Evening star., 1939-05-02

ACC. 1Ile DelIlOCTdIlC hulIllIllSITd-
ton, which appointed the present
Labor Board, and the c. l. O., which
Is supporting the board in its fight
to prevent any substantial amend
ment of the Wagner law, are joined
on the one side, and the probable
tiles are that the A. F. of L. will
be lined up in opposition unless the
Congress between now and 1910
accedes to the requests of the A. F.
of L. for a new Labor Board as
outlined by the national convention
of the A. F. of l.. earlier this year.
Over the week end the fight be-
tween President Green and Lewis
of the A. F. of L. and c. I. o.,
respectively, was by no means made
easier to solve by the issuance of
statement by the c. I. o. charging
that the A. F. of L. has been
collaborating with the National
Association of Manufacturers in for
mulating amendments. Mr.. Green
stoutly denied this and demanded
proof, and also went before the
Senate Committee on Labor ana
publicly declared that neither he
nor the A. F. of L. favored the
amendments which Senator Burke
Of Nebraska has been favoring.
Peace Seems Remote.
Mr.. Green also disclosed that the
c. I. o. was approaching various
A. F.. of L. locals with propaganda
designed to make the latter believe
that the A. F. of L. chiefs were de-
serting collective bargaining and the
main advantages gained under the
Wagner law. AS matter of fact
the A. F.. of L. chief and his asso-
ciates are vehement in their declara-
ton that what they have in mind
will enhance the value of collective
bargaining and safeguard craft
workers as against reduction of
pay or leveling off of standards in
so-called industrial unions.
The conflict of opinion as be-
tween industrial and craft unions
appears no nearer settlement than it
has ever been. Mr.. Green seems to
think that the mere fact that this
difference of opinion exists today is
sufficient reason for amending the
act so as to take away from the
Labor Board the discretionary power
under which it has assumed to de-
eide as between craft and industrial
units in collective bargaining.
But 1t doesn't look as If Congress
Is going to tackle that question by
legislation, at least not until there
Is further clarifcation Of the public
opinion Of the country. The Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers
and other employer organizations
probably would be highly pleased to
see a situation arise wherein the
clamor for amendments by the small
business men of the country would
go unheeded this year and thus the
accumulated grievances might pro-
duce a severe reaction against the
whole Wagner law in 1910. BY re-
fusing to make substantial amend
ments at this time, the groups which
believe in letting the Wagner Act go
untouched are playing directly into
the hands of those who really are at
heart unfriendly to the act, and who
expect to get drastic revision or re-
peal when the 1910 elections come
and, as they believe, will give the
country Republican Congress.
A. F. L. Stronger Politically.
Much Of the opposition to the
present Wagner law would be re-
moved If amendments clarifying
procedure and eliminating the dis
cretionary power Of the board as to
when elections might be held were
to be adopted. If nothing at all is
done, the A. F.. of L. will make de-
mands at the 1910 Congress and
the Republican National Conven-
ton, and the Republican presiden-
tial nominee will probably accept in
toto the A. F. of L. position, where
as the Democrats would be maneu-
vered into accepting the c. I. O.
position. In a showdown, the A. F.
of L. Is much stronger politically
than the c. I. o. and can control
more votes.
Since the Republicans are fast
winning back much of the vote in
the small towns and rural areas
which they lost in 1882 and 1896
the possibility of splitting the city
vote again in something like normal
proportions would be the best chance
for the Republicans to assure them
selves of victory. With the craft
workers of America lined up with
the Republican party, it is difficult
to see how the Democrats can win
the 1910 election. That is why the
strategy being developed now with
respect to the Wagner Act hearings
has much to do with the political
outcome in 1910, and the mistakes
being made this very month are the
0nes that the Democrats are poino