Evening star., 1937-07-09

than what was actually transmitted
to the press by the President Of the
United States.
In the midst of an acute contro-
versy in the history of labor warfare,
when the whole Nation is aroused by
abuses against law and order, con-
structive statement is issued by the
Secretary of Commerce telling the
country that citizens have the right to
be protected by every source of author
ity Federal, State and local, In their
desire to work. Such an important
declaration together with Mr.. Ropers
discussion of other aspects of the
labor controversies in Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania and Michigan might be expected
to reflect the viewpoint of the Govern
ment of the United States. The
newspaper correspondents certainly
thought so and perhaps the business
men of the Nation, who have again
and again been asked to believe reas-
suring statements by Secretary Roper,
thought the same thing.
Miss Perkins Statement.
There came coincidentally a state
ment by the Secretary Of Labor, some
thing awaited for more than two
months, an admission that sit-down
strikes were illegal. For many weeks
the Nation has looked for some word
on this subject from the administra-
ton in Washington. When it came,
many press correspondents, and per-
haps many millions of citizens who
read it in the newspapers, thought, of
course, it was significant as an ex-
preston of the Roosevelt administra-
ton itself.
But when the press conference was
held this week and the correspondents
had their usual opportunity to in
quire about the meaning Of public
statements a curious answer was given
them.
Asked il he Endorsed the Secretary
of Labors statement on sit-down
strikes, the President replied that he
had not read it-that he had read
only the headlines.
Denies Reading Roper Pronouncement
Asked also if he had read the
statement by the Secretary of Com
merce. Mr.. Roosevelt answered that
he had not read that pronouncement,
either.
How can two members of the cabi-
net make important declarations on
50 vital subject of labor policy
without the President knowing in ad-
vance what they were going 70 say?
II Mr.. Roosevelt was merely fencing
with the correspondents and trying
to avoid or evade their question, then
his answer may have meant that he
had not read it in the newspapers,
and it might have meant that he
actually read it or was acquainted
with the substance before the state
ment was issued.
Mr.. Roosevelt, who prides himself
on his frankness with the press, did
not undertake to explain the dis
crepancy, and since the correspond
ents are respectful to the President
in their conference, they did not in
sist upon an explanation OF what
looks on the surface to be an un-
fortunate equivocation.
But supposing the President did
not know in advance what two men,
bers of his cabinet were preparing
to say on labor policy, this would
tend to give the impression that cabi-
net members speak their individual
views and in no way reflect the ad-
ministration's viewpoint as a whole
or the Presidents policy in particular.
General Motors Case.
Not SO long ago, on the other hand,
President Roosevelt told the press
that when the executives of General
Motors declined an invitation from
the Secretary of Labor for a confer
ence 1t was tantamount to rejecting
an invitation from the President of
the United States. For this reason
1t generally has been inferred that
what Miss Perkins says on labor
policy is close reflection OF the
Presidents own viewpoint
What possible explanation is there
for Mr. Roosevelts desire to avoid
telling the press that he knew about
the Perkins and Roper statements in
advance, and why would he give the
impression that he personally was
not aware of their contents before
publication, or that he was neither
approving or disappearing what they
said?
The only inference that seems logi-
cal is that President Roosevelt want
ed the c. l. o. leaders to know that
the two cabinet members were say
Ing what they did merely as a sop
TO the conservatives, and that it was
done to check the wave of hostility
which has been rising against the
administrations alliance with the G.
I. O. Indeed, newspaper headlines
In publications friendly to the ad-
ministration disclosed about the same
time runors of break between Mr.
Lewis and the President, which news
was calculated to cheer the hearts
of an aroused middle class and make
the citizens feel that the administra-
tion was really preparing to check
mate the excesses of labor zealots.
Says Roosevelt Irritated.
But there is no secret about the
fact Mr.. Roosevelt from the begin
ming has been somewhat irritated
over Mr.. Lewis rise in power and
methods, and that more than once
Mr.. Lewis has learned Of this dis
satisfaction. On one such occasion Mr.
Lewis didn't hesitate publicly to re-
mind the President he was under OBJ
legation to the C. I. o. From that
day forward there has been little II
any comment from the White Housa
that could even remotely b con-
IS