Evening star., 1941-02-19
Knudsen Warns
AgainstLaws
To Ban Strikes
Would Not Obtain
Desired Effect,
He Tells Committee

William S. KnudSen said today he
was convinced that legislation seek
ing to fix wages and working condi-
tions in defense industries would
not have the desired effect in this
country.
The director of the Office of Pro-
duction Management told the House
Judiciary Committee that attempts
TO prevent work stoppages by over
all" legislation might precipitate an
industrial breakdown such as oc-
cured in France.
Il don't think you can make a
man a criminal because he is strik-
ing" Mr. Knudsen declared in
answer to questions regarding the
feasibility of prohibiting strikes in
defense plants.
Mr.. Knudsen said that. while he
had no specific recommendations tc
make about so-called anti-strike
legislation, he saw several good
suggestions" in the bill proposed by
Representative Smith, Democrat, ot
Virginia.
The Smith bill provides for medi-
alton OF national defense industry
strikes through the Labor Depart
ment and a 3O-day cooling off
period.
Best Results in Agreements.
Mr.. Knudsen said that visits tc
France every two years before the
current war began had convinced
him that best results can be OBJ
tanned when employer and en-
ployes are given an opportunity tc
make an agreement on hours anC
working conditions. Both labor anc
industry. generally, are cooperating
in national defense activity. he
added, and there has been little
sabotage.
The problem of the closed shor
has not caused much trouble except
in construction trades, Mr.. Knudser
declared.
The most important things ir
strikes, he continued. are to obtair
prompt mediation efforts and to get
the strikers back to work as soon as
possible.
Asked by Representative Walter
Democrat, Of Pennsylvania if hasty
anti-strike legislation at this time
might not result in making labor
problem in national defense a great
deal worse, Mr.. Knudsen replied, Il
think So"
Defense Work Proceeding.
Regarding progress Of the defense
program, Mr.. Knudsen said: The
job is proceeding fairly we'll; We did
lot of spare work before the ap-
preparations were made"
There have been some delays, but
7 don't think they have been i'm
portant. Mr.. Knudsen said. The
main one was at Vultee (aircraft
plant in California; which tied up
production of planes three weeks"
Representative Walter asked
whether Mr.. KnudSen wanted to
recommend any legislation to pre-
vent such situations as arose in the
California plant.
That's pretty dlfhcult.' Mr.
Knudsen replied. You can make
a law, but whether the law will be
obeyed is another thing"
Then, he told of visits to France
in 1886 when, he said, he found that
the proprietor of a medium-sized
auto plant had been locked up in
his Office for two weeks" by workers
who we're sitting in the plant" pre-
pared for a long stay.
Legislation Followed.
That situation. he said. led to the
first attempt by the French govern
ment to "legislate labor difficulties
out of existence" Later workers
were paid for 48 hours of work when
they actually were on the job only
40 hours.
A year or two later, Mr. Knudsen
said, this legislation was found to
be detrimental"
Asked whether he foresaw any
substantial stoppageS" for the fu-
ture, as a result Of conditions now
developing, Mr.. Knudsen replied in
the negative.
I'VE can only judge the future by
(See KNUDSEN, Page A-3D