must have
been extremely disconcerting. Ap-
parently the rigid attitude Of the
management had broken down; ap-
parently the situation was moving
toward solution. And it Is not easy
to envisage what Mr.. Lewis strategy
will be. He does not want to submit
the question to vote Of the workers.
He charges that the workers will be
intimidated, but We suspect that he
is not nearly strong enough to con-
troll q majority, even In the most
carefully protected election. Probably
he does not really accept the idea Of
majority representation at all. 1t is
a new idea in trade unionism. But
1t has come into trade unionism, by
the very fact that labor is seeking
Government support and Government
cooperation. AS long as employer
employe relationships were not
matter for Government interference
one way or the other, the question Of
who and how many any union repre-
sented was not so important. But II
decisions are to be made by Govern
ment, the democratic process will be-
come public demand. For Govern
ment cannot arbitrarily choose to
sponsor whatever minority can bring
most pressure upon 1t. That way lies
chaos.
Unions Fight For Status.
In the great industries Of this
country the trade union movement Is
still struggling for mere status. The
movement is extremely weak. In the
Sit-down strike 1t Is uSins the most
effective possible weapon Of the weak
against the strong-a very old weapon
indeed, that of passive resistance. 1t
Is also a hazardous weapon, because
1t can certainly be an instrument by
which minority can coerce a major
ity, even of the workers themselves.
II independent trade unionism were
accepted in principle by industry.
genuinely accepted, then this weapon
would have no more moral justifica-
ton than it has legal justification,
which, we suspect, is nil. But as 1t
is, it Is not easy to work UP moral
Indignation, for this is a fight going
on, a real fight. for the status Of
something recognized by law, but
sabotaged by heavy industry in prac-
tice, and industry certainly holds the
bigger guns and the stronger strategi-
cal positions.
But the trade unionists cannot have
it both ways. II they want to fight
it out by themselves, that IS one thing.
Their success will depend on their
power with the workers, and incident
ally with public opinion. But If they
want Government as a party to the
struggle. and they certainly dot was
their idea and not that of the indus
trialists-then they must collaborate
to create conditions under which Gov
ernment can participate. Government
can protect their right to organize, and
see that the laws on the matter are
enforced. Government can mediate as
between equal parties. But it can only
act in spirit Of arbitration. The Gov
ernment does not represent Mr.. Lewis
or even labor" It represents the
people Of the United States. all Of
them, who are directly concerned in
this strike. because they are going
to have to help pay for it. The temper
of the country as whole at this
moment is sympathetic to labor. But
that temper can be exasperated, and,
We fear, will be II Mr.. Lewis over
reaches himself with demands upon the
President, which the President has
no power to concede.
tCopyright. 1877