Evening star., 1941-04-05


Government could not possibly &C
cept the principle of the closed shop
or monopoly privilege for any union;
in fact, Government does not permit
collective bargaining among Federal
employees in the accepted sense in
which that term is used under the
Wagner law Taking over the large
industrial plants might, therefore,
mean a retrogreSSion for labor in ad-
vantages gained.
As for management, it does not
relish Government operation be-
cause it means complete rear
rangement of the management func-
ton and perhaps a recasting of the
whole financial picture as between
the Government and the owners of
plant.
Not long ago War Department Of
fcials were ready to take over the
Dayton plant, where a juriSdictional
strike was in progress, but nobody
seemed to be able to forecast what
could be done with the closed shop
issue if the Government took charge.
Questions of union jurisdiction
which have defied settlement in the
relations between employer and en-
ploves under private management
do not suddenly solve themselves
when Uncle Sam becomes the en-
ployer.
Closed Shop Ban Weighed.
Members of Congress, neverthe-
less, are discussing the possibility Of
new legislation which will either for
bid the closed shop altogether at
plants doing Government work or
which will authorize the War or
Navy Departments to take over
plants where production is inter-
fered with by labor disputes.
Senator Overton, Democrat, OF
Louisiana. who, it will be recalled,
was co-author of an amendment TO
the selective service law during the
last presidential campaign which
provided that plants could be taken
over in the event of disagreement
between the Government and the
managers or owners, is ready TO in
troduce new legislation specifically
referring to labor differences. He
said to the Senate:
Il think that in all probability the
law might we'll be amended so as
to make it clear that wherever there
is reglect-not merely refusal but
neglect-to fill the orders given by
the Federal Government for arms
,,o,,glitin,, hn pYnciIofNt
authorize the Secretary Of War or
the Secretary Of the Navy to take
over the plant.
Il am willing to enact legislation
that will prohibit any man from
denying an American citizen the
right to work on any national de-
fense project. I am perfectly will
ing TO have enacted legislation
which will stop striking labor from
preventing other laborers working
on defense projects. I would go
further than that: I am perfectly
willing to support legislation that,
in effect, will declare that no Ameri-
can citizen shall ne denied employ
ment on national defense projects
either because he is not affiliated
with organized labor or because he
Is affiliated with organized labor.
"No Strike" Policy Seen.
Senator ConnaIly, Democrat, of
Texas has said that the moment
the Government took over a plant
its position as employer would not
permit it being dictated to by any
union and that there could be no
strikes against the Government.
Men might quit work but the Gov
eminent could fill their places with
out fear of violence to prevent work
by men who wish to work.
Theoretically, the right to strike
belongs today to an individual who
cannot be forced to work against
his will. Actually, this right has
been enlarged upon or arbitrarily
interpreted with sanction here and
there by the courts. to mean that in
dividuals may act concertedly to pre-
vent others from exercising their
right to work. This has been accom-
panied by the right to persuade
fellow workers by peaceful means 10
refrain from working in Jobs vacated
by strikers. Picketing has been in
the courts for years as one OF the
most controversial aspects OF the
whole labor problem. Most States
forbid mass picketing or the use
Of coercive tactics. Where the local
courts or sheriffs are friendly TO
labor unions, especially where labor s
vote has been a factor in their cleo
tion. the use of governmental power
To punish mass picketing or even
picketing by violent means has been
lax. Conversely, where employer
groups have been charged with hay-
ing courts and sheriffs friendly to
their interests, the use OF the gov
ernmental power to crush strikes is
alleged.
Violence on Both Sides.
A, for the hiring of strong-arm
men. it is not unusual to see them
used by labor and by management
Neither side evidently refrains from
violence when the provocation de-
velops. This always makes SUD-
seouent conciliation or mediation
more difficult and customarily pro-
longs the friction. Now, when delay
cannot be tolerated because OF the
urgency of getting defense work
done, the Government is confronted
with the necessity of coping with
the use of violence by pickets and
the sending of armed forces If
necessary to protect laborers who
wish tc keep on working.
What seems most unfortunate is
that after labor has been given a
one-sided law known as the Wagner
Labor Relations Act and labor
board openly biased in its favor,
union groups are refusing to let the
law takes it course and are forcing
their demands on employers by
means of the strike weapon and the
violence of pickets. 1t certainly
II