Evening star., 1940-12-14


interrupted production of airpIanes
on the West Coast. In fact, mem
bers of Congress who insist on press
ing their proposals to outlaw sub
versive activities on defense jobs
probably will be told soon that their
measures are too harsh or that they
are superfuous.
The Attorney General of the
United States, Robert H. Jackson,
who by no stretch of the imagina-
ton can be called a friend OF the
employer side in labor disputes has
publicly charged that the recent
Vultee strike was fomented bv COM
munistic influences. Yet nothing
has been done to prevent recur-
renee of such interruptions.
Much, however, has been done in
the meantime to harass employers
and to interfere with the prompt
production of war weapons. Thus
the latest outburst comes from Mr..
Hillmans office against the award
by the War Department of con-
tract which omits mention of a
clause stipulating that the company
must comply with the labor laws.
Gained Once Before.
The War Department gave to the
Ford company a contract for air
plane engines which did not con-
tain such clause, and Mr.. Hillman
Gained down when the War Depart
o1t
facilities. Now, however, on a Sec
ond contract, which Mr.. Hillmar
thinks could have been awarded to
other contractors, he has lodged a
protest.
The War Department is interested
IN getting prompt production and
not in the merits of labor union
warfare. 1t hasn't any desire to
use defense contracts as lever to
force unlonization or even to force
compliance with labor laws. 1t feels
that If contractors violate the laws
they will be hailed into court and
punished. Once before Mr.. Hillman
attempted to commit the Defense
Council to policy of using its pow
ers to punish contracting companies
for failing to comply with the Labor
Boards conception of the Wagner
Act even before the courts ruled on
the disputes and issued their en-
forcement orders. This effort was
widely commented on and fo-
while the issue was dropped. 1t
has cropped up again.
The question of rendering a con-
tract null and void or subject to
instant cancellation whenever some
bureaucrat decides that the con-
tractor hasn't complied with the
labor laws is delicate one. If the
clause Is not to be held as a con-
slant club over the contractor and
If it means nothing unless in some
court of law the company has been
convicted or violating a labor sta
tute, then nothing is gained by in
serting it in a contract in advance.
For if, when such a contingency
arises, the War Department needs
the weapons for use by the Army,
1t will not wish to stop production
and try over again with some other
manufacturer.
Admiral Spear Criticized.
The idea of introducing new forms
Of punishment for violations of
Federal statutes other than those
prescribed by the Congress has been
rebuked in recent court decisions,
but this has seemingly had no effect
on the labor division of the Defense
Commission, which seems to feel
that its job is to protect labor
standards no matter what effect 1t
may have on the weapons needed
to defend America.
The other day Rear Admiral
Spear of the United States Navy,
who is in charge Of procurement and
supplies, said in his annual report
that the provisions of the Walsh
Healey Act were impairing our de-
fense effort. He was promptly de-
nounced by labor agencies inside
and outside the Government, and
one spokesman said 1t was about
time to "democratize" the Navy.
This point of view is one that
President Roosevelt must deal with
soon if he expects to get either ma
tional unity or efficiency in defense.
The moment the Defense Commits
sion or the defense program is util-
ized to play labor politics it stirs
up resentment among employers.
Employers Are Hesitant.
Most of the larger manufacturing
companies have been hesitant to
accept war contracts. They do not
relish being called profiteers and
they do not like to have their
employer-employe relationships in
terfered with by union organizers
working in collaboration with Gov
eminent agencies Yet if they re-
fuse to accept Government work
tf1ev are called slackers.
During the last war no such use
of governmental power in behalf OF
labor to coerce employers in con-
nection with defense contracts was
heard of and America got her pro-
duction just the same.
The whole Defense Commission
needs reorganization and a separate
labor board of impartial citizens
should be established that will not
be connected either with employer
or employe organizations. Per-
haps a panel of half dozen Federal
Judges could be drafted for the pur-
pose to sit Informally on specific
controversies and advise the Presi-
dent on what shall be done to ex-
pedite production when labor and
management or the Government
and management get into tangle.
Reproduction RIGHTS Reserved.)