The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-11-27
(By Staff Writer)

& WASHINGTON. D. c.. Nov. e.
- Most of official Washington
sighed with relief when President
Roosevelt issued his ultimatum on
the closed shop for labor by say
ing that the government Will
never compel men to join a union
by government decree. "That
would be too much like the Hit
Ter methods toward labor" SAID
the President.
No matter how great the labor
problems become, that one prln-
cipal of policy has been stated in
irrevocable terms. In his state
ment to John L. Lewis and other
representatives of the coal miners,
the President also inferred that
his tolerance of strikes in defense
industries has ended. He said:
Because it is essential to ma
tional defense that the necessary
coal production be continued and
not stopped. it is therefore the in
disputable obligation of the Presl-
dent to see that this is done.
eff legislation becomes neces-
sary toward this end, the Con-
gress of the United States will
without any question pass such
legislation. And, as some Of you
know, the pressure on me to ask
for legislation during the past
couple of months, for one reason
or another, has been not only con-
slant, but it has been very heavy"
Although the President said
this statement should not be in
terrupted as threat, it was
clearly evident that he was Civ
ing labor a last chance-telling its
representatives that they must
"play ball'' or he would unleash
the legislators who are eager to
pass anti-strike legislation when
he gives the word.
In making his statement to the
coal miners representatives, the
President was undoubtedly also
issuing an indirect warning to the
railroad unions, since it was OBJ
vious that strike of the rail-
roads would hamper defense just
as much or more than strike in
the "captive" mine industry. The
decisions on labor questions be-
ing made this month will I'M
doubtedly bring to head the set
Element of the growing labor
problem which, has threatened
our defense output on SO many
different fronts.
It is also known that quite a
number of members of the house
of representatives voted for re-
vision of the neutrality act only
after assurance from the President
that he would stop the strike me-
mace, and it was because of the
vote of these congressman that
the measure was passed.
AS result Of the neutrality
revision, which the President con-
sidered essential to Americas
welfare, our merchant ships are
now rapidly being armed and are
being sent into ports in war zones.
That some of them will be at
tackled is a foregone conclusion,
but it is also expected that they
will greatly increase the delivery
of war supplies to England and
Russia.
Although the vote on the neu-
trality act ended most of the i'm
portant provisions of that meas
ure, it should be made clear that
the act was not repealed. There
are still certain provisions Of it
which are in force, including:
prohibition against American clti-
zens travelling on belligerent YES
sells except with special permls-
sion; a prohibition against foreign
vessels flying the American flag;
a prohibition against the solicit
ing of funds in this country for a
belligerent government; and a
prohibition a G in It Americans
dealing in securities of belligerent
nations.
Price control is now the big
subject on the congressional cal
endar-Which will undoubtedly be
extensively debated, before any
law is enacted. AS prices of food
and other necessary consumer
products continue to increase, the
public demand for price control
is growing rapidly. But congress-
men fear the enaction of such leg
islation, for they know they must
do something about food prices,
which will be opposed by the
large farm bloc, and there is a
growing demand for ceilings on
wages, which would be strongly
fought by labor.
Further tax measures are beng
quietly analysed as method of
curbing initiation, but popular re-
sentiment against new taxes is ap-
narent to the treasury depart