The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-02-04

urSt rODln is only sign OF the COM
ing of spring. 1t
Danger does not bring
Signs spring weather.
Nevertheless, we
Americans watch for signs all our
lives and lately there have been sew
eral OF them in national affairs that
are worthy of notice.
There never has been a time in
our country's history, as far as I
have been able to discover, when
the tension surrounding labor con-
ditions has been as dangerous as it
is right now. do not believe any
one can forecast what the results
are going to be; what all of these
strikes and factional fights in or
ganized labor mean and I am con-
vinced that they represent some
thing much deeper than just d
satisfaction with wages or growing
pains of expanding business. In
other words, there are many stu
dents of national affairs who are
attempting to analyze current labor
conditions as signs of new times.
Most observers with whom have
discussed the present labor prob
lens, are hopeful that these trou-
bles mean only continued increases
in the demand for labor. That is,
they want to accept these signs as
indicative of returning and sound
prosperity in commerce and indus
try. Yet, none of them is quite sure.
There are too many "ifs" and too
many uncertainties for anyone to
attempt a complete diagnosis of the
circumstances.
Some weeks ago I ventured the
opinion in these columns that the
rift in organized labor between Will
liam Green as head of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and John
L. Lewis as sponsor of the indus
trial union idea, likely would result
in serious trouble for the labor I'M
ions themselves. I was unable to
report then that which I can write
at this time, namely, that the
schism in organized labor appears
certain to set back the cause of
organized labor many years. In
deed, it seems that the split, IAN
gled as it is with partisan politics,
may prove to be the uncharted rock
in union labor's course and it's ship
may founder on it.
But the situation is fraught with
gFaver possibilities, I am sure.
There are ele-
NTdUe ments and influ-
Possibilities ences at work in
the labor situation
today that easily could lead to riots
and bloodshed. From riots and
bloodshed i is only a step to revo-
luton of political sort.
None here knows exactly what
the administration labor policies
are beyond the exaggerated prom
ises made during the last Presi-
Dental campaign. Of course, Pres
icent Roosevelt and the bulk of his
New Deal spokesman are exceed
ingly friendly, overfriendly some be-
lieve, to organized labor. The New
Dealers had organized labor with
them in the last campaign. Now,
however, it is made to appear tina:
the support of labor in the cam
paign is proving more or less en-
barrassing to the administration
which has just started on its second
four-year term.
Some of the critics of the admin
istration are outspoken in their
statements that Mr.. Roosevelt is
trying to dodge, trying to avoid, get
ting mixed up too deeply in labor's
problems. Some of his subordinates
have been active but the President
has stayed out of the picture just
as far as he could and as long as
he could.
am inclined to believe that these
assertions that Mr.. Roosevelt is
afraid to take leadership too fire.
quently in labor's problems are un-
fair to the President. They amount
to a statement that he lacks cour-
age-which is not true. On the con-
trary, there are many who believe
with me that Mr.. Roosevelt senses
developments yet to arise in the la
Dor situation and he is, therefore,
being cautious as to his steps thus
early in what threatens to be
national labor crisis.
On the other hand, it is difficult to
explain why the national labor rela-
tions board has been so nearly qui-
escent through such strikes as the
plate glass and portions of the auto
mobile workers.
If there ever was a situation
made to order for use of the agency
set up under the so-called Wagner
law, that situation was to be found
in the two strikes just mentioned.
The board did so little in those cir
cumstances that its existence can
be said to have been forgotten. It
amounted to dead letter insofar
as the law itself. is concerned. In
some quarters one can hear discus
sion to the effect that sponsors of
the national labor relations act and
board were unwilling to have that
agency and the law receive a real
test at this time. have been I'M
able to confirm this thought at all
but frankly the circumstances that
one sees indicate there is some
truth in the rumor that too much of
a burden should not be unloaded on
the board for its first real test.
Business interests never have be-
lieved the law to be constitutional.
The New Dealers, however, have
contended vociferously that it is
valid and yet we have the picture
of a New Deal agency failing to
perform the very functions for