Evening star., 1941-04-06
WiIIkie Is Reported
Against Legislation
As Cure for Strikes
Connolly to Seek U. S.
Authority to Run Plants
Where Production Logs
BY ]. A. OIEARY.


Wendell L. Willkie was reliably
reported last night to be against
restrictive legislation as a way out
of the strike situation in defense
industries
In Washington for the spring
dinner of the Gridiron Club. the
1910 Republican presidential candi-
date is understood to have told
friends he believes President Roose-
welt can solve the problem, not only
because he is President, but also
because he has the confidence of
labor.
Meanwhile, at the Capitol, Sen
stor Connally. Democrat, of Texas
announced he has drafted an
amendment to the consumption law
to authorize the Government to take
over any defense plant where pro-
duction is held up by labor disturb
ance or other cause"
Senator Connally joined the group
of lawmakers urging congressional
action. as the House Military Affairs
Committee prepared to launch to-
morrow morning the inquiry ordered
by the House last week into the
progress of the defense program.
Miss Perkins to Testify.
Chairman May of the Military
Committee said he expected to have
Secretary of Labor Perkins as the
first witness, after finding that sew
eral other officials scheduled for the
opening day would be unable to ap-
pear until later.
The Connally bill is designed to
give broader effect to the provision
already in the Selective Service Act,
under which the President now has
authority to take over industrial
plants. At present, however, the
power applies only to cases of fail
ure to give preference to defense
contracts, or refusal to accept such
contracts at reasonable prices.
Mr. Willkie, according to his
friends, does not believe the Fed
eral Government needs any addi-
tional legislative machinery, and
does not want to see labor lose
any of the social gains it has
achieved by legislation in recent
years.
At the same time, the Republican
nominee was represented by those
close to him as being anxious to
see peace restored between employer
and employe in defense industries,
not only because Of the production
being lost. but in order to avoid pre-
senting a picture of diSunity to the
rest of the world, at a time when
democratic forms of government
are under fire.
DeplOres Extreme Statements
His desire to avoid legislative cures
for the present situation is said to
be based on a fear that, under the
pressure of emergency, they might
be carried too far. Close associates
said he is entirely out of sympathy
with some of the extreme state
ments" that have been made re-
Gently in proposing forms of punish
ment for strikers.
The House resolution under which
the Military Committee begins
hearings tomorrow authorized both
that group and the Naval At
fairs Committee to go into the broad
question of whether the defense
program is being carried forward
efficiently, eXpeditiously and eco
nomically." At the outset. the spot
light is expected to center around
the labor phase.
The Connally bill will put before
the Senate a remedy already being
advocated in the House by Chair
man Vinson of the Naval Affairs
Committee. The Texans announce
ment gave further momentum to a
growing movement at the Capitol
for congressional action to keep the
wheels of industry turning on de-
fenSe work
we have appropriated billions OF
dollars with which to procure arms,
ammunition. ships, naval vessels and
war equipment, both for our own
national defense and for aid to
Britain" Senator Connally pointed
out. What good will it do to pour
out the Nations treasure if it can
not be effectively and continuously
employed in actual procurement of
supplies?
Demands Production.
Anything which impedes produc-
ton is distinctly against national
interest and national welfare Any
thing and anybody which resists
the Nations program and welfare
must give way. We must have pro-
duction, quick production, uninter-
rupted production, and we shall not
permit anything or anybody to in
terfere with or resist program
absolutely essential to the Nation S
life and security"
Declaring that "tempers are get
ting pretty hot" over the continual
ton of labor disputes. Senator Con-
nally said these "quarrels between
employers and employees may be