Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-03
Debate Over Chanqinq
Wagner Labor All
Is Given New Life
{. !. O. Issues Analysis
Of Criticisms, AssoiIs
Revision Moves

Prelude to certain congressional,
debate over the issue, friends and
foes of the National Labor Rela-
tons Act were engaged in verbal
free-for-all today over whether the
law should be amended.
Under way Spasmodically for q
long time, the latest outburst was
precipitated yesterday by visit OF
the three members of the Labor Re-
lations Board to the White House to
discuss the question with President
Roosevelt.
On their departure, Chairman J.
Warren Madden told reporters the
board was unanimous in the opinion
that no changes are needed in the
law and had so informed the Presi-
dent.
Supporting the boards position on
their own grounds, the Committee
for Industrial Organization last
night released a pamphlet analysis
of criticisms of the act, constituting
a rejection of all pleas for revising
the law. In addition to making an
answer to each of the arguments in
favor of amendment, the G. I. O.
pamphlet admitted its fear that
opening of the act to any changes,
however desirable, would invite de-
struction of the statute.
Hostile Amendment.
1T will not do at this time" the
c. I. o. said, "for friends of the
law, or persons sympathetic with its
purpose, to advocate charge. To do
SO is to invite hostile amendments
from all sources, and above all from
reactionary big business interests.
Once it is conceded that the act
should be amended, the movement
can grow like a rolling SNOWFALL,
with results that cannot be fore
seen, but which may we'll be dis
astrous to organized labor"
Answering the stand of the rival
labor organization, the American
Federation of Labor, that the Labor
Board has been unduly friendly to
the c.. I. O., the pamphlet said:
THE figures prove that this is un-
true. In 40 cases decided by the
board up to September 80, 1898, in
which there was fundamental dis
agreement between the A. F.. of
L. and the c. I. o. d" = the board
adopted the A. F.. of L. contention
In "a and that of the c. I. o. in
but 81, while the contentious of
each group were adopted in part in
the remaining four
A. F. Of L. Renews Attack,
Yesterdays announcement of
Board Chairman Madden led the
A. F. OF L. to renew its attack, how
ever, IN a statement by William
Green. federation president.
Because of mal-administration
by the National Labor Relations
Board we think it imperative that
the act be amended" Mr.. Green
said.
The American Federation of Little
Business, in statement issued YES
terday, urged amendment of the act
TO put an end to the boards power
TO act as prosecutor, judge and jury,
TO permit employers as well as en-
ployes to invoke its aid and to ex-
tend and develop greater reliance
upon the processes of mediation"
The United States Chamber of
Commerce and Donald R. Richberg,
former N. R. A. administrator, have
taken similar position.
Calls Act Ambiguous.
Senator King, Democrat, of Utah,
one OF the few legislators now on
Capitol Hill, said he believed the act
was Ambiguous and in some re-
spects uncertain
The law, he said, has made for
many injustices under the interpre-
tatlons placed upon it by the board"
I'm my opinion" he added, at has
not justified the high hopes of many
who supported it. I am inclined to
think the attitude of Mr.. Green and
the attitude of many others who are
favorable to proper legislation deal
Ing with labor justify re-examina-
ton OF the law with a view to max
Ing 1t more workable ="