Evening star., 1941-11-25
The Political Mill
Threat to Nations Defense Effort Remons
Despite Presidents Victory Over Lewis

the Senate Judiciary Committee,
gives the President authority to
take over defense plants in which
stoppages of work occur, whether
from strikes or lockouts. 1t also
undertakes to freeze" the status
quo Of the open and closed shop
until the end of the emergency.
The President already has au-
thority to take over plants where
the public interest demands-as
he has shown by taking some
over After all, it is no solution
OF the problem-Jr at best a poor
solution-for the Government to
take over plants, mines or rail-
roads. Such procedure is play
ing right into the hands of those
who would break down the Amer
ican system and set up some-
thing else.
Injunction Method Asked.
Senator Thomas of Utah, chair
man of the Senate Labor Com
mittee, yesterday came forward
with a bill to give the President
authority to call for the issuance
of injunctions by Federal courts
in cases where lockouts or strikes
interfere with defense production.
The Utah Senator is a strong
friend of labor-So strong that he
has been charged with sitting in
his committee all legislation de-
signed to amend the National La
Dor Relations Act to make it more
equitable in operation. He has
had his new bill referred to the
Senate Judiciary Committee so
that it may be considered along
with the Connally measure.
The injunction process, which
once upon time was used effec-
lively in labor disputes, has been
anathema to labor unions. The
Norris-La Guardia Act, passed
in 1882, specifically exempted la
Dor unions from the operation of
injunctions. Senator Thomas be-
lieves, however, that since his bill
gives the President alone the right
to seek an injunction in the case
of strike in a defense plant, it
would not be miSused. And he
believes that it would be an effec-
tive measure if used. and that it
would always constitute big
stick in the hands of the Presi-
dent to discourage strikes. The
injunction is legal process.
Those who disobey, once a court
has granted an injunction, are
subject to penalty for being in
contempt OF court.
Wagner Speaks Out.
Labor decidedly should take
warning from the public feel
ing against strikes in defense
plants. How strong that feeling
is may be judged from a speech
made by the author Of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act, the
strongest single act ever put
through Congress on behalf of
labor unions, Senator Wagner of
New York Speaking Sunday
night, Mr. Wagner frankly said
that the weight of public opinion
had been against the strikers in
the captive coal mines-and he
added. 1T is not fitting in such
perilous times for any group in
labor or industry to assume an all
or nothing attitude-to refrain
from aiding in the country's de-
fense until every single personal
gain, large and small. is signed,
sealed and delivered" That's
pretty strong talk, coming from
Mr.. Wagner.
The New York Senator wants
to have set up an agency for
voluntary arbitration" with both
sides agreeing to abide by the
decisions reached. This would be
all right if there was assurance
that such agreements could be
had. The times are too serious
for trial and error" measures
to be sought. There must be
some means of assuring continu-
Gus operation Of defense plants.