Evening star., 1938-06-26

McIT0otJ
BY JOHN LEAR,
Associated Press Stan Writer.
"OR the four years of his hrst term
- there was one man President Roose-
velt could depend on to solve labor
troubles after every one else had
failed.
That man was Edward F. McGrady.
Both labor and industry trust McGrady,
and both have watched him closely since
he quit the United States Department Of
Labor nine months ago to handle labor
problems in private industry.
What they have seen to date Is a prac-
tical demonstration that peace can be
maintained between management and men
with mutual profit
In the nine months he has been in charge
of labor relations for the Radio Corp.
Of America there has not been . single
strike despite the facts that r. G. A. Is
the biggest unit In the radio field and that
radio as a growing industry Is one Of the
bitterest battlefelds in the war between
the c. I. o. and the American Federation
of Labor
This peace which came with McGrady Is
not mere coincidence, for as early as 1886
r. c. AS big manufacturing plant In
Camden was tied up by labor strife.
Never Talks for Publication.
How does McGrady do it?
Ask him. and he will say:
Now you know can't talk about that"
Mr.. McGrady never talks for publication.
His methods can be deduced only from his
actions. But his actions show clearly on
the record
The record shows there are eight we'll
defined groups Of R. c. A. employees.
It shows that none Of the eight was under
, collective bargaining agreement with the
company when McGrady took over the
labor relations Job.
1t shows that since McGrady arrived, flve
Of the eight groups have signed.
It shows that those five include the great
majority Of r. G. A. employees.
1t shows that all the other three groups
are now negotiating for contracts.
That is what McGrady has done in his
first nine months, so no one Is likely to
deny that that Is McGrady's formula for
peace between industry and labor.
| He preached that formula As . union
leader in the American Federation of Labor
before q national labor law was thought Of.
He made the formula work as the Presi-
dents ace trouble shooter" in labor dis
putes all over the Nation. He practices the
formula now that he Is on industry's side
Of the agreement.
! "Arbitratel" He used to shout In his
booming voice when he got recalcitrant
employe and employer representatives to-
gether. You've got to arbitrate!"
| No Longer Needs to Shout.
tive he gathers the employe delegates into
his ONCE on the 53rd noor Of Radio City
puffs patiently on his ever-present pipe
and arbitrates. He no longer needs to
shout
He bargains, not reluctantly, but en-
Enthusiastically. He does not wait for the
workers to take the initiative. He wants
| PUSto GAAoV 8uoA uAVCC PCaNCs UAAN 0AAo NAASA-
er the better. To get them, he follows the
spirit as well as the letter Of the Wagner
labor law.
His philosophy Of this point, II he were
to voice it, would probably 60 like this
Hell, an employer might IS well bar
gain peacefully. The law says he's got te
bargain. II he fights. he's not just fight.
| {ry hA vSNyo an "a ho'l Aoht.
ing the Government"
The hell" would not be profanity
merely emphasis Although his converse
ton is studded with "damns" and "hells
and equally explosive words, McGrady Il
devout man.
He carries with him always . blue rosar!
priest gave him when he lived in thu
South Boston slun,s. and he is apt to b
fumbling 1t when he is worried. He alst
totes religious crucifix to protect hin
in his travels. He puts his religion int
daily practice with big-heartedness tha
would make him prey to all sorts Of pett.
racketeers were 1t not for his equally gen
erous but more wary secretary, Ella Helbie
McGrady's word 10 his oath. He expect
the same sincerity from labor and indus
trial leaders, and generally gets 1t. Me-
trust him. he believes, because he trust
them. But there Is more to 1t thai
that. 3
McGrady was kidnapped once because h
had the courage Of his convictions. A
Elizabethton, Tenn, where he had gon
as q representative Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor to see why certain EN-
ployers were not living up to their unio
contracts, he was routed from bed on
however, and yet It counted some s, 80