Evening star., 1938-05-04
'S|T-DOWN' CURBS
BY j. S. FORECAST
Knudsen of General Motors
Hits Labor Board in
Chamber Session.
BY J. A. FOX.


nerce of the United States by William
S. Knudsen, president of General
Motors Corp.
Head of an organiza ton which was
one of the first backgrounds when
John L. Lewis Committee for Indus
trial Organization opened the drive
to unionize the mass production in
dustries last year Mr., Knudsen told
the business men that every one
knows that the present industrial
unions have strong-arm squads which
enforce compliance even if they on
the surface appear conservative" then
added:
The industrial union in its present
form has to depend on force in de-
f1ance of law There are not many
places in the United States at the mo- ,
ment, where laws can be enforced to
control the movement. The technique
of the Sit-down strikers is identical
with that Of the syndcalists Of Europe.
France finally has had to take stand
against them because of the dangers
as political club rather than social
defensive weapon.
SOniuent OIL AcuOn.
II feel confident that the United
States will eventually take the same
stand officially
Another speaker. John J. Pelley,
president of the Association of Amer
ican Railroads. told the chamber the
plight Of the carriers is traceable to
public demand for something for
nothing"
He assailed Government subsidiza-
ton Of competing transportation agen-
cies, declared the Federal barge lines
should be discontinued and rebuked
the business men 70 sponsoring many
needless and expensive waterway
projects" in search of cheap trans
portation"
Though emphasizing that labor
skies are clearing, the General Motors
head iolned in the growing volume
of criticism in the chamber over the
administration of the National Labor
Relations Act, which he characterized
as the largest drawback to good in
dustrial relations
The National Labor Relations
Board, set up to administer the act,
makes no pretence even Of paying
any attention to the employers side
of the case" he said He can only
be heard when he is summoned,
and he knows before he goes there
decision where he had ghost of
show, So what"
Board for Workers Only.
mo one in business wants to be
IN conflict with the law" the speaker
continued, but officials of the board
frankly admit tina. it is not their
business to protect the employer in
any way. regardless OF what is being
done to him. 1t is their duty to look
after the mems privilege Of collective
bargaining. even if il is done with
club, Such a situation cannot 90
on IN the long run, and I have every
confidence that it will be changed.
I strongly suspect that even the good
Senator Wagner did not realize what
would come out of his desire to help
the Workmen"
Mr. Knudsen recounted the history
of the labor troubles III General
Motors. both before and after settle
gent with the c. I. O. and said
that international officers had tried
manfully' to terminate the unaIthor-
lied strikes after contrac.ural rnla-
tons we're established. "oul they never
knew when or where trouble was
going to start and were always be-
hind the procession rather inan ahead
of it
Trouble Spots Clearing Up.
I naturally have no definite fore
cast for the next few years except
that I know conditions II the shops
are getting better than they we've
last year" he concluded. The fore
men and superntendents are getting
more used to dealing with trllmped
up grievances which comprise 80 per
cent Of the grievances anyway. Shop
committees are getting more orderly
in their procedure and they know
full we'll that if they have a real
grievance, it will be taken care of.
and the loud-talking member seldom
keeps his grip on his fellows very
long, because at the bottom the Amer
lean workman is fair"
The immediate difficulties Of the
railroads." Mr.. Pelley said, are due.
OF course, to general business condl-
tions and the resulting drastic slump in
the volume Of railroad traffic. The
fundamental difficulties of the rail-
roads, however. are due largely to
conditions established by public policy.
Railroad traffic has been decreased
needlessly by these policies and with
out any general economic advantage,
by the diversion of traffic to subsidized
competitors. Railroad revenues have
neen reduced because we have had to
meet the competition. direct and in
direct. of your tax money-and ours
as we'll.
The result is the railroad crisis
with all its depressing effects on the
general activity of business and pros
perity of the Nation To relieve that
crisis is beyond the power of the rail-
roads themselves because its causes
are beyond their reach 1t is a lob for
public policy, for economic statesman
snip, for fair dealing 1t is a lob
which cannot be done unless we are
all willing to renounce the idea of
getting something for nothing in the
way of transportation at the expense
OF that vague and unidentified other
fellow'-the taxpayer-who, most dis
concertingly, turns out to be all of u.s."
Mr.. Pelley outlined the legislative
program which the carriers are sup
porting to meet their immediate
needs. including loans for equipment
and liberalization of the R. F. c.
lending policy for other needs. He
also discussed the 'long-range" rail
program. which includes greater free
dom for the carriers in effecting
consultations and co-ordinations
changes in rate-making policies of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and an amendment to the Railroad