Evening star., 1941-11-04


Board, along with all other Gov
eminent agencies dealing WIN
labor matters, must take into con-
sideration points of this kind or risk
the disfavor of the C. I. o. chief
who has learned that very little is
obtained except by bludgeonlng the
New Deal agencies.
When it comes to cracking the
whip, however, Mr.. Lewis may OF
may not have the power he once
welded. It remains to be seen
whether in view of the critical events
in the international situation. the
C. I. o. will favor strikes with the
closed shop as the objective.
Fear of what a national labor
leader or his union may do caused
Sidney Hillman, co-chairman OF the
O. P. M, to advise" that a Gov
ernment contract for housing be
withheld from the low bidder. Today
fear of what the c. I. o. may do is
causing all sorts of speculation as
to how the three so-called public
members of the Mediation Board
will vote in the coming decision on
the closed shop.
Public's Members to Decide.
1t may not be generally realized,
but the National Defense Mediation
Board consists of four employer
members, four members from labor
and three public members. The
vote of the four employer members
will be cast against the closed shop
and the vote of the two A. F.. of L.
and two c. I. o. men will be in
favor of it. This leaves the decision
to the three public members-Chair-
man William H. Davis, Charles E.
Wyzanski and Dr. Frank Graham.
Mr.. Davis has been a member OF
a panel or subdivision of three in
which he voted against the closed
shop, so it is hardly believed he will
reverse himself. Mr.. Wyzanski was
former solicitor in the Department
of Labor and is an ardent New
Dealer. DR.. Graham is president of
the University of North Carolina
and leans to the labor side in his
views.
So the. probabilities are that the
decision will turn on cne mans
vote. This means that what Presi-
dent Roosevelt wants done will be
done. Ways will be found to convey
the wishes of the administration.
The situation is an awkward one
for both sides. The Presidents stip-
ulation which brought about recon-
sideration by the Mediation Board
is that neither side is bound to ac-
cept the findings of the beard. This
is somewhat different from past
cases Heretofore, the President has
insisted that the Mediaticn Boards
findings be accepted, and in a recent
case at Kearny, N. j., end again at
BendiX, N. j., the point was made
by the President, in ordering seizure,
that the employers had refused to
abide by the Mediation Boards
ruling.
Signs of Deal Seen.
To be told in advance that neither
side is bound is an interesting de-
velopment. If the board decides in
favor of the closed shop, each steel
company will be free to decide
whether to refuse and a strike in
some instances may follow, but not
In others. 1t may mean also that
II the closed shop is not granted.
public opinion will be mcbilized by
the administration to persuade the
G. I. o. leaders not to start a strike
that will interrupt production.
That a deal or agreement in ad-
vance has been made has been
rumored around Washington these
last few days, but has been vehe-
mently denied. If there is DEAL
It would hardly be shouted from the
housetops. What gives currency to
the idea of a deal is that the Media
tion Board is taking up again a dis
pute it has already decided, for it
Is rare that a panels ruling is re-
versed. Likewise, if the closed shop
Is granted, there is not telling what
members of CONGRESS NAV do about
legislation prohibiting closed shops
Notwithstanding that affects
many existing situations.
There is a story current that one