Evening star., 1938-08-20
PRESIDENT Wants
CHANGE IN LABOR
ACT, SAYS GREEN
Union Head, After ParIey,
Asserts Roosevelt and He
Are in Accord
REvISI0NS WOULD END
OBJECTIONS OF A. FL.
Reappointment of Donald Smith
to Board Is Discussed, but
Attitude Not Divulged.
BY the Associated Press.

HYDE PARK, N. Y, Aug. 2o.-
President William Green of the
American Federation Of Labor said
today that he and President Roose-
Velt ARE in accord on the necessity Of
making some changes" in the ma
tional labor relations law.
The labor official conferred with
Mr. Roosevelt at the latter,s home
here today.
Mr.. Green said he had called at
tention to present complaints against
administration Of the 0abor) law by
the Labor Relations Board"
I'VE went over certain specific cases
OF administration" Mr.. Green told
reporters after his conference. He
added that in some instances the
board has departed from the spirit
of the law" in reaching decisions.
Mr.. Green did not detail what
changes in the law might be effected,
but said that in broad outline they
either might curtail the boards present
powers or clarity its duties.
I'VE discussed possible changes in
the law thoroughly" Mr.. Green said.
I'VE are in accord on the necessity
Of making some changes in the law
to overcome the objections we (the A.
F. Of L. have offered regarding the
boards administration"
Mr.. Green said that one Of his COM
plants to MIR. Roosevelt had dealt
with the labor situation in Cambridge,
Pa. There, he asserted, the N. L. r. B.
had intervened at the instigation Of
the Committee for Industrial Organi.
zation and had ordered an A. F. OF L.
contract set aside.
He said Federal Court overrode
the boards decision, but that the
dered an election by the workers. The
A. F. Of L. won the election, Mr.. Green
said.
Discussed Smith.
The labor official said he had told
Mr.. Roosevelt that there was no neces-
sity for such proceedings.
Asked whether he had discussed
with Mr. Roosevelt the latter's forth
coming decision on whether to reap.
point Donald w. Smith to the Labor
Board, Mr.. Green replied afirmatively.
Mr.. Smiths term will expire Au-
gust a.
Mr.. Green. declined to be pinned
down on whether he had expressed
opposition to Mr. Smith. and said he
had submitted no candidate for the
appointment.
Mr.. Green said he emphasized to
the President that members Of the
board should "be more judicial minded
should have more Of judicial tenn
perament."
He said the President told him .
story which the latter in turn had
heard from Miss Marion Dickerman.
q member of the commission which
has been studying labor relations in
Great Britain and Sweden.
Cites British.
Miss Dickerman, Mr.. Green said he
was told by the President, was par
ticularly impressed by clauses In
British labor contracts requiring em-
ployers to recommend that workers
join a union and by the "extraordi-
narily good manners" Of employers and
employees in dealing with each other.
"The President thought that was
very significant and agreed with
him." Mr.. Green continued, adding
this comment OF his own:
"The British employers and en-
ployes cooperate and behave them
selves mighty well toward each other,
while here in America we are still at
war"
The Chief Executive, rested after q
quiet day in his breeze-cooled Hudson
River home yesterday, also had on his
calling list Secretary Wallace, Mayor
Fiorello La Guardia of New York and
Charles Sawyer, Democratic nominee
for Governor Of Ohio.
Mr.. Wallace was expected to discuss
with the President the functioning Of
the crop control program. The farm
Official talked with Mr.. Roosevelt be-
fore the latter left Washington, but
that conference centered on the prob
lem Of wheat exports.
During his recent trip through Geor-
gia, the President said he would dis
cuss with Mr.. Wallace the general
operation Of the farm program, in
cluding particularly its tobacco con-
troll provisions.
With no official word about the visits
OF Mr.. La Guardia and Mr.. Sawyer,
there was speculation that Mr.. Roose-
velt might discuss with Mr.. La Guar.
dia the campaign of Representative
John ]. O'Connor, chairman of the
House Rules Committee, for re-elec.
ton. The President put OConnor,
Tammany Democrat, on his purge
list" in statement Tuesday.
It also was expected that the Mayor
would report to the President on the
progress Of building for the New York
Worlds Fair next year.