Evening star., 1941-02-19
Knudsen
Continued From First Page.>


what has happened in the past" he
said. and there has been nothing
very serious in the last six months
or so"
He mentioned. however. that q
new coal wage agreement was COM
ing up" about April l.
Representative Walter asked at
one point whether Mr. Knudsen be-
heved an employer who does not
comply with the National Labor Re-
Iatjons Act should be blacklisted.
Certainly not" replied the wit
ness. gesturing with pencil.
Mr.. Knudsen disagreed with Rep
resentative Hobbs, Democrat, OF
Alabama, that laws prohibiting
strikes would be comparable to
drafting youths for military service
under the Selective Service Act.
A Little Fun.
There was laughter at one point
when Mr.. Knudsen explained that
some unions maintain strong con-
troll over their memberships for
protection of the craft"
Did you say graft, or craft?"
asked Chairman Summers
Il said craft" replied Mr. Knud-
sen.
Sometimes I can't be sure which
IS which" the committee chairman
commented.
Construction of pursuit planes Is
hi in oi&
country than in England, Mr.. Knud-
sen told the committee, partially be-
cause higher wages are paid here.
The difference in bomber costs is not
so great. he added, because the
United States has had more expert
ence in building this type of plane
Sees Little Sabotage.
Mr.. Knudsen said there had been
little sabotage
Most so-called sabotage" he said,
"has been due TO plain meannesS
combined with dumbness. Sabotage
is always with us in times like this.
I don't think it amounts to much"
At another point Mr.. KnudSen
commented that "subversive activity
can be dealt with only by subversive
policing And such work, he be-
lieves. should be left up to the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation,
He expressed confidence that air.
plane production would be increased
considerably from month to month,
but. asked if he was satisfied with
present progress. replied: Il don't
Ii, IL Ln rnIy- ieF Fn@
with our production. We need the
planes too badly"
Favors Rail Act Principle.
Questioned about proposals to ex-
tend the principle of the Railway
Labor Mediation Act. which requires
a cooling off" period before strikes,
to defense industries. Mr. Knudsen
said he thought that would be de
sirable"
of course if the dispute has been
brewing long time. nobody is
going to cool off much" he added.
Asked whether he thought any
legislation was required to prevent
undue price increases as a result Of
the defense program, Mr. Knudsen
Soiu tIldC NOCl4O Dc AllpOoSlDlC Oil
a Nation wide basis because of this
countryS vast size.
You'd have to handle it by re-
gions," he went on, "and I think 1t
could be worked out by negotiation. I"
Minor Difficulties to Go.
The defense program, Mr.. Knud-
sen testified. is not being hampered
seriously by labor trouble or
sabotage. Minor difficulties soon
will be eliminated, he added.
IF you could get across to labor
and industry how vital this program
is to our future. to our life in the
United States, then I don't think
petty disputes will stop the pro-
gram. '*
These incidents (of small
troubles are somewhat unfortunate
i might say foolish-and I think
that they will be Strengthened out.
Expects Unions to Mature.
81 feel that conditions as of today
do not warrant my making any sug-
gestions for legislation"
Representative Mclaughlin, DEM
ocrat, of Nebraska asked the witness
to explain his statement that the
difficulties probably would work
themselves out.
"As we get more conservative