Evening star., 1939-05-18
Wagner Warns About
Changes in Labor
Relations Law
Tells House Committee
1t Would Be Act of
Unreoson opd Folly
BY the Associated Press.

senator wagner, Democrat, OF
New York, author of the National
Labor Relations Act, warned the
House Labor Committee today that
it would be IAN act of unreason and
folly to discard law which has
brought a wholesome industrial in
strument to workers, employers and
the public at large"
Amendments proposed by the
American Federation of Labor, he
said, deserve "the most careful con-
sideration," but every worker who
wants to remain free should look
long and searchingly at each pro-
posal designed to change the act
that has helped so much to make
him free"
Every fair-minded employer in
America" the Senator added,
Should likewise realize that he has
long been made the unwilling VIC
tim Of a reactionary minority which
has forced strife upon industry by
refusing to accept the principles of
honorable industrial peace. I, there
fore, appeal to every employer who
wants to remain at peace to look
long and searchingly at every pro-
posal to change the act which has
done so much to bring him peace"
Warns of Reactionaries.
Senator Wagner warned that re-
dictionary forces, encouraged by the
G. l. GA. F. L. split, have mar
shaled themselves to destroy his act.
Their high-powered and highly
financed campaign failed to prevent
its passage by Congress" he said,
"their expensive lawyers failed to
prevent its approval by the courts,
their misleading propaganda failed
to poison the public mind against
it.
Now it is once more the re-
sponsibility of Congress to make
sure that this selfish minority shall
again fail in their romorselesS and
relentless efforts to make industry
once more their feudal estate.
1T is only those who profit by
ceaseless litigation at the expense of
others, and only those who have
something to gain from confusion
in the minds of industry, labor, and
the public, who would profit from
reckless or unnecessary tampering
with the Labor Act.
Means New Lawsuits.
Every change in the act means
new lawsuits, new uncertainties,
new areas of doubt and dissension
and disagreement. While this is no
reason for failing to cure real de-
fects, it is surely the strongest kind
Of reason for making those who
want to change the Labor Act carry
the burden of proof Nobody with
good intentions will profit by incon-
siderate meddling with a sound
law"
Senator Wagner, consistent
supporter of New Deal social legis-
lation, said he was confident the
House committee was too ripe in
experience" to be "stampeded" by
agitation.
Every statute that has made
America a more just and decent
land in which to live" he asserted,
has had to run through the same
long trials which have beset the
Labor Act.
1T is obvious that only the in
noucous statute provokes nc oppo-
sition. We may be sure that the
level-headed judgment of the
American people, which has pre-
served our greatest social gains |
against the dangers that beset |
them, will rally to the defense and |
the preservation in its full strength |
of the National Labor Relations |
Act"
Employers Rights Protected.
Senator Wagner specifically sug-
gested careful study of a proposed |
amendment which would allow en-
ployers to petition for elections de-
Gliding what agency shall represent |
their employees in collective bar
gaining.
But" he added, "there is nothing
in the present act which denies this |
privilege to employers. The prohibi-
ton rests upon a ruling of the |
Labor Board. This ruling evolved |
before the current labor split, to
meet the situation where an en-
ployer might attempt prematurely |
to freeze a situation produced by a
long tradition of opposition to un-
tonism.
While there should still be safe
guards against this situation, the
labor split has introduced a novel |
situation where a Well-intentioned
employer is caught between the
crossfire of rival unions. In such
circumstances, under appropriate
safeguards which these hearings
should develop, feel that the en-
ployer certainly should have the
right to petition for an election"