The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-04-28

lion. IN any event, Chere are now
senators and representatives spon-
soring hatfull of amendments to
the law, and large number of these
amendments are being promoted by
the A. F.. of L. lobby at the capitol.
There is one amendment, for in
stance, that proposes to disband the
present three-man board and sup
plant 1t with a five-man board. That,
Of course, is the political maneuver
to get rid of people with whom con-
gress is disguised. The amendment
is by Senator Walsh, Massachusetts
Democrat.
Senator Walsh also has introduced
several other amendments, one of
which, in particular, is worth noting.
It would attempt, at least, to elimi-
nate "prejudicial delays" That
sounds rather academic. 1t is, how
ever, important because, according
to the A. F. of L. explanation, de-
lays by the board have worked, or
have been used, to the advantage of
c. I. O. If the c. I. o. was not sure
that it had majority, according to
the other union, rather thinly dis
guised reasons for delays were
brought up. Then, c. I. O. organic
ers would start their drives.
Whether the A. F. of L. charges
are true and whether the criticisms
of employers have been justified, it
remains as fact that c. I. o. is
now opposing amendment to the act.
Hearings Are Delayed by
Various Stating Maneuvers
Supporters of the law in its pres
ent form and defenders of the board
as it is now made up succeeded for
example in delaying hearings on
amendments to the act for more
than month. They urged Senator
Thomas of Utah, committee chair
man, not to hold hearings while
peace negotiations were in prog
ress. They insisted that it was I'M
fair to embarrass the President in
his attempts to restore unity in the
labor movement, and argued that
hearings would bring bitter state
ments into print. Mr.. Thomas yield
ed to the plea for delay, but eventu-
ally the pressure for action became
too strong even for the Utah senator
to resist.
And the friends of the law were
right when they anticipated bitter
words. Senator Wagner in his testi-
mony spoke rather blatantly about
critics being unacquainted with the
purposes Of the law. He felt, too,
that there was no need for haste
about changes. He rather limited
that there were some Ethiopian gen.
tlemen in the woodpile, but failed to
put his finger on them. He simply
was standing pat about the whole
thing.
A little later, however, the c. I. o.
people named the terrible "conspir-
ators" who wanted the act changed.
The American Federation of Labor
had "conspired" with the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States.
There was the fine unseen hand, the
Chamber of Commerce, big bust
ness, personiied. 1t was the guilty
party; it was speaking for the en-
ployers who want to grind poor
workmen into the dust, destroy I'M
ionism, wreck the families of the
wage earners-or so the c. I. o.
shouted. Well, as far as / am con-
cerned, fail to see why the C. I. o.
picked the Chamber of Commerce.
It is so thoroughly discredited that
it hasn't had any influence at the
capitol in 10 years. Why anyone
should think that the Chamber of
Commerce could have started
movement as strong as the present
demand for change of the labor act
is quite beyond me. But that was
what the c. I. o. charged. It may
have been what Senator Wagner
meant.
Say Changes Would Hsenefft
| Neither Labor Nor Industry