The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-02-14
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
CUMMING FOR THE LABOR BOARD

CUNNING FOk lf1E LAoON DOHf>A
The National Labor Relations Board is headed
for tailspin, says Harold Lord Varney IN the
American Mercury. despite its smashing supreme
court vindication last April the NLRB is today
probably the most unfriended body IN Washlhg
ton" Both the American Federation of Labor and
the Committee for Industrial Organization nave
been shooting at it. 1t has been accused OF at
tempting to destroy the validity of contracts. MI
Varney says the facts warrant searching lnVest-
CATION by congress
The NLRB is another of the counterfeit Roose-
welt panaceas. 1t was brought into being to foster
happier labor conditions. 1t has pursued course
which has seemed to be unfair to employers OF la
Dor and has been ntolerant of criticism. 1t has
acted more a dictator than as judicial BODY
Mr. Varney suggests that the first Roosevelt mis-
take in organizing the board to collect "a sur
prisingly mediocre group of men for task OF such
far reaching import" It's chairman was known in
Pittsburgh distinctly pro-labor lawyer, many
of whose personal associations were with the local
Left-wing intelligentsia."
1t is charged by Mr.. varney that 1.-The subordi-
nate appontees of the board reflect the peculiar
disqualifcations of the men at the top Generally
speaking, the key employees comprise two almost
invariable types % convinced Leftists of all shad-
oiitN4N-NN'"
yers of little court experience, who, without any
clearly defined Radical convictions, are opportunlst
enough to go along with the prevailing ANTITRUST
ness attitude of their superiors."
There have been impartial hearings and adjudi-
cations by the less publcized officers of the board
Mr. Varney says. "But, unhappily, under the pres
ent regime in Washington, sufficient number OF
Leftst sympathizers and C. l. o. partisans have
penetrated the key positions in the organization to
give their color to the work of the whole staff The
success of the Wagner act experiment has been en-
dangered by this lunatic fringe Nor does there
seem to be any awarenesS Of the public revusion
against sach incidents BY the three board members
at Washington
The case of the hearing by Examiner Charles W.
Wood relative to Inland Steel is cited. The
"asides" and ''off the record" remarks by Wood
became so offensive that the Inland attorneys, in
self-protection, brought their stenographer to
take down the complete proceedings. Wood angrily
commanded the newcomer to make no notes of any
off the record statements. When the stenographer
insisted that no such limitation could be placed on
public hearing, he was physically elected from
the court the company counsel walking out with
him. An appeal was made to Washington and, only
after Wood had been overruled were the hearings
resumed"
1t is long list that Mr.. Varney cites 1t Is
record of unfairness and intolerance, not to say
indecency, as when Trial Examiner Wood tried to
strike bargain with counsel whom he had been
insulting wantonly. His conference was "of the
record" according to his own ruling. Counsel flat
" refused to trade with Wood whose partsansmp
has been established by the records IN several hear
ings held by him. Employers were treated with
scant courtesy where any courtesy whatever was
shown them
Soon or late the course pursued by the NLRB
will come in for scathng reprimand in the con-
gress for not all the senators and representatives
are bowling and scraping before the officers of the
Go There is an abundance of ammunition for
the firing on the board and the White House will
be impotent to shut off the cunning. The NLRB
is Just another of the long list of failures the
Roosevelt administration has suffered in its costly
experimenting-C Charleston News and Courier.