Evening star., 1937-04-04
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"Noral leadership"

NlOTdl LtducT SIllps
While the point at issue in Senate
debate over the sit-down strike is whether
the United States Senate should make a
declaration of policy against that dam
gerous weapon in industrial warfare, the
many and involved elements connected
with that issue have provoked the ses-
sons most spirited discussion. Thanks to
the precipitate cooperation of the auto
mobile workers who have seized one OF
the Ford plants and sealed the gates,
showdown on the issue this week be-
comes almost inevitable.
Many sound arguments have been
made against such showdown Admin
istration forces have sought to avoid it as
unnecessary or improper. But the coun-
try is demanding it, as evidenced by the
attitude of many Senators and Repre-
sentatives, and it should be given.
From one point of view the declara-
ton of policy sought by Senator Byrnes
is futile sort of thing. A mere declara-
ton of policy has no power of itself. 1t
is not enforcible. And Senator Byrnes'
amendment concerns the coal industry,
where there have been no sit-downs. Or,
as Senator Wheeler asks: Why is 1t
necessary to call on the Senate OF the
United States for declaration OF policy
on something that is already the policy
of the country? Why, for instance, would
1t be necessary to call on the Senate for
declaration of policy against stealing?
But Senator Vandenberg has come as
close as ANYBODY to reducing the ques-
ton to It's fundamentals. The Senate, he
said, has been given an opportunity to
"express that moral leadership which
the situation seems to require" And the
question now is whether the Senate will
choose to exercise that moral leadership.
It should be exercised 1t does not
make any difference whether the Senate
or the Government in Washington has
the power to interfere in labor disputes.
That is not the question. 1t is not i'm
nortant whether the declaration of policy
against use of the sit-doWn strike hnds
q vehicle in the coal bill, or whether 1t
Glands on it's own legs as a separate reso-
luton. The question is whether the
Senate. or Congress, representing the
people of the United States, is willing TO
sneak candidly on matter which has
been dangerously confused.
The sit-down strike, for instance, has
been confused with the rights OF LABOR
TO bargain collectively and to gain prlVl-
lepes to which labor is entitled. 1t has
been confused with the attitude OF the
Federal and State judiciary toward IN
functions and toward social leglSlatlon'
II has been confused with the tactics OF
EMPLOYERS In exploiting their workers,
such tactics ranging from stupid selflsh-
ness to violation or evasion OF the law.
And this confusion taken with the silence
of the administration toward the SIT
down and it's various attacks on the
courts, has tended to clothe the slt-doWn
strike. In the minds of many OF the
workers, at least, with the semblance OF
legality. AS long as the workers feel
that what they are doing is legal and
in defense of their rights and as long
As they feel that they have the support
of the Government at Washington, they
will continue to sit down where they
choose and as they choose, and the fever
will spread.
A declaration of policy by the Senate
or by Congress might not halt the fever
Immediately and it might not cure the
fundamental ills which have caused the
sit-down strike. 1t would, however, dis
abuse the public mind OF the idea that
the Government in Washington is back
Ing the sit-down strike and condones the
seizure of property and the flouting OF
the courts. 1t would, in other words,
provide moral leadership" And moral
leadership is plainly needed.