Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-12
By JOHN C. HENRY.

BY JOHN c. HENRY.
With the apparent intention Of
allowing the reappointment OF DON
aid Wakefield Smith as member
of the National Labor Relations
Board to lapse by default, the adj
ministration currently is seeking a
successor who would not only be
accorded speedy Senate approval, it
was learned today, but whose se!ec-
ton might soften some of the bit
ter opposition to both the law and
its administration.
Among the first to be considered,
1t was learned further, was Will
liam M. Leiserson, chairman Of the
National Mediation Board, which
exercises jurisdiction over railroad
labor relations.
With the railroad mediation law
and the board administering it fire.
quently cited as a model of effec-
tive government intervention in the
labor relations picture. it is rea-
soned that the transfer of lead
ing member of this agency to the
Labor Relations Board would pro-
vide an effective answer to much of
the criticism now directed at the
latter organization. 1t is also felt
that there is much greater need for
man of Mr.. Leiserson's capabili-
ties in the broader field of labor
~
peaceful sphere of the railroads.
Leisers0n Nom COmmittal.
At the same time, it is known that
both the industry and the railroad
brotherhoods have indicated unoffi-
cially that they are DESTROYS of Mr..
Leiserson being left in his present
post. The chairman himself is I'M
derstood to be noncommittal on the
subject.
With active support of the labor
relations law coming from Catholic
quarters, it is known also that ap-
pointment consideration has been
given two priests of the church. One
is Msgr. Francis j. Haas. dean of the
School of Social Sciences at Catholic
University and active for many years
sin the labor relations field, and the
other is the Rev. John P. Boland.
chairman of the New York State
Labor Relations Board.
Both have served with distinction
in various capacities in New Deal
Intervention in the labor relations
picture.
Eo he of
al officer of the National Labor Re-
lations Board at Buffalo, N. Y, is
known to be a favorite of Senator
Wagner, Democrat. of New York,
sponsor of the labor relations law.
1t is interesting to note in this con-
nection that the New York board
which Father Boland now heads has
interpreted its law. virtually the
same as the national law in this re-
spect, to permit employers to petit
ton for employe elections, privilege
which Senator Wagner yesterday
told the Senate Labor Committee
he would be willing to incorporate
in the national law.
Amlie Requests Withdrawal.
Of further interest on this point
Is the fact the New York board has
received only 81 such employer petit
lions in two years and that % of
these were withdrawn before hear
ing could be held.
Speculation over the appointment
to Mr.. Smiths seat on the Labor
Board was freshening today in the
wake of former Representative
Thomas R. Amlies request that his
controverted nomination to the In
terstate Commerce Commission be
withdrawn to save the President an
apparently certain defeat in the
Senate.
Comparable opposition to Mr.
Smith has been heard in the Capitol,
although Mr.. Roosevelt has not yet
sent his name to the Senate. The
board member is serving in a recess
appointment which automatically
ends when the present session of
Congress adjournS unless some posi-
tive action takes place in the
meantime.
Meanwhile, as Senate committee
hearings on revision of the Labor
Relations Act were in recess until
Monday, one of the five largest
unions in the American Federation
of Labor informed both President
Roosevelt and the Senate and House
Labor Committees that they were
opposed to all of the pending
amendments to the law.
This word was transmitted by
James Mcnamara, international
vice president of the Hotel and
Restaurant Employees International
Alliance and the Bartenders League
Of America, in kilograms to the
White House and the Capitol. Mr.
Mcnamara cited resolution adopt
ed at an August, 1888, convention
by this union of an approximate
WHERE TO DINE.