Evening star., 1941-04-20
Public Opinion Is Great Factor
In Settling Strikes, Davis Says
Makes Up for Lack
Of Statutory Powers,
Mediator Asserts
By JAMES FREE.

liidl dllu Sll INT ScIllcI ehGI dOl OlIldIy
of the National Defense Mediation
Board, the remarkable record of
that less than a month old agency
has been pleasant but not surprising.
AS the board announced back
to-work agreements reached in case
after case certified to it by the
Labor Department as not adjust
able by normal conciliation means,
observers have been Speculating on
what appeared to be its mysterious
powers. Up to yesterday afternoon,
with no enforcement authority of
| its own, the board had terminated
nine troublesome defense industry
strikes out of 13 on which 1t had
set hearings.
Extremists viewing this accom-
plishment as either a miracle or a
pushover job are wrong, according
to Mr.. Davis, who has presided in
| board panel hearings on some of
the tougher cases, including the IL
week old Allis- Chalmers strike at
Milwaukee
I'VE don't settle these cases with
the greatest of ease" said the soft
spoken but fortnight Mr.. Davis.
I'VE are not like the young man
on the flying trapeze."
Cites Public Opinion.
One of the most important fac
tors, he believes, is that both sides
of labor controversies know that
the people of the Nation are be-
hind the Mediation Board. And
the supporting weight of public
opinion more than makes up for
the boards lack of statutory powers,
according to Mr.. Davis.
Then, too, the board takes up
each case fresh and adopts its own
procedure in handling it. 1t begins
from the bottom and learns the
condensed facts of each controversy
as if it had never heard of the
matter before.
1T often happens" explained Mr.
Davis, that people who have been
in controversy-even as concilia-
tors-exhauSt themselves and the
subject. They bring themselves to
a point where they wish they could
let go of the old cows tail But
none of them knows how to do it.
Then new agency comes in, and
there is likely to be certain
amount of relief. 1t offers them a
chance to let 60
Successful mediation depends on
the presence Of what Mr.. Davis
calls the four pillars of democracy.
Experience as chairman of the New
York State Mediation Board and
earlier with the N. R. A, Mr.. Davis
declared, has convinced him that
these pillars are:
l. Assurance to each individual
that he will receive respectful and
full hearing, that his dignity as a
person will be respected regardless
OF how unimportant or publicly as
sailed he may be.
2. Reliance on persuasion as being
morally and practically superior to
force.
3. Determination to get at the
real truth of important issues and
confidence in the power of truth
to settle these issues fairly.
4. The privilege of sharing the
truth, or what is believed to be the
truth, with others without inter-
ference.
Vital Part in Cases.
The last two pillars, or at least
their presence, have played a vital
part in the boards successful ham
ding OF cases to date, Mr.. Davis
maintains.
I'VE have been able to say to both
sides, You fellows have to come
down here on this case, and we are
not going to let go until we get a
settlement or until we make a find
ing which will be publicized. We
want to get down to brass tacks.
and We will not have all the time
in the world to do it, and we do
not want any trouble about it.
We are not going to beat anybody
over the head, but this dispute is
going to be settled voluntarily by
both Sides"
In only a few cases heard so far
has the board had to make specific
recommendations for settlement of
disputes. 1t is reluctant to do so,
because it believes that the more
completely voluntary the agreement
the better.
Minimum of Legislation.
Just as he believes in allowing
parties to a strike to settle their
differences with as little outside
interference as possible, so appar-
emily does Mr.. Davis hope that !
Congress will permit the Mediation
Board to conduct its activities with
a minimum of additional legisla-
tion.
Asked at hearing of the House
Military Affairs Committee what |
sort of help the board needed most, |
Mr.. Davis recited an anonymous
verse:
Observe us as we run.
Cheer us if we win.
Aid us if we fall;
p,tt 11t