Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-21
n. |. R. B. 10 Permit
Employers 10 Ask
Bargaining Elections
Fohy Tells House
Group Employees
Will Be Sofeguorded
BY the Associated Press.


Charles Fahy, general counsel,
said today the National Labor Re-
lations Board had decided to grant
employers the right to petition for
a collective bargaining election
among their workers in certain
cases.
Mr.. Fahy made the statement to
the House Labor Committee when
Joseph PadWay, general counsel of
the American Federation of Labor
expressed the opinion the board
probably would not take such a step
Mr.. Fahy said the board de-
cided officially yesterday to make
the change and would include it
in a whole set of revisions" in the
boards regulations to be announced
soon.
Chairman j. Warren Madden of
the board had said several weeks
ago that employers would be granted
the right to ask for an election,
but told the committee such per-
mission would have to be surround
ed with safeguards to prevent en-
ployers from taking advantage of
their organized employees.
Industrialists Warn Congress.
Meanwhile. before the Senate
Labor Committee. David R. Clarke
of Chicago. general counsel for the
Illinois Manufacturers Association,
urged repeal of the majority rule"
provision of the Wagner Act before
adjournment.
If Congress fails to do so, he said,
it will find the country's industries
far more completely paralyzed than
now" when it reconvenes next ses-
sion.
Mr.. Clarke said recent strife in the
COAL automobile and other strike
ridden industries constituted mere
preliminary skirmishes to what is
ahead of U.S."
THE c. I. O. and the A. F. L. have
now publicly declared a war to the
finish on all fronts-a war for con-
troll over millions of workmen in in
dustry," the witness said.
This is war between two pow-
erful groups of labor union leaders
to secure the spoils of victory under
the National Labor Relations Act.
1T is war to secure the power
the National Labor Relations Act
gives to the victor under the ma
jority rule provisions of that act"
Spy Link Hinted.
In response to questions by SEN
ator Ellender, Democrat, of LOU
isiana. Mr.. Clarke said he was an
attorney for the National Metal
Trades Association, which the SEN
ate Civil Liberties Committee has
accused of furnishing employers
with strike-breakers and agents to
spy on workers for the purpose of
discouraging unionization.
Mr.. Clarke described as secret
operatives" the agents to whom SEN
ator Ellender referred as spies"
and denied that their purpose was
to discourage union organization.
Asked by Senator Ellender whether
he was opposed to collective bar
gaining, Mr.. Clarke said he was
opposed to the closed shop. Senator
Ellender commented he was not
surprised at Mr.. Clarke's criticism
of the Wagner Act and the Labor
Board.
The Chicago attorney commended
that some members of the board
and many of its employees were
biased, and urged that Congress
take some step to effect change
in personnel.
Mr.. Clarke said the act provides
that the union found by the Labor
Board to represent a majority of
workmen in a collective bargaining
unit shall be the exclusive repre-
sentative of all employees in the unit.
He commended this policy was I'M
like the Democratic system of gov
eminent in that there was no pro-
vision for minority representation.
There Is nothing in the European
situation so threatening to Amer
ica," he said, "as is the possibility
OF Congress adjourning without-at
least-removing this immediate,
vital threat to the well-being of this
cOlynfrvo