The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1937-05-21
LOPSlDED LAW


Labor historians will write down 1897 rs = bio, wear, Inf m
merely because John Lewis nocd the French notion m
SlV down strikes and for time away it, Labor may
soon want TO forget the sit down strikes The will be re
memDered chiefly symptom madness epidemic this
year l'elRoS hysteria in earlier times swept through masses
oil people Fashions change in unacy.
The advanced status organization is the in,nortan
change If remain democratic people this will LAST On1 in
communist and Fascist countries have labor unions lost govern
mental recognition attained
Labor unions have develop ed in country up to Franklin
Eoosevets administration without any special encouragement or
stlnuaon from the government The late Samuel (omner and
te American Federation Of Labor opposed governmental aid as
dangerous interference
MI GonperS fought for laws which would exempt labor
~ from 'he restraints of othcr general laws Labor
were made immune to of the laws They also
sought freedom from niuctons help but tire re.
moval Of restraints M abos earlier MESSAGES -
Congress-
Given freedom from government terfercnce Friendly ~,
hostile the old labor union thought they could do THEN
work most effectively Some exceptions made The gov
ernent began even before Woodrow Wilson'S presidency TIC
pass laws recognizing and circumscrbng unions work
ers 1t that Transportation strikes would be ntol
able nusances So Congress provided meiatinp and
arblratng differences between herhoo and railroads
The policy of the administration owa o,
was first ceary expressed i'll the National Recovery Act Tn
1866 te unions were very weak and did oppose governments
hep When the NRA law declared unconstitutional by
unanimous Supreme Court Congress labor sections
OF ire statute. This became the Wagner Connery law
There not much doubt concerning of the Wagner
]Nc Congress- during various administrations
ceShg Willingness to recognize labor ole improbable
however mat the artsanshp strongly expressed the pre-
sent act will be left indefinitely in the After while some
Congress Will begin to take second thought
AS Affairs low stand The national government committed
TO policy OF stimulating labor organization Old Samuel Comp
would not have liked that Perhaps more conservative lead
ers in the A. J. of L. would still lie do their own ORGANIZING
John Lewis and his assocac in CIO however, ha, pro
posered greatly because governmental support i dow,
trik tact1 supported by state an NATIONAL goycrnor uc
results Sit down strike opposed by govern mcnts have else
where and at otirr times had quite different results
1t is now the stated policy the federal government to en-
courage collective bargaining assure workers full freedom
atives of their choosing the purpose OF ncgoin terms
and conditions Of employment.
1.-The Wagner Ac, partisan because penalties arc directed
only against employers. The law unfair labor practices
on the part Of an cm' u is silent concerning any wrongs
which might be committed by employees by unions represent
ing them The Wagner suggc both by what il saws and
what 1t omits That the employee wrong while the en-
pleyer must prove himself innoccrt
obviously it human experience that one group is AWAY
right and another group always wrong Disputes inevitably will
arise between groups Of wocr The L. and the CC
represent workers whose opinions policies are in sharp con
fct The law is weak in its provisions for adjusting dis
pges between rival groups Of workers, It wholly silent con
cernngan penalties against any unfair practice by any Labor
organization. zl.,....
The law is detailed its provisions aimed at preventing the