The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-12-04
Serious Labor Situation
flinders Defense Effort
Members of Congress Also Demanding Facts
On Charges That Big Business Plays
Favorites in Defense Contracts.
BY BAUkHAGE
National Farm and Home Hour Commentator.
WNU Service, 1343 II Street, NV
Washington, d. c.

WNU Service, 1s4S H Street, NV,
Washington, D. C.
The explosion in the defense set
I'D in Washington foreshadowed in
these columns two weeks ago is
about to take place. At least. as
tn is written, the fuse is being laid
if not lighted. Senator O'Mahoney
of Wyoming and Representative
Coffey of Washington are both de-
handing facts connected with
charges that big business is playing
favorites in the defense contracts.
But an equally amazing story lies
behind the way labor has been dealt
with in the defense program. Part
of the facts have leaked out piece
meal, some are still very much un-
der cover Put together they make
an amazing revelation of what vas
behind the Presidents delay in
taking action in the captive mine
strike and also how bungling all
along the line forced the admins
tration into the worst labor sltua-
ton that has arisen since the de-
tense program started.
The trouble began when il vas
decided to take the settlement of
certain labor disputes out of the
United States Cancellation Service
and place it in the hands of the
Defense Advisory commission with
branches headed by William S.
Knudsen and Sidney Hillman. Up
to that time from 95 to SO per cent
of the labor disputes were settled by
the Cancellation service. But the
remaining 2 to S per cent wer slow
ing down defense and it was decided
that Mr.. Knudsen's staff represent
ing industry and Mr.. Hillman's staff
representing labor could settle the
recalcitrants. The theory was that
Knudsen's men would crack down
on industry and Hillman's on labor.
But it didn't work that way. Each
favored his own kind.
Mediotion Board Founded
So the National Defense Media
ton board was founded. All went
along smoothly for awhile, although
more and more criticism was heard
that the board was exceedingly pro-
labor and achieved settlements by
the simple process of ~conceding to
labor's demands.
Then the board made a mistake.
1t handed down one decision which
opened the way for the United Mine
Workers union shop demands which
smashed the board, threatened the
administrators foreign policy and
created the worst labor crisis that
the country has faced in many a
long day.
The decision I refer to was in the
case of the Bethlehem shipbuilding
plant in San Francisco. The A. F.
Of l.. union demanded a union shop,
that is, that any man working for
the company a certain period would
have to join the union. The board
granted this demand, thus forcing
20 per cent of the plants non-union
workers to join the A. F. of L. One
member of the board, Cyrus Ching,
representing industry, held out
against the decision. He foresaw
that it would create a precedent.
When the decision was announced
it was stated that it should not be
taken as a precedent. This pious
statement was like giving the baby
a piece of candy "if he won't ask
for another"
Once the A. F. of L. had received
this concession the CLIO. stepped up
and said: Il want one, too The
result was the famous Federal Ship
building and Dry Dock company
case of Kearny, N. j., this time a
shipyard on the East coast. Against
the vote of the members of the Ma
tional Mediation board representing
industry, the union was given
maintenance of : membership"
which is a diluted union shop. The
company refused to accept the deci-
sion and the navy took over.
Another Precedent
Here was another precedent,
whether the board meant it or not.
And it didn't take long for John
Lewis to take advantage of it and
put in his demand for the union shop
in the captive coal mines. If he
had planned it that way he could
not have been provided a better
opportunity to vent his ancient
grievance against the President and
set himself right in the middle of
a national issue.
If the case Of the Bethlehem Ship
building workers was good, Lewis
was far better. CLIO. has a 95 per
cent membership in the captive coal
mines. But not the kind of a IS per
cent that most people think it. Not
5 per cent non-union workers scat