Evening star., 1937-02-26

as we "eIS iiuihs David Lawrence.
on the train be-
tween Washington and New York this
week.
"Are we in for a year Of strikes
and interruption of productive
nrocesses?" asked Mr.. Lewis.
1.-THE answer depends on industry
he replied. will it or Will 1t not
concede that workers really nave .
right to organize to improve their
working conditions and wages?'
But industry does concede that
point" I commented
Exists in Theory.
eyes, academically." rejoinet Mr..
Lewis, but not actually. every NJ
huence and inducement possible
eyery form of coercion that can oe
utilized is nevertheless interposed to
prevent true collective ba -
It seemed to me that the answer
might be elections among workers 10
determine who shall represent groups
of employees, and I inquired why
there couldn't be laws to G IRE Tree
elections in industry so that workmen
wouldn't be subject to improper IN
fluence. Mr.. Lewis said i'm ediately
that, of course, there could be laws
enacted but they were of little avail
alongside of the power Of an employer
to influence his workmen if he didn't
want a union organized in his plant.
What method do you suggest?" l
asked.
Strikes Assert Rights.
Labor has to assert its rights"
said Mr.. Lewis, "this can be done
by strikes, If they are necessary. We
are anxious to avoid strikes and they
are forced only when we feel we can
not gain our objectives by nego-
tiation."
At this point, I referred to the
disputes between labor organizations
and the cropping out Of the unauthor-
lied or jurisdictional strike. Mr.. Lewis
commented thus:
II recognize there are abuses. !
know there are many things to be
ironed out in Industrial relations.
Some Of us are making substantial
progress In that direction. The other
day, when I opened the conference
of bituminous coal representatives. 1t
was my privilege to refer to two years
OF uninterrupted peace between en-
ployers and employees in the coal in
dustry, a period in which there had
not been any dispute or friction.
something unheard of in the coal in
dustry"
Right here I said that I believed
many persons would like to see trade
union membership increased in Amer
lea if there could be responsibility
commensurate with power, that Is,
as has often been suggested, incor-
poration of labor unions.
Suits Powerless in Wage Pacts.
IT have heard that BEFORE" laughed
Mr.. Lewis. "The trouble is people
do not realize that a lawsuit against
a corporation to enforce wage agree
ment is not effective. We have hired
the best legal talent ourselves. but
we never have succeeded As for
corporations, they are limited in liabil-
ity, while individuals in labor unions
are not. The same right to sue to
enforce a contract is available to both
sides"
What about the legality of sit
down strikes?" inquired.
THAT has yet to be determined.
And believe that even if its techni-
cali aspects are cleared up some day
by cases carried to the Supreme Court.
workmen will still continue to use
them, because they constitute a moral
as we'll as a legal question. Who is
to say that a workman in sheer des-
peration to protect his job shall not
employ passive resistance? That
term has been known for centuries
as . moral weapon against wrong
doing.
To Cling to Course.
"Now I know it Is often unpopular
to disturb the status quo,' and that
Is what we are doing with our present
efforts, but you never gain anything
for labor by maintaining the status
quo We are going to continue in
our present course until industry
gives US real collective bargaining"
As we concluded our talk, asked