The Washington times., 1937-03-20
HITS
LABOR USE0F
'S|T-D0WN'
EIIender, Cox, and
Hoffman Denounce
Union Strategy
b. EDWARD B. LOCKETT
International News Service


sit-down strikes throughout the
land produced contrasting reac-
tions here, with Congress boiling
in resentment, and Labor Depart.
ment chiefs counselling extreme
caution in handling the ticklish
situation growing out of the Chrys-
Ter strikes.
Meanwhile, the American Fed
Grafton of Labor prepared to adopt
a report divorcing itself from all
support Of the sit-down, thereby
leaving John L. Lewis and his
c. 1. o. as its lone Svengali.
Congressional outbursts pre-.
saged vigorous drive for an in
veStigation Of this new weapon Of
labor. In both Senate and House,
the Sit-down was aSSailed as an
"offshoot of communism, lawless-
ness at it's worst. and a stepping
stone to dictatorship"
Caution Observed
At the same time, Labor De.
partment chiefs in telephone con-
versations with Governor Frank
Murphy Of Michigan, warned
that violence must be prevented in
the powder-keg Chrysler strike
zone at Detroit. 1t was limited
that warrants for the arrest Of
Chrysler sit-down strikers would
not be served until every effort
had been made to bring United
Automobile workers and Chrysler
executives to a peaceful settle
ment.
Whatever the outcome Of con-
greSSional debate the Government
and the nation have become sig.
naly strike conscious.
Labor leaders are not unaware
of growing resentment against the
sit-down and have mapped their
strategy in line with it, believing
they could accomplish many Of
their strike objectives before SEN
timent cryStallized itself to the
point of action. Thus far they
have been right, but within 48
hours Congress has raked union
labor over the Goals in uncompli"
mentary fashion.
President ASsaiIed
Senator Ellender CD Of Louisi-
ana lit the fireworks on Capitol
Hill, calling the sit-down strike
"hold-up. un.American" and q
thing no longer to be tolerated.
In the House, Representative Hoff"
man (RO of Michigan Joined the
attack with the charge that the
President took his orders from
John L. Lewis, and that the Chief
Executive had taken no steps to
halt sit-down strikes. Representa-
tive Cox CD, Georgia, denounced
the new strike tactics as anarchy
in its worst form" .
The American Federation OF
Labor's attack on the Sit-down can
be expected within a few days: 1t
was drafted by President William
Green and will be laid before the
executive council of the federation
for a vote, with adoption certain.
BOrah Severe
Senator Borah, veteran Idaho
liberal. hurled the challenge:
"Have we q Government!
That's what 1 want to know"
In the Senate, Borah also was
Joined by Vandenberg (Ro and
Brown Cd, of Michigan; Black
CD, of Alabama and OMahoney
Cd, of Wyoming.
Borah said failure Of the Fed
eral government to enforce anti
trust laws against private monop-
olies has bred resentment among
workers that now is being ex-
pressed in this disrespect for
laws"
The situation, he said, is "a
great national economic problem.
as broad as government itself"
The sit-down strike has mo
legal Justification" he added
but:
"You must see that the law ID
enforced against all, If you ex.
pect it to be enforced against
any"