Evening star., 1941-12-09
The Political Mill
C.I o. Crooks the Whip Over Congress
In Effort to Kill Ant-Strike Legislation
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

Dy ooOLD L1ANSoAANs
What will the war do to the
labor question in this country?
"a question which has threat
ened again and again to disrupt
the national defense program,
and which has, indeed, retarded
that program by the loss of mil
lions of man work days.
A hope was expressed today
by Senator Thomas Of Utah,
chairman of the Senate Laoor
Committee, that both labor and
industry would work in closer
harmony to meet the pressing
needs OF the Nation. This may
we'll be-the burden, however,
rests upon organized labor which
has used the emergency confront
ing the country for months now
to insist upon and obtain its
demands, with frequent stop
pages of work in defense plants.
The Senate Labor Committee
had planned to begin considera-
ton yesterday of the Smith bill
to curb strikes in national de-
fenSe plants, with view to
reporting to the Senate within
a week, or a little longer. When
the japanese swooped out of the
air to attack Pearl Harhor on
Sunday, this plan was upset.
The committee met yesterday but
decided to postpone any action
at all-even a decision TO hold
hearings on the Smith bill-until
wednesday.
Revival of Board Seen.
In certain labor circles this
was regarded as a welcome re-
spite. The hope exists still in
those circles that not only will
the Smith bill be killed. but that
now no legislation will be enact
ed. Those who have demanded
legislation to curb strikes In de-
fense plants have a very diff
ferent idea. They believe that
this is no time to leave this
country wide open to the whims
OF labor leaders, who may insist
upon their demands, even to the
extent of disrupting essential
production-as they have in the
immediate past.
Pending the meeting of the
Labor Committee of the Senate
tomorrow the Justice Depart
ment has been asked to report
to the committee what changes.
if any, the declaration of a state
of war with Japan may have had
upon the legal situation. 1t is
the opinion of Senator Thomas
that these changes may be ma
terial. He suggested that per-
haps a revival of the old War
Labor Board, which was set up
during the last World War and
which worked effectively, might
take place. On that board were
representatives of both labor and
management. He pointed out
also that under the eXtraordi-
nary powers given the President
in time of war. there might be
no necessity of legislation au-
thorizing the seizure of struck
plants-as provided for in the
bill of Senator Connally Of
Texas, which has been reported
favorab bly, to the Senate from the
Judiciary Committee.
Whatever the report OF the
Justice Department may be in
that regard. or the action Of the
Senate Committee on Labor.
Senator Connally is determined
to bring his measure before the
Senate-unless the Labor Com
mittee comes forward with q bill
in a reasonable time. BY reason
able time, Senator Connally
means within q week. His bill
does two things: Cd 1t gives spe-
cific authorization for the Presi-
dent to take over plants in which
stoppages Of work occur, either
because of strikes or lockouts;
90 it freezes the shop condi-
tion, whether open or closed
shop, during the duration Of the
emergency.