Evening star., 1941-12-13

intimated that legislation of a re-
strictive character can be shelVeo
But he has not accompanied this
with a statement favoring the re-
peal of the legislation now on the
statute books which permits seizure
of plants whenever management re-
fuses to accept union demands that
are backed up by governmental
agencies such as the Mediation
Board.
II the President can trust labor,
why should he not trust manage
ment7 If there is to be no re-
strictive legislation on labor unions,
vhy shouldn't all labor legislation
that restricts management be re-
moved from the statute BOOKS?
Isn't management to be trusted?
Isn't management loyal in wartime?
These are the questions heard
among industrial managers, who are
amazed at the Presidents reversal
of his attitude concerning labor
legislation. The defense made OF
Mr.. Roosevelt's position is that he
thinks a voluntary arrangement be-
tween labor and management can
be made, but If he has so much faith
in that kind of procedure he can be
appealed to for similar faith and
confidence in the key executives OF
America on whom the success OF
our production efforts now rests.
Criticism of Roosevelt Defended.
The essence of democracy is free
criticism. The President in time OF
war is still subject to the corrective
processes of public opinion. To see
mistakes being made and to conceal
them on the ground that the admin
istration must be spared criticism at
this time is not to do service to
the hundreds of citizens under arms
who want war weapons as quickly
as possible, or the boys OF the
United States Navy who so badly
need the bombers and fighter craft
which they have not yet been fur
nished.
To condone mistakes Is TO increase
the casualty lists OF America by
letting blunders go uncorrected.
The industrial mechanism OF
America should be the most efficient
in the world. But the President,
while exhorting management to do
its utmost, has not played fair with
management. His handling of the
recent strike in the coal mines has
been played down in the news. But
it will long remain as one OF the
most disappointing episodes in
american history. For after c.
20. leader defied him twice and re-
fused to order union workers in the
commercial mines to go back to their
iobs-for they themselves had no
grievances and already had the
closed shop-the President made it
possible for the C. I. o. leader to
win out. He made 1t possible also
for a Government official to leave
lis office for a few days and to an
nounce that he was private medi-
ator-a subterfuge that does not
help to instill confidence in the
sense of fair play of the Govern
nent which resorts to such subter-
fuges.
While 1t is true that 95 per cent
OF the men in the coal mines were
unionized and that a closed shop
does not alter management's rela-
cions to the minority of 5 per cent
very much, 1t is a fact that an i'm
portant principle of monopoly Is
established by the roundabout ma
neuver of an administration which
only a fortnight before publicly de-
claimed against the closed shop or
union shop.
Industry's Attitude Cited.
How can industry feel that it is
getting a square deal after it sees
the C. I. o. miners union rewarded
for its strike and for having de-
prived America of many thousands
Of tons Of precious coal in a time of
critical emergency?
Now comes also the question Of
double time. The c. I. o. leaders,
while processing to be sympathetic
with the defense program and while
promising the utmost cooperation,
are asking that Saturday and Sun
day work be compensated not at the
time and half rate but at double
time. The employer Is taxed heav-
ily on his profits and every impor-
tant executive has had severe wage
cut due to taxation. More such
cuts are coming. But labor unions
pay no taxes and the tax rates for
the workers have not been raised
by anything like the percentages
applied to managers.
Troops and sailors do not get
extra pay for Saturday and Sunday
work. Executives who work long
into the night do not get overtime,
and yet union labor is asking for
double time on defense contracts
in the Detroit area. The President
has asked for a seven-day week
which may mean 168 hours. This
would be four shifts of AZ hours
each, or two hours overtime. Exist
ing law requires time-and-a-half
for overtime but the unions in De-
croft want more.
Ship Company Upheld.
Problems like these may possibly
be solved by negotiation but work
stoppage and friction happen never
theless. There are about 40 national
unions comprising the c. l. o. and
about 1o6 comprising the A. F. L.
These leaders will be asked to