The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-04-17
(By Staff Writer)
PROBLEMS AHEAD

WASHINGTON, April 15-Well
rested after their Easter recess
congressman are tackling the pro
blems of strikes. defense produc
ton, aid-to-Britain and taxes with
a new get livingstone spirit which
may mean that our whole war
time policy will be clarified by
the end of this month.
The admission by the Presiden'
that Communists may be aggra
waiting our labor difficulties, ever
though he was careful not to in
fer knowledge of any tie-up be-
tween labor groups and Commu'
nists, has increased demands fol
legislation to prevent strikes ano
delays in defense production. Let
tiers to congressman show grow
ing public fear of organized eff
forts of anti-American groups tc
interfere with the defense pro-
gram.
This fear was increased by a
spokesman for the Ford Motor
company who said of the big
strike at the Ford plant that it
was an effort of anti-American
groups, Ito tie up another large
American industry and thus Grip
pie the national defense, pro-
gram"
Legislation being considered to
cope with the situation ranges
from making strikes in defense
industries an act of treason, to
seizure of plants by the govern
ment and drafting labor in man.
ner similar to the draft of men
for the army.
Voluntary Methods Preferred
However, it is expected that
voluntary methods of settling la
Dor difficulties, depending upon
the influence of public opinion,
will be given further tests before
drastic legislation is enacted. The
President wants the new National
Defense Mediation board to be
given a chance to prove what it
can do before mandatory methods
are used. The speed with which
the Mediation board was able to
get the Allis-Chalmers plant
working again, after a 1O-week
strike, has inspired the hope that
the board will prove adequate in
dealing with the situation. But
the public is in no mood to make
a long test, and if the Mediation
board runs into difficulties then
both the senate and house will de-
mand something more drastic.
Unemployment Still Huge
It is believed that by the end
of this summer there may be
labor shortage in certain indus
tries which will give labor a
greater opportunity to dictate
terms unless a control plan has
adequately been worked out by
that time.
Unemployment is reported still
to be sizeable-the latest figure
on the number Of unemployed
being 100000. This is less than
half of the number out of work
eight years ago and it is expected
that an additional 100000 may
be put to work before the end of
summer. But there will be short
ages, even though many are still
out of work, because of the de-
mand for skilled labor and for
unskilled laborers who must be
physically and mentally capable
of performing certain definite
jobs.
> WILL THERE BE WAR?
Predictions that we will actual
ly be in the war this month are
heard frequently in Washington,
but the tone of many officials
continues to be that we are TAX
ing chances Of inviting a declara-
ton of war by the Axis powers
but that there is no reason to as
sumo that an actual state OF war
will result.
We all know that the Axis pow
ers have been aggravated by our
seizure of Italian, German and
Danish vessels, and by our order
ing the recall of an Italian naval
attache, but it is argued here that
such aggravations make little diff
ference since the Axis powers al
ready know we are against them
but will continue to keep an on
the-surface peace so long as they
see no advantage to themselves
in admitting a state of war. From
this country's viewpoint since our
whole program is based on get
ting supplies to Britain, there is
no reason for our declaring war
when that program can be car
ried oft without war.