Evening star., 1938-06-16

or blocs to get [l.8.
legislation passed n,,--
than does Presi- " -" 'A'''
dent Roosevelt himself.
There is, of course, no peoples bloc
no pressure for the people as .
whole urging that every measure Be
weighed effectively to see whether
its passage is really to the interest of
the maximum number or merely to the
interest Of q few.
As q matter of fact. these pressure
groups control local elections because
1t takes very small number Of votes
In most congressional districts to
WELD the balance of power. Some
sometimes it runs as high as 10. But
such a minority, swinging from side
to side, manipulated by leaders, is
what will be found behind most of the
votes on important measures recorded
at every session.
Ideaism vs.. Practically.
The average observer will insist that
Representatives and Senators ought
to be above such pressure, that they
ought to legislate only in the public
interest. The truth is many OF them
would like to do that very thing. But
when election day comes some one
with much less scruple and less public
spirit is put up on the opposing ticket
or runs in the primaries for the nomi-
nation. Then all the special groups
get together behind their candidate
and the high-minded Representative
or Senator looks around for help.
And what does he finda Some Of
the people who have been shouting
loudest about independence" are play
Ing golf on election day; or, In the
important week preceding the elec-
tion, they will not even make . small
campaign contribution to help get
workers out; or else they will timidly
keep out of sight altogether. lest they
be accused as taking Q stand" in the
community for . high-minded con-
gresham.
Truly the plight Of the man who,
tries to be independent Is not to be
envied. The well-organised groups
have workers In every district They
keep card indexes Of voters who can
: be depended upon to 90 to the polls
to carry out the wishes OF these pres
sure organizations.
As for John L. Lewis and the G. I.
O., there II not as much orgAnixation
work here, as yet, in politics As there
has been by other labor organisations.
But Mr.. Lewis Is learning rapidly.
Occasionally he oversteps himself, Is
he did the other day when he ap-
peared at the Speakers ONCE and sent
out instructions that he wanted
amendments to the Walsh -Healy law
passed. This was . mistake in tAc-
tics and due to An excess of zeal, but
basically Mr.. Lewis was merely doing
in the open what 50 many Of his con-
freres in the pressure groups do under
cover.
Lewis Doesn't Mincs Wsrds.
The head of the Q. I. o. Is q forth
right individual. He feels the power
OF his organization and he doem't
hesitate to tell Presidents or Senators
or Representatives that the G. I. O. ex-
poets every one to do his duty "or
else" The words may be new. but
the technique is not.
Incidentally, the Wash-Healy act
Is one Of the most complicated laws
on the statute books. At present it
1squires that any firm or business re-
ceivjrg from the Government a con-
tract for goods in excess of $4,000
must conform to certain labor stand
aus set forth by Department of
Labor controlled by Mr.. Lewis. It has
proved difficult of administration and
has been evaded in various ways. Now
Mr.. Lewis wants the amount that is
subject to Government regulation to
be as low as $4,000, which would in
clude vast number of firms and a
large number of small purchases which
are not covered by the present law.
Passage might raise havoc with
many businesses and is the type of
legislation which business would
rather postpone if not Altogether
eliminate. For business Is gradually
finding that the Wagner Labor Act
requires . lot of battling all by itself
and, II the orders of the National
Labor Relations Board are finally af-
firmed BY the courts, the companies
feel they would then incur proper
legal penalties anyway for violations.
Fortunately, Speaker Bankhead re-
fused to accede to Mr.. Lewis request
to bring up the legislation now for q
vote. But it will be revived next
session.
Federal Boycott Power.
To use the Government itself for
blacklisting and boyoottins and to
give this authority to . bureau in =
Government department Is q far
reaching exercise Of power and offers
m opportunity for abuse which can
hardly be exaggerated. In 4 time Of
business depression when business il
trying to adjust itself to numerous
problems in connection with which
Congress has been Of little helm. It
makes conditions doubly dif,cuit II
perplexities Of the Walsh- -Healy bill
variety are injected.
But Mr.. Lewis has . reason for
pushing 1t. His unions would ret
more leverage in their tights On en-.
ployers. And nowadays each bloc
thinks Of itself alone. There 4 no
peoples bloc thinking Of all the
people, particularly the unfortunate
millions who are without Jobs and
cannot get any till the economic
system begins to function effectively
once more.
(Copyright. leSS.)