Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-10-13
Study in Contrasts

partment of Justice, subject to GER
tain restrictions, has approved an
Office of Production Management
policy under which manufacturers
engaged on defense work would be
permitted to pool their productive
facilities provides an interesting
though somewhat ironical COM
mentary on this administration ap-
proach to its industrial problems.
In effect, this agreement means
that busineSs-big and small-Will
be permitted to engage in practices
which normally might bring them
within the scope of the antitrust
laws. But, having in mind the
urgencies Of the defense program,
and realizing that the public interest
would be benefited rather than
harmed by permitting practices ordi-
narily prescribed, the Attorney Cen
eral has given written assurance that
businessmen may pool their facilities
without fear Of prosecution, provided
each plan of collaboration or CO.
operation is submitted to and ap-
proved by the Department of Justice.
That is a sensible attitude. 1t will
result in greater production for de-
Tense with less diSlOCatiOn of in
dustry, and the legitimate detectives
of the antitrust laws will in no wise
be impaired.
There may be some resentment of
the departments insistence upon
policing any arrangement made
under the immunity agreement. since
honest businessmen are apt to feel
that the closeness Of the supervision
implies a lack Of faith in their
motives. The fact remains. however,
that some might attempt to take
undue advantage of the opportunity
If all restraints were lifted, and to
that extent the departments atti-
tude is not unreasonable But it is
unreasonable - Enthusiastically so -
when contraSted with the Govern
ment's attitude toward labor, the
other member of the production
team.
At the very time that the Govern
ment is cautiously - almost Suspi-
ciously-relaXing some of its curbS on
business, labor is engaging in fla
gravity monopolistic practices which
cripple the defense program and
which, if engaged in by businessmen,
would be dealt with in most sum-
mary fashion. But neither the
President nor any of his associates
has seen fit to give expression to the
condemnation which these labor
practices so richly deserve.
This studied silence on the admin
lstration's part persists despite the
fact that at this time the Nations
tank production program is begging
down as a result of wholly I'M
warranted refusal of C. I. o. me-
chanics to handle parts made by
A. F. OF L. Workmen, and this in
defiance Of the spirit of labor's
Magma Charta" National Labor
Relations Act. And it also persists
In spite Of the fact that A. F. of L.
building trades workers, in practical
effect, have coerced the Government
Into refusing to let a defense build
Ing contract to a low bidder who
employed c. I. o. labor regardless
OF the fact that the low bidder could
have done the job for about $1,000
less per house, There is no mystery
about the detectives of TIE labor
groups involved. Each in complete
disregard of the effect on the ma
tional welfare, is endeavoring to
monopolize particular field of work,
yet this selfish and wholly indie
feasible attitude brings forth no
word Of denunciation from the New
Deals spokesman, excepting only a
suggestion from an anonymous
source in the Department of Justice
that the A. F. of L. activities may
constitute violation of antitrust
laws.
There is no doubt that the New
Deals extreme tenderness where
labor Is concerned, coupled with its
attacks on "big business" has paid
rich political dividends. This is
abundantly confirmed by the results
Of five national elections. But there
can be equally little doubt that it is
also the real root of the industrial
troubles which now beset the Ma
tlon'S defense effort. for it is hardly
surprising that a political regime
which has built so much of its sue
cess on labor support should be ex-
tremely reluctant to treat labor ex-
cesses with the firmness which the
present situation demands.
The picture as it exists today, how
ever, is not without its brighter side.
For the public generally is beginning
to realize that there is something
wrong with the carefully fostered
conception that most of our evils
are traceable to business, while labor
can do no wrong. The record on
this score speaks for itself, and tie