Evening star., 1941-12-24
Labor.|nd Pact
AssuresU.S.Maximum
Production for War
No-Strike Truce Includes
Creating New Boord to
Settle All Disputes
BY the Associated Press.

1Or tne greatest POSSIBLE WdT pro-
duction under a no-strike, no-lock-
out truce effective in defense in
dustries for the duration.
After four days of conference,
representatives of organized labor
and of industry likewise agreed that
all disputes should be settled by
peaceful means and that Presiden,
Roosevelt should set up war labor
board to handle them. The Presi-
dent was expected to name the
board soon.
The 26 conferees were deadlocked
over the question of whether the
closed shop issue should be arbi-
trated. but the President ended this
impasse late yesterday by accepting
the points on which agreement had
been reached.
Thomas Seeks to Delay Bill.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, of
Utah, said after the truce formula
was adopted that he would Try to
keep the drastic House anti-strike
bill from being passed by the Senate
while the agreement is undergoing a
test. Chairman of the Senate La
Dor Committee, Mr.. Thomas now
has the bill in his pocket.
The six c. I. o. and the six A. F.
L. officials in the conference ac-
cepted the agreement yesterday
without qualification.
Although President Roosevelt said
in his letter Of acceptance of the
truce that "the three points agreed
upon cover of necessity all disputes
that may arise between labor and
management the IL employer rep
resentatives signed statement
urging that the closed shop issue be
excepted from arbitration proceed
ings.
1T would be a serious mistake to
abandon the principle that the
right to work should not be in
fringed by Government through re-
quirement of membership in any Or
ganization, whether union or other
wise" the employer statement said.
I'VE recommend the employers
| Representatives added, that for the
duration of the war, employers shall
not attempt to change the terms,
in present contracts, which provide
for the closed shop Where a closed
shop contract does not now exist,
it NAV under the law be arrived at
by voluntary negotiation. We in
dorse without reservation the right
of labor TO organize and bargain col
lectively.
But it would be a serious mis-
/ take to abandon the principle that
the right to work should not be in
| fringed by Government through re-
| quirement of membership in any or
/ ganization, whether union or other
wise
The closed shop is the most
highly controversial and emotional
! question in industrial relations to-
day. To accept it as an issue fol
Government arbitration would in
! tensify agitation, increase labor dis.
putes, and divert the energy of both
labor and management from the
vital job of production"
| StaIemate freVa1IeO.
A stalemate prevailed when the
! conference resumed its session yes
! terday Moderator William H. Davis
| and Senator Thomas had reported
to President Roosevelt the results
of the conferees' four days of dis
cussions, days In which the two sides
were in general agreement on all
except the closed or union shop
/ issue.
Mr.. Davis then read letter from
the President John P. Coyne, pres
ident of the A. F. L. Building Trades
Department, moved that the con-
ference adjourn. The motion car
ried. Mr.. Davis Immediately sum-
moned reporters. Instead Of an
nouncing the unanimous agreement
which President Roosevelt had re-
queSted when he called the con-
ference last week, Mr.. Davis reao
Mr.. RooSevelt's letter.
The industry group. he explained
later. had remained insistent to the
end that the closed shop be ruled
out of any arbitration proceedings
that might arise in future disputes
but had agreed to accept any de-
cision of the President Asked if
this could be considered a COM
plete agreement, Mr.. Davis replied
that the area of agreement was
wider than the area of disagree
ment.
Without mentioning the closed
shop issue, Mr.. Roosevelt took cog
nizance of the employers stand
when he said in his letter:
Il accept without reservation your
covenants that there shall be no
strikes or lockouts and all dis
putes shall be settled by peaceful
means. shall proceed at once to
act on your third point" establish
ment of War Labor Board.
"Government must act in gen.
eral The three points agreed upon
cover of necessity all disputes that
may arise between labor and man.
agement.
The particular disputes must be
left to the consideration of those
who can study the particular differ
ences and who are thereby pre-
pared by knowledge to pass judg-
ment in the particular case. I have
full faith that no group in our
national life will take undue ad-
vantage while we are faced by COM
mon enemies"
In other words, Mr.. Davis told
reporters, each dispute will be set
tied on its individual facts, not on
it smerits, but on its wisdom"
Murray and Green Pleased.
Mr.. Roosevelt, he said, had de-
leted all reservations from the three
point agreement.
The Presidents action was hailed
with delight" by C. I. o. President
Philip Murray, and William Green
A. F. L. president, said he was
"overjoyed at the glorious outcome.
Mr. Murray said in statement