Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-30

that the Berln w. -"
Government has David Lawrence.
decided not to make an issue which
would bring America directly into
the war as an active belligerent.
This view has been suspected for
some time. Confederation at this
time is very important because 1t
tends to confirm the view that Herr
Hitler believes more can be accom-
plished for his cause by keeping
America out of the shooting than
by provoking combat.
Thus it remains to be seen
whether the Presidents eloquent
words about the Importance of
avoiding strikes or work stoppages
will find any material response in
labors ranks. There will be the
usual chorus of approval in principle
by the national organizations but
the truth is, no real discipline exists
among labor unions. No national
authority official or unofficial can
stay the hand of any group which
wants to strike at any time. The
test as between a moral appeal and
compulsion of some kind would seem
to be at hand.
Nobody in the administration has
had the temerity to support COM
pulsory mediation by legislation.
The President urges that the find
ings of his mediation board be &C
cepted and he asks that there be
no strikes while mediation is
brought into play. There are about
80 current strikes involving both the
A. F. of L. and the c. I. o. 1t will
be interesting to see whether what
the President says makes any diff
ference.
Defiance of the President by a
labor group, no matter how small,
tends to undermine the position of
the Chief Executive in other mat
tiers. If he cannot bring an end to
strikes, his wishes in other direc-
tons will not be much respected.
This is the test which now is COM
ing.
Could Act II 1t Wanted To.
The President has side-stepped
drastic action in the labor situation
hoping that some how it would cure
itself. This sort of wishful thinking
has created MANY a dilemma for
democracies. There are, of course,
plenty of measures which the ad-
ministration could take if it desired.
1t could throw its support to legis-
lative proposal to withhold collective
bargaining rights from any union
which refuses compulsory mediation.
It could authorize employers to re-
fuse to rehire strike agitators If they
disregarded the wishes of the Fed
eral Government with respect to |
compulsory mediation. 1t could do |
number of things if it really wanted |
to put much coercion behind its re-
quests as it does not fail to put be-
hind its threats related to price con-
troll or the operations of industry.
The administration is quite expert
at getting its way without sanction
of law so it will be interesting to see
whether the President will follow
through on his warning to labor in
his radio speech.
1t is significant, too. that the
President has not yet done anything
to compel mediation among le,-v.
unions which are in conflict with
each other in so-called jurisdictional
disputes. His executive order Great
Ing the National Defense Mediation
Board had serious omission. 1t
omitted the grant of authority to
deal with disputes between labor
unions. Will this be corrected now?
Just why dispute between two
labor unions factions should be per-
mitted to tie up tens of millions of
dollars worth of defense work is
puzzle to the average American citi-
zen outside OF Washington. 1t is
more of a puzzle to persons observ-
ings the Government at close range
except that eXpediency and politics
heretofore, or rather fear of political
repercussions has served to keep
officials from tackling jurisdictional
disputes.
Nation Growing Impatient.
More and more it is apparent
that the country is growing i'm
patient with defense strikes and
proof of this is that the splendidly
phrased warning in the Presidents
speech on the radio has been dis
cussed by people generally almost
rs much as any other part of his
address.
Washington has not taken on,
incidentally, any more of an en-
Urgency atmosphere since the
Presidents declaration of a ma
tional emergency than before. No
body who felt we were In the midst
of a grave crisis feels it Is any
graver today than week ago.
The President has not taken the
Nation into war. He has not Or
dered any operations on the Of
Tense and as for the defensive
tactics, these are rather vaguely
expressed in official quarters. Con
VOWS" as such are not emphasized
but patrols" are heard of more
than ever before.
The Presidents speech, never
theless, is milestone in American
foreign policy. 1t extends the Mon
roe Doctrine by geographical areas
embracing the seas. The range OF
an airplane bomber operating from
any base in Europe or Asiatic
waters marks the outer lines of de-