Evening star., 1938-08-30
HEAD OF MI. R. B.
ASSA|LS CRITICS
Madden Praises Kentucky
cCord as Reclamation
of Harlan County.
By the Associated Press.

| Dy the Associated Press.
Praising the Kentucky coal opera
tors agreement with miners as "the
reclamation Of Harlan County" Chair
man j. Warren Madden of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board has sug-
gested that critics of the Wagner Act
should take the day off,"
Both sides are apparently acting in
good faith" Mr.. Madden said In
radio address last night. and with
complete qualification that the long
and bitter war is over"
The chairman directed part Of his
| speech by implication to Senator
Burke, Democrat. Of Nebraska, who
has referred to shotgun agreement"
In criticizing the board.
Mr.. Madden spoke shortly after John
L. Lewis had made q bristling reply
to the charge Of william Green, Amer
ican Federation Of Labor president,
that the Labor Boards dismissal of
complaints against Harlan operators
as result Of their agreement with
Mr.. Lewis United Mine Workers was
conspiracy" to violate the Wagner
Act.
Called Characteristic,
Mr.. Lewis said Mr.. Green's state
ment was characteristic Of what
might be expected from any traitorous
renegade" He interpreted the Har-
Ian agreement as the advent of indus
trial peace for the long terrorized and
disturbed Harlan mining communities"
Mr.. Madden made no reference to
Mr. Green. but referred by implication
to Senator Burke. Democrat, of Ne
braska. another critic Of the board.
will our critic. who applied the
expression shotgun agreement to set
Elements made by the board.s object to
the laying down Of the stbtguns in
Harlan County?" he asked. eWould he
prefer that the feud should have con-
tinued until either the uniDn or the
coal business in Harlan County was
prostrate?"
History Is Sketched.
Senator Burke had used the express
sion shotgun agreement" in previous
criticism OF the board.
Mr.. Madden sketched the history Of
the boards activities in bloody Har-
Ian County" recalling an order against
one large company for the reinState-
ment of some so miners, discharged for
union activities, and their compensa-
ton for loss Of pay and for other
relief.
The United States Circuit Court of
Appeals upheld our order in all par
ticulars and entered its decree against
the company to the same effect as our
order. Thus the Government. through
the board and court, served notice
that the perpetual disorder and vio-
lence which had made Harlan County
notorious must give way to the law
Of decent and orderly labor rela-
| tions.
Drop Proceedings.
Now the coal operators. and the
miners of Harlan County who had
filed with US charges against the
operators. have made = labor agree
ment and have made provisions for
reinstatement Of men alleged to have
been discriminatory discharged. with
an adjustment Of back pay, and We
have agreed to discontinue the pro-
ceedings against the operators.
Both sides are apparently acting
in good faith and with complete graft
fication that the long and bitter war
is over"
Mr.. Madden directed large part Of
his speech to critics who go on par
roting the statement that we always
find that the employer is wrong"
He said there had been some 1000
cases in which charges have been
withdrawn or dismissed without action
against the employer. for lack of merit
and other causes"