Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-13
Mediation
Continued From First Page.)

board. but it was agreed it should
be composed of an odd number of
persons. Consideration was given,
he said, to having five, seven, or
even II on such tribunal.
The o. P. M. labor director said
no names had yet been mentioned
for possible appointment to such
an agency.
In their discussion with reporters,
the trio indicated that consideration
at present is being given only to the
mediation functions Of such new
labor board. At press conference
last week. however, the President
said a new super agency might be
created, invested not only with the
responsibility for mediating major
defense labor disputes but also with
the task of planning for the train
ing and disposition of skilled labor.
Labor Attitude Varies.
The attitude of organized labor
toward special emergency Govern
ment controls has varied somewhat.
The c. I. o. put itself on record
about 10 days ago opposing the re-
creation of the World War Media
ton Board, but whether this oppo-
sition would apply to an agency of
different character was not indi-
Gated.
Both President Roosevelt and Mr..
Hillman. who have been quoted most
frequently on the problem of labor
in defense, have expressed them
selves as not greatly worried at the
number of strikes. Both have con-
demned without qualification, how
ever, work stoppages caused by pure
ly jurisdictional disputes.
Mr.. Roosevelt saw the labor ad-
visers at the White House proper
this morning and then came to
his executive Office for a long list
of engagements.
Others to See President.
Among those scheduled to see
him during the day were Chairman
Eccles of the Federal Reserve Board,
Chairman Land of the Maritime
Commission and Secretary of Navy
Knox. Secretary Knox has recently
returned from a long inspection
tour of naval facilities.
Vice President Wallace was to
be a luncheon guest at the White
House.
Representative Vinson discarded
as Impractical proposals TO elm
mate strikes advanced by Robert
Patterson, Assistant Secretary of
War, and Mr. Knudsen.
Mr.. PatterSon's plan for another
War Labor Board would not work.
because of the split in the labor
movement, Representative Vinson
said, and Mr.. Knudsen's suggestion
for enforcement of arbitration de-
clslons by denying Wagner Act
rights to both employer and worker
would be impractical"
Representative VinSon told the
Judiciary Committee he recently
had surveyed conditions surround
ing strikes at l27 plants engaged in
naval defense contracts with these
results:
During 1910 and up to about the
middle of February of this year,
strikes in defense industries alone
resulted in the loss of 3,78l days
about 1913 years. In terms of man
hours, these same strikes resulted
in the loss of 7,8l7,360 man hours
of labor.
1T has been estimated that to
build the modern bombing plane
it takes about $4,000 man hours of
labor. At this rate, the man hours
lost as result of these strikes could
have built 325 bombers"
Must Postpone Rights.
Mr.. Vinson said the American
people have right to expect the
cooperation of all elements in
carrying on the defense program
and said his bill for arbitration.
while requiring both employer and
workers to postpone certain of their
normal rights, was needed badly.
There is no question but that
labor is asked by these bills to
postpone, during the Cancellation
efforts, the exercise of its right to
strike, he said There is no
question but that the employers are
asked to postpone, during the con-
Citation and mediation efforts, the
exercise of their right to lock out
and of their right to lower wages
and lengthen hours and make other
changes in conditions of employ
ment. Z"
These are the sacrifices that
employers and employees engaged in
defense production are being asked
to make"
Mr.. VinSon predicted that the
people would insist that during the
present emergency union member
ship shall not be made a condition
Of an individuals employment in