Evening star., 1941-06-09


groups, particu- David Lawrence.
larly those which are Communist
controlled.
The warning by Richard Frank
ensteen, c. 1. o. leader, to the West
Coast C. I. o. strikers that Com
munist activity would not be tol-
Grated is in line with a pronounce
ment by Attorney General Jack
son several weeks ago to the effect
that the prolongation Of the strike
at the Vultee aircraft plant was
the work of Communists.
The problem of how to deal with
Communists who are making trou-
bic for the American defense pro-
gram is not an easy one. Com
munists are skillful persons, with
intrigue as one of their principal
talents. UP until now the blanket
charge of Communist" has been
met with the rightful resentment
of patriotic labor leaders who have
not believed that all strikes or even
a majority of them were instigated
by Communists and who have not
believed that the Communist acts
were Of sufficient scope to endanger
Americas defense production.
The tendency to shout Com
h1unist" has been attributed by la
Dor to employers here and there
who have been pestered with strike
action or threats. The C. I. o.
leadership itself has been under
fire by rival labor spokesmen for
refusing to deal summarily with
the Communists known to be ac-
tive in their local organizations.
The A. F. L., on the other hand,
has denounced Communists, but de-
spite its own professions of help
fulness has been unable to control
some Of its West Coast unions.
Fear Something Hidden.
The general impression among
observers in Washington is that
there is something wrong in the
West Coast situation which has not
been uncovered. There is an in
clinati ton, for example. to attribute
much Of the trouble to Harry
Bridges, who is facing a deporta-
ton charge. Certainly it would
not be very difrcult for foreign
agents to move in on the discon-
tented elements on the West Coast
or elsewhere and take advantage
of the disturbance to keep Ameri-
cas- aircraft factories from oper-
Rting continuously.
The Federal Bureau of Investi-
CATION has the task of running down
Communists engaged in subversive
activities, but due to the left wing
philosophy of the administration
the r. B. I. probably is kept strictly
to ferreting out of violations of spe-
eific laws. The protection of the
Wagner Labor Relations Act is so
broad that Communist could bore
from within in any labor union
and by the use of perfectly legiti-
mate and lawful steps keep a strike
going indefinitely.
Now the remedy may or may not
be IN the withholding of Wagner
Act privileges to those unions which
are Communist controlled, but this
would require action by Congress.
Both the C. I. o. and the A. F. L.
would doubtless protest against re-
strictions on the ground that these
could or would be used to Illustrate
legitimate union activity This
ieaves the problem still unsolved and
labor leaders are going to find them
selves faced, therefore, with a legis-
lative demand limiting the right to
strike. It's about the only way the
Government can assure continuity
and can protect patriotic workers
against being ordered out on strike
by Communists.
Held New Deal Principle.
The principle that many persons
have to face restraints in order that
the few may be punished is not
pleasant one but 1t is a cardinal
principle of the New Deal in dealing
with property and its management,
employers and particularly defense
contractors. With the establish
nent Of q National Mediation Board
which is certainly friendly to labor,
the average citizen may we'll wonder
why strikes need to be called at all.
The Government is wondering about
the same thing. Hence the moose
will slowly but surely have to be
frightened around the necks of those
subversive agents who are misusing
labor's rights to impair the national
defense program.
The first step undoubtedly will be
= some legislation safeguarding the
machinery for calling strikes. This
has been long overdue. The workers