Evening star., 1941-09-29
Senator Bridges Says
Davis Is Aiding Lewis
In Closed Shop Drive
Shoke-up in Mediation
Boord Is Sought in
2,500-Word Statement

/ BY the Associated Press.
Senator Bridges, Republican, OF
New Hampshire asserted today that
| Chairman William H Davis of the
Defense Mediation Board was aid
ing drive by John l.. Lewis for a
| Nationwide closed-shop system
which would make Mr.. Lewis "the
labor dictator of the Nation"
In 2,5oo-word statement, Sena-
tor Bridges said Mr.. Davis was giving
aid to the closed-shop program of
the President of the United Mine
Workers, one of the top affilates of
C. I. O., possibly under a mistaken
impression that he is performing a
patriotic service" Then Mr.. Bridges
added.
Employers who have appeared
before the chairman report that he
has told then in private conferences
that they should agree to practically
any terms. such as the closed shop,
that Mr.. Lewis proposes, as only
through such acquiescence can Mr.
Lewis be prevented from calling
strikes and stopping defense work.
Calls Appeals Futile.
When it has been suggested 10
Chairman Davis that he try to in
duce Mr.. Lewis to yield on some of
his demands, Mr.. Davis, I am in
formed, has replied that such ap-
peals would be futile, as Mr.. Lewis Is
a very determined man who will not
compromise
Senator Bridges contended that
Mr., Davis and other promoters of
the closed shop also have been striv-
ing desperately to create the impress
sion that Congress in passing the
Wagner Labor Relations Act gave
approval to the closed shop" The
Senator insisted that there can be
no doubt that Congress never in
tended to approve the closed shop in
any way at any time"
Despite the efforts of Mr.. Lewis
to take advantage of the country S
crying need for help in its defense
program and set himself up as the
labor dictator of the Nation, and
despite the earnest efforts of Chair
man Davis to help Mr. Lewis achieve
his selfish ends. I cannot believe
President Roosevelt is going to per-
nit this outrageous thing to hap
pen Mr.. Bridges continued. "- .
OF what avail is it to us then if
while We are busy defeating a Hitler.
another dictator. a Lewis or anv
other labor boss who refuses us the
right to work unless We pay him
tribute. assumes control of our des-
tinies."
Urges Direct Vote.
Mr.. Bridges urged President
Roosevelt to prohibit the calling of
strike in a defense plant unless
approved by majority of workers
In secret Government supervised
election. If legislation along that
line is needed, Senator Bridges said
Il now pledge him my support for
such legislation, and I am sure that
a vast majority of all members OF
Congress would pledge him their
help"
The Mediation Board later issued
statement saving Chairman Davis
was not available for comment" :"
but that "a board official" declared
the record of the National Defense
Mediation Board speaks for itself. y
q ot1
recapitulation of the boards work
in handling 81 cases of strikes or
threatened strikes involving 88I. 900
men.
Senator Bridges said that defense
production has been badly slowed
up due chiefly to the desires of cer-
tain labor leaders for more power
as well as the cleverly manipulated
schemes of Nazi workers and other
subversive elements But he said
Mr.. Roosevelt could restore order
in defense industries and prevent
future disruption of production by
taking these steps:
Operate the Kearny. N. j.. plant
of the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry
dock Co, which the Government
took over after a strike had tied up
production for weeks, "on the regu-
lar Navy open shop principle free
from control of any labor leader"
Decline to make the refusal OF
employers to accept closed shop con-
tracts ground for further seizure
of plants"
Reorganize the personnel of the
Defense Board SO that the So
called public representatives will be
truly representative of public and
not c. 1. o. opinion and insist on
giving full publicity to all board
proceedings"