Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-02
BY GEN. HUGH :. JOHNSON

IA ASl1lNA1IAgNl- q y ] ! -
" There is considerable agi-
tation in Congress for a law
permitting the government to
take Ger any industrial plant
in which labor trouble inter-
fereS with defense production or
which is not producing satisfac-
torily. The government already
has authority to take over any
plant which refuses federal de-
Tense orders.
Proponents of taking over"
can't have given the subject
much thought. Right off the
bat If taking over means, as
It apparently is intended TO
mean, Selling private property
for public use, there is nothing
new about that. 1t is as old as
the law of eminent domain -
which is very old. The only
catch in it is that our Constitu-
ton in the Bill of Rights says
nor shall private property be
taken for public use without
just compensation
Wholesale taking over would
simply mean that the federal
government would have TO move
in to take and pay for great
private industries at prices TO be
determined by the courts.
HOW would we be better off
II after that performance
than we are now? One answer
is, We'll. labor in those plants
would then be working for the
government 1t couldn't strike.
The reasoning is that IT would
be going too far to use the
power of government TO draft
laborer and make him work
against his will for any private
employer.
That. comes close to slavery
compulsory labor except for
government as punishment for
crime" But the thought here
is that. if the government itself
becomes owner and employer. 1t
could enforce labor without rals-
ing that objection.
While most of this country is
resentful and impatient about
ruthless and unnecessary
strikes, and while there has
been some talk of "conscripting
labor. there certainly is no great
sentiment for compulsory labor
and. thus far, no necessity for II.
There are too many other
things ness Nazified that should
be tried first. If we are going TO
have the government take over
industry and force labor, we'd
better call in Stain or Hitler
or some other totalitarlan eX-
pert. We haven't any expert
ence along those lines.
A MOTHER group of "over-
- takers" reasons from Just
the reverse angle. 1t wants to
take over to Gust private man.
agement with some idea that
labor can get whatever it wants
from political management. Still
another group simply does not
believe in our system of private
enterprise and wants govern
ment 10 own and operate indus
try and gooSeStep labor, III
fmakes one wonder what prin-
lciples and freedoms we are get
ting ready to fight Hitler to
maintain but that's how it is.
1t is high time for govern
ment to get tough with Jug
headed Instructors in both man.
agement and labor but taking
over" plants is the wackiest way
that could be imagined TO do 1t.
Government is not manned or 4,
equipped 10 manage factories.
The organization of our industry
as a result of competition among
employers for advancement and
among the companies themselves
for profits is the best in the
world. II could not be replaced
by any political system without
paralyzing il. II does not follow,
however. that because govern
ment is not. manned or equipped
or empowered 10 manage fac
tories il is not already equipped
20 manage the management of
factories.
Under simple war powers Of
u prioritieS. price-hXing. COM
Wandering and control of COM
munication and supplies, any in
duStry is at the mercy Of gov
eminent If it does not perform
satisfactorily for national de-
Tense. II with those powers,
government is too inept 10 man
age management that certainly
makes no argument that II
should or could take over and
manage industry.
If any of these proved powers
are not clearly enough stated
the laws may need to be clari-
fed. but there is no necessity 10
Stalinize our free capitalist Sys-
TEN. Further legislation to pre-