Montana labor news., 1937-12-16

jurisdiction which the board had
asserted. You rejoiced at this vic
tory, for certainly these were the
most notable decisions in favor of
labor which had ever been won in
any court at any time. They put
an end unanimously and for all time
to the heresy that there is something
in the glorious word liberty as
used in our Constitution which guar
antees to an employer the power to
destroy the union which his em-
ployees desire for their protection.
Nothing Mean in Constitution
In this year, when throughout the
country the one hundred and fiftieth
anniversary of the chart and plan of
our government and the guaranty of
our civil rights is being celebrated,
it was fitting that our highest court
should in this positive way reassure
the country that there is nothing low
or mean in that sacred document;
that the travails which brought it
into being were not suffered to make
America safe for stool-pigeons and
black lists or for those employers
who would condemn their faithful
employees to the bread-line for the
innocent act of joining a union.
Supreme Court Might Override
DictatOrs
Indeed it would seem likely that
if any future American Congress, in
imitation of the relationships of
Europe, should attempt to reverse
the guarantees of the National Labor
Relations Act and forbid American
workingmen to form unions of their
own choosing, Supreme Court
would find in the guaranty of lib
erty" in our Constitution a reason
for holding unconstitutional such an
act of a misguided Congress.
Board Delayed With New Cases
The Supreme Court decisions
brought to the regional offices of
the board such an increased number
of cases that the staff proved utterly
inadequate to investigate, adjust, or
hold hearings within a reasonable
period. There were irritating and
discouraging delays. This condition
has been considerably improved by
increased appropriation given by the
Congress near the end of the last
session and the effective enforce
ment of the National Labor Rela-
lions Act is becoming a fact. Dur
ing these long periods of delay and
encouragement you representatives
of labor and your constituents were
patient and hopeful. If you had not
been the task of the board and its
staff would have been impossible.
You well deserve the victory for
which you struggled SO valiantly and
waited so patiently.
Objective of Labor Board Is Peace
The detectives of the National La
Dor Relations Act are industrial
peace for the country with increased
! freedom and self-respect and bar
gaining power for American work
/, men. Considering the fact that the
, law has been in full effect for only
{ a few months, these results have
already been achieved to an aston
ishing degree. All of you whose
constituents work in enterprises
t which fall within the jurisdiction Of
, the law have found workmen less
fearful to join your unions and en-
, ployers more willing to recognize
( your unions than before. Real ano
rapid progress is being made toward
organizing the unorganized. Nc
major strikes have occurred in re.
t cent weeks, though it is both the
season of the year and the period
, in the recovery of business wher
, strikes would be most likely to oc-
. cur. The Jeremiahs who have point
! ed with scorn to the descriptive
. words at the beginning of the ac-
f can act to remove the causes of in.
dustrial strife" and who took de.
: light in the ruinous strikes of the
+ past winter may prove to be false
, prophets. A prophet who is pois
f oned with prejudice is never to b.
. trusted. Thoughtful people will re
+ member that these strikes occurred
4, at a time when this law was being
/ openly violated, and that the strikei
/ of that period should properly b.
: charged to the violation of this law
and not to the law itself.
Enemies Will Continue to Attack
e Wagner Act
Since the valuation of the law
: since the specter of unconstitutional
S ity which was so solemnly parade
/ to conceal the indecencies whic.
walked behind it, has vanished, othe
attacks have been made upon tn
l. law and its enforcement.
l. Until time and experience hav
e, knit this law firmly into the ecc
nomic fabric of the country, 20
may expect that its die-hard oppc
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