Evening star., 1938-09-04
Bv John II. Cline.

Labor Relations Act is easily the
most important legislative problem
confronting industrial America
today
In the opinion of many EMPLOYERS. who
view the act with emotions ranoinc from
suspicion to bitter hostility, it is fight
tnat must be won unless industry is to be
torn by labor strife for an indefinite period
OF years. As seen by organized labor the
law is lever with which the working man
mas been raised to bargaining equality
WIN me boss, and it Is a foregone con-
cluslon that labor, despite its internal strife
will present united front against anv
amendments that will weaken the position
Of the workers.
lnese conf1lcting viewpoints are certain
TO collide with a great deal of sound and
1ury when Congress meets in January. ANY
attempt to forecast the outcome in detail
would be idle at this time, but revision of
some sort now appears likely. That would
have been beyond the range of probability
six months ago.
Roosevelt May Watch Passiyely.
The greatest single factor contributing
to the probability that some amendments
will be adopted lies in the apparent decision
OF the President not to oppose some
changes" in the law Although Mr.. Roose
Welt IN the past repeatedly expressed the
belief that no amendments were neces-
sary, ne has not denied recent statement
by William Green, head of the American
Federation OF Labor, that he and the Presi-
dent were in accord on the need for changes
now.
1t should not be assumed from that, how
ever. that Mr. Green was talking about
any of the changes sought by employers
through the National Association of Manu-
facturers or the United States Chamber of
Commerce. The proposed amendments of
those groups are anathema to Mr.. Green,
and probably are just as Objectionable to
the President
There is no reason to suppose the Presi-
dent will lend his support to any amend
ment unless it is calculated to harmonic
the differences between the A. F. of L. and
the Committee for Industrial ORGANIZATION
headed by John L. Lewis.
Referring to conference he had with
the President recently. Mr. Green said:
We discussed possible changes in the law
thoroughly. We are in accord on the ne
cessity OF making some changes to overcome
the objections we (the A. F. of L. have
offered regarding the Labor Boards admin
istration'
From that it would appear Mr.. Roosevelt
have sold ho
designed to clarity the law with respect to
the jurisdiction of the Labor Board in cases
where the A. F. Of L. and the c. l. o. dis
agree as to whether craft union or an
industrial union is the appropriate bargain
ing agency for the employees of a particular
concern
Feud Troubles President
The feud between the A. F. of L. and the
G. l. O. has been watched with apprehen-
sion by the President, who realizes the
strife may reach point where it will be
increasingly difficult to enlist the full sup
port OF organized labor for the New Deals
legislative program With that contin-
eency in mind, it is entirely reasonable that
Mr.. Roosevelt would favor any revision of
the act that would remove it as source
Of friction between the two labor camps
II Mr. Roosevelt does advocate such a
change, however, he is more than likely to
run afoul of the c. l. o.
Mr.. Green has charged that the Labor
Board members are proc. l. O.. and that
many Of their rulings have been designed
TO strengthen the euic oroo r, 20 t;o,, - ~
expense of the A. F. of L, The board. he
says, has gone so far as to set aside a con-
tract between an A. F. of L. union and an
employer, giving the C. l. o. an opportunity
TO take over the plant in question.
Such condition. in Mr. Green's opinion
can be cured in one of two WAYS The
first would be to change the personnel of
the board but apparently he has little to
hope for in that direction The President
recently announced reappontment of Dom
aid Wakefield Smith to the board. COM
petely ignoring the fact that the A. F.
OF l.. had denounced Mr. Smith in strong
terms and had urged Mr.. Roosevelt not to
reappoint him.
If the Smith case can be taken as an
1luiCdtioH Vi HOW Jne WlnQ Is blowing 1t
means that Mr.. Green has no chance to
secure the replacement of the present
board members. That leaves adoption OF
an amendment curbing their powers as the
only way out of his dilemma.
Clio Opposes Changes.
The c. I. o. also has been critica! of
come board decisions, alleging favoritism
toward the A. F. of L.. but, unlike the
latter agency, Mr.. Lewis union is strongly
opposed to any changes in the law.
1t is the belief of the C.. l. o. that the
attack. on the Wagner Act was launched
some time ago by the tory industrialists, :"
who have spread propaganda through the
press. radio and reactionary politicians.
A greater threat to the act, however,
from the c. I. o. viewpoint. ARISES from
the support which attacks of the employers
are receiving from leaders of the A.
OF L., who are so blinded by their hatred
OF the c. I. O. and their desire to gain
partisan advantage that they are playing
into the hands Of the enemies of all labor
with demands for crippling amendments
to the act"
To all of this, the c. l. o. is unaiterably
opposed. Regardless of what President
Roosevelt may think, the Lewis organiza-
tion stands for no changes" That posi-
tion was clearly stated in a recent editorial
in the c. I. o. News, which said: