Evening star., 1940-06-08

turn support the A. F.. OF l.. proposal.
Then came a letter written by
Chairman Norton to c. I. 0. union
confessing that she was not at all
interested in the bill that bears her
name and didn't want any amend
ments passed at this session.
Promptly the A. F. of L. went into
action. 1t made peace with the
Smith Committee, whose original
bill had been given the cold shoulder
by the A. F.. of L. Certain changes
in the bill proposed by the majority
OF the Smith Committee were asked
for by President Green of the A. F..
of L. and now the House has ap-
proved a modified measure recon-
mended by the committee headed by
Representative Smith, Democrat, of
Virginia, which has been investi-
eating the Labor Board.
War Factor Enters.
This switch in tactics on the part
of the A. F. Of L. forced on it by the
betrayal of its position has COM
pletely altered the outlook for labor
legislation at this session. The war
psychology also has had much to
do with it. This is not a time in
which crusaders and zealots can be
left in charge of governmental
agencies dealing with labor and pro-
duction. A technical minded board
which is interested in helping unions
organize and get members instead
of administering a law intended to
be faithfully enforced is not going
to help, but fruStrate national de-
fenSe. Britain and France can lay
the blame for their failure to get
production going to the interfer-
ences of left-wing labor agitators.
America has lately had her eyes
opened to the many ways in which
left-wing strategists bore from
within and take advantage of lib
eral-minded persons who are inno-
cent Of such tactics.
Perhaps one of the most signif-
cant signs of the times is the way
Government officials from Attorney
General Jackson down are resigning
from the National Lawyers Guild
because the latter will not rid itself
OF Communist influences. Many
members of the National Labor Re-
lations Board staff have been active
in the Lawyers Guild. 1t will be
interesting to see whether they, too,
follow the lead of the Attorney Gen.
eral and Assistant Secretary of State
Berle in disconnecting themselves
from such organizations as the
Lawyers Guild while they are in
Government employ.
The whole picture here as it relates
to the labor situation is changing.
The American people do not want to
see either labor or management ex-
plotted. They do not look with favor
on emaSculation of the Wagner Act
or on the introduction of any bar
rlers to legitimate ana proper use of
the collective bargaining power.
Only when voluntary cooperation
is lacking in the ranks of labor and
management will more drastic legis-
lation limiting strikes be urged. The
general belief is that the labor
problem can be handled in the
American way-that is without coer-
eion of any kind from any quarter.
Time For Labor Statesmanship.
During the last war, labor found
management not only fair, but lean
ing over backward tc avoid labor
troubles. The late Samuel Gompers
of the A. F. of L., the greatest labor
statesman the world has ever known,
steered labor through the war and
America never really was conscious
OF labor difficulties. Men like Will
liam Howard Taft served with him
and concurred in his decisions. To-
day men can be found to handle
labor difficulties fairly and obiec-
lively as they may touch national
defense and production generally.
But fairness on the part of VOL
unteer counselors in the national
defense setup cannot be depended
on alone to maintain uninterrupted
production. The presence of a law
on the statute books which has
been interpreted by the Labor Board
In fantastic ways cannot but inter-
fere with the attainment of pro-
duction goals unless the interpreta-
ton or the law changes. The Smith
committee amendments are mild in
character. They do not propose the
subtraction of single substantive
power related to collective bargain
ing, but they do insure a fair deal
on matters of procedure. Even if
this does operate to produce some
delays, it will, on the other hand
produce better feeling and mu-
tual trust without which the bene-
fits of a law cannot be of any avail
Senate Struggle Seen.
What industry and business neeo
Just now is an indication of encour-
agement from Congress about the
handling of the labor problem The
fact that the president of the
A. F. of L., Americas largest labor
organization, sets forth his approval
of the Smith committee amend.
ments as now modified is proof al
least that employers have not beer
given any advantage in the amend
ments. The passage by the House
of the Smith bill will mean strug-
gle in the Senate, but it would not
be surprising~if the measure passed
though the views of the President
will have an important bearing or
what happens.
Mr.. Roosevelt has not discussed
the Wagner Act changes and no.
body has right to say he will veto
the measure as it finally comes tt
him. The country is waiting pa,
tiently for Congress to remedy the
abuses uncovered by the Smith com.
mittee and any interference with
that objective will certainly no
build up confidence among man.
agement and producing units, espe.
cially at time of national crisis.
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