Evening star., 1939-04-17

tude in the act to permit it to put
the Federal Government in the busi-
ness of stimulating the establish
ment of labor unions. Not only that,
it knows the kind of union which
it considers best for the worker to
| join, and it has proceeded to en-
force its will"
The Senator's first specific COM
plant against the law dealt with
the preamble.
Read the language as it is writ
ten," he directed, "and one conclu-
sion only can be drawn, viz: That
strikes and other forms of industrial
strife and unrest are due solely to
the denial by employers of the right
of employees to organize and the
refusal by employers to accept the
procedure of collective bargaining
There is no recognition of the fact
that large majority OF employers
had passed beyond the point of op-
position to voluntary organization of
their employees and were perfectly
willing to bargain with freely chosen
representatives. OF course. there
were some. and probably always will
be, who lacked that enlightened
viewpoint Because of their attitude
legislation was in order But to
indict an entire classe because
Of the shortcomings of some of
its members is not only unfair, but
bound to be productive of utmost
harm. Likewise there is significant
failure in this preamble to place
the blame for many strikes and
much industrial disorder where it
surely belongs, on the improper
practices of some employees and labor
organizations. That simple truth
can be stated without any justifiable
imputation of hostility toward labor
unions or lack of appreciation of the
tremendous beenfits that the mill
tant labor union movement has
brought to the workers of this
country.
Holds Right to Strike.
OF his redefinition of the term Ia
Dor dispute" and addition of the
term current" the Nebraskan in
sisted there is here no limitation on
the right to strike"
Such limitation is contained in
two of his subsequent propositions,
he pointed out later.
THE right to participate in a
strike is an essential weapon for the
protection of labor. No one desires
to weaken or destroy that right. But
it is not an unlimited right that can
be exercised without restraint of
any kind. Senator Wagner himself
favors limitation of the exercise of
the right. He voiced his strong dis
| approval of the sit-down strike. BY
so doing he did not consider that he
was being unfriendly to labor or un-
dermining its strength.
"The limitations upon the exercise
of the right to strike which are
contained in this amendment are
OF the same validity as the restric-
ton against the sit-down strike. It
will be an unfair labor practice to
call strike unless by secret ballot
majority of the employees in the
appropriate unit so vote. Likewise,
SCrlKe called IN violation of q
valid contract or agreement is de-
clared to be an unfair labor prac-
tice. If labor relations are ever to
be established upon a sound basis,
II law and order are to be observed,
then there must cease to be a pre-
MUM placed upon the violation Of
agreements"
Renews His Quarrel.
The Senator renewed his quarrel
with the board in discussing his
proposal that employers be allowed
to confer with employees on any
matter within the scope of the act
without fear of being charged with
an unfair labor practice.
The Interpretation which the
board has placed upon this declara-
ton against interference, restraint