Evening star., 1940-08-25
Roosevelt Debates
Wi||kie on Labor
In A. F. |. Magazine
Present Own Views on
Issue and Assuil
Eoch Others Records
Bv JOHN c. HENRY.

BY JOHN c. HENRY.
President Roosevelt and Wendell
willkie we're engaged in debate to-
day, indirect but thoroughly pollti-
cal, over the sure-flre campaign
issue of Federal labor policy.
Meeting in the columns OF the
American Federationist, official
monthly magazine of the American
Federation of Labor, the preslden-
tial candidates presented not only
their own views on this keystone
of any administrations domestic
PHILOSOPHERS but likewise assailed
each others records and intentions.
Invited by the Federationist to
state their positions for the Sep
tember number, issued tomorrow,
the President submitted his argu-
ments in the form of a letter to
William Green, A. F. L. head, While
Mr.. Willkie incorporated his in an
article suitable for publication.
New Deal Record Cited.
Placing his main reliance on citing
the record of the New Deal on be-
half of labor, Mr.. Roosevelt dis
PEELED any doubt as to the political
implications of his pronouncement
by the following paragraph:
IF any one asks the question as
to the future policy of the admins
tration toward labor, the answer
is that we shall hold steadfaStly to
every advance gained and not per-
NIT present safeguards to be whit
tied away by yielding to the Speclous
arguments of those whose lip serv-
ice to labor is loud and eloquent
before election, but whose ears are
deaf to all appeals to justice the
rest Of the time"
Social Security, the Federal EN-
ployment Service, the Fair Labor
Standards Act. the Public Contracts
Act, and establishment of collective
bargaining rights through the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act were
emphasized in the Chief Executive S
recounting Of New Deal bequeSts 10
the Nations workers.
This administration has been
,nremitting in its efforts to foster
promote and develop the interests
of labor, to improve working con-
ditions and to advance opportunities
for profitable employment.
by that record We are willing
to be Judged and we offer it to the
country as basis of judgment and
as a witness and a pledge of faith
to American wage earners. -
Willkie Hits washington Attitude
Under even less restraint as far
as speaking politically is concerned,
Mr.. Willkie belabored the attitude
in Washington" toward labor.
IF the New Deal is continued"
he warned, Il believe it will only be
a matter of time before the Amer
lean labor movement becomes COM
pletely dominated by Government
and that in place of the old dis
credited company union We shall
have Government unions as in Nazl
Germany. For my part l pledge
myself to help the principle OF free
unions"
Americas prosperity, the Repub-
lican nominee continued, cannot be
restored through strife and blood
shed. 1t can, and it must, be accom-
plished through collective bargain
ing and the intelligent discussion Of
mutual problems around table. .
II sympathize with the criticism
advanced by the American Fedora
ton of Labor against the National
Labor Relations Board and with the
federation's emphasis upon the
necessity for better administration
Of the Labor Act.
To achieve the desired end some
changes in the Wagner Act are nee
essary ."
Closes Approach to Debate.
Actually this exchange in print
Is the closest approach thus far to
the face-to-face debate which Mr..
Willkie has been urging on Mr..
Roosevelt. 1t is not, of course, the
first political expression from the
Republican nominee, nor is it the
initial campaign-tuned utterance of
Mr.. Roosevelt, despite the Presi-
dents avowal to subordinate politics
to the extraordinary demands of di-
recting the Nations defense pro-
gram.
Several times recently the Chief
Executive has taken occasion to
focus attention on the New Deal S
domestic program. In one instance,
that of signing the Investment Com
pany Act OF 1910, Mr.. Roosevelt
gave the press carefully drafted
statement reviewing administration
efforts Ito protect the investor to
bring the Nation back from the
bleak days of 1929" and to eliminate
the corporate monstrosities" and
"top-heavy structures found in the
utility field. No mention was made,
however, of the coincidence that Mr.
Willkie entered politics from the
presidency of one of the largest of
these corporate utility structures.
Mr.. Willkie. marking time until
he begins really intense campaign
in September, will have his
customary daily press conferences in
the interim-sure to provide some
grist for the voters.
And from a press conference on
Tuesday afternoon, Mr.. Roosevelt
will embark on a seven-day trip
featuring Labor Day addresses at
Chattanooga, in the heart of the
Tennesse Valley country, where Mr.
Willkie has waged his personal
power feud with the New Deal.
and at the Great Smoky National
Park.
Around the edges countless lesser
lights will be talking louder and
longer.