Evening star., 1941-06-12
Refusal 10 Use
Strike Mediation
Hit by Senate
Bill Voted, 46-25;
'Subversive' Labor
May Be DeoIt With
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Senate voted today, 46 to
25, to condemn defense industry
strikes or lockouts where either
disputant refuses to abide by the
results of mediation or arbitration.
The chamber approved an amend
ment by Senator Byrd, Democrat,
of Virginia to a proposal by Sem
ator Connally, Democrat, of Texas,
which would give the President
statutory power to take over de-
fense plants where production is
tied up or threatened by strikes or
lockouts. Final action on the Coz
nally amendment was yet to be
taken.
Senator Byrd's amendment would
put Congress on record with decla-
ration that strikes or lockouts
wherein either side refused to medi-
ate or accept the decisions of medi-
ators were contrary to sound public
policy" He altered his original pro-
posal to condemn all defense strikes,
at the suggestion of Senator Ma
loney, Democrat, of Connecticut.
"Subversive" Strikes.
In the meantime, high adminis-
tration official said the Government
was ready and determined to elimi-
nate from defense industries all per-
sons considered guilty of promoting
strikes for subversive instead of
legitimate union purposes.
This source said that a plan al
ready had been worked out for deal
ing with such individuals, but in
the Capitol bipartisan proposals
were advanced that Congress enact
drastic penalties to combat any
"subversive elements found respon-
sible for defense production stop
page
Discussing another aspect of de-
fense strikes, informed legislative
sources reported that a measure
might be forthcoming soon to penal
ize workers who defy the recon-
mendations OF the Defense Media
ton Board and refuse to return to
work, as President Roosevelt en-
joined them to in his last fireside
chat.
The penalty would be to deprive
the recalcitrant striker all of his
rights under existing labor statutes
the right of peaceful picketing
and the right of collective bargain
ing, among others.
Murray Attacks Legislation.
Pending anti-strike legislation,
meanwhile, came in for a broadside
attack from Philip Murray, c. I. o.
president, who charged the measures
were designed ito destroy organ
lied labor" He also denounced use
of troops in labor disputes, a work
or fight" Selective service policy, and
compulsory arbitration by the Medi-
alton Board, of which he is a mem
ber.
The disclosure that the Govern
ment was ready to take action
against subversive individuals in la
Dor unions supplemented the state
ment of Secretary of the Navy Knox
yesterday that such persons would
be proceeded against as enemies
of their country"
Mentioning the Army's taking over
of the North American Aviation
plant, Mr.. Knox said the Govern
ment had not challenged union &C
tivity or collective bargaining, but
does have a determined challenge
to those who use those things as a
cloak to attack American freedom
and liberty"
Challenge Accepted, Says Knox.
THE challenge of the subversive
and Communistic elements that has
been flung in our teeth for months
has been accepted" he said. From
here on. the Government of the
United States will proceed against
those subversive elements in our
communities as they should be pro-
ceeded against-as enemies of the
country"
The high official who discussed the
Governments intentions today in
OIldG OllC 1CSulLS Ill IllC 4NOI vi
American case had been satisfactory
thus far. The administration at
titude, he said, would be one of
watchful waiting so that a full ap-
praisal of the situation could be
made before resorting to drastic
action.
Where subversive strike promotion
| is established, this source asserted,
all the Government has to do is to
request the plant management to
discharge the undesirable individual.
He explained that the plant would
be protected from charges of violat-
| ing the national labor relations law
because the plant acted at the Gov
ernments request.
Furthermore, he said, the Govern
ment will continue to use the deter
rent of revoked deferments under
the Selective Service Acts work or
fight" policy, and will press deporta-
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