Evening star., 1941-12-05
President Assumes
'Hands-0ff' Policy
On Smith Measure
Three Senate Groups
Demanding Priority
For Their Proposals
BY the Associated Press.

task of unraveling confused tangle
of anti-strike bills topped by the
House-approved Smith measure.
Three groups demand priority for
their respective measures when the
Senate begins considering the de-
fense strike question Monday.
One group including Senators
Connally of Texas, Van Nuys of In
diana and Hatch of New Mexico
Democrats; Norris, Independent, OF
Nebraska; Austin, Republican, OF
Vermont, and others is backing q
bill approved by the Judiciary Com
mittee this week to permit the Gov
eminent to seize struck defense
plants and freeze working conditions
in those plants. Wages would be
adjusted by a special board.
Another ine-up-Senators Thomas
of Utah, Hill of Alabama and Ellen
der of Louisiana, Democrats; Taft
of Ohio, Ball OF Minnesota, Repub-
licans, and other members OF the
Labor Committee-wants action on
a measure by Senator Ball which
would set up mediation machinery
and outlaw strikes for the closed
shop.
Less vocal than others. a group
headed by Senator Byrd, Democrat,
of Virginia, plugged for conSldera-
ton of the drastic Smith bill, ap-
proved by the House Wednesday.
Murray and Green Hit Smith Bill.
The Smith bill provoked heated
criticism yesterday from Philip Muir
ray. president of the C. I. O., and
William Green, president of the
A. F. L.
Mr.. Green called passage Of the
bill the first move toward totali-
tarianism. and Mr. Murray asserted
in a separate statement that moth
ing more subversive of American
democracy has even been proposed.
When the bill arrived in the Sen
ate from the House Yesterday Vice
President Wallace sent it to the
Labor Committee, whose members
Immediately talked of substituting
the milder Ball bill for it.
Even then, however. they faced
the possibility that the Connally
group would force consideration Of
its measure first or that Senator
Byrd and his followers could wiz
sufficient support to push the Smith
bill to the forefront.
Byrd Wants Speedy Action.
Senator Byrd. urging that the
Labor Committee hold hearings al
once on the Smith bill, declared I'll
would be discourteous to the House
and contrary to the prevailing pub
lie sentiment of America unless the
Senate consider the Smith bill a:
basis for labor legislation"
II have written Senator Thomas
chairman of the Senate Education
and Labor Committee" he said
urging that immediate hearings
be given to the Smith bill and that
a report on this legislation be made
as promptly as possible 10 the Sem
ate for action. 1t is imperative that
the Congress adopt promptly a firm
and sound labor policy to meet the
crisis now confronting the country
and this action should be taken be-
fore the holiday recess"
Murray's Statement.
Mr.. Murray's remarks on the
Smith bill were contained in a let
ter to c. I. o. affliates and said ir
part:
The most drastic repreSsive anti
labor legislation has just been en-
acted by the House of Representa-
tives in the form of the Smith bill
The bill is now before the Senate o.
the United States, which may begir
to consider some form of anti-labo,
legislation on December 8.
The Smith bill would accomplish
the following:
"(a) Establish compulsory arbitra
ton of all industrial dispute
through cooling-of periods which
may last for 80 days
"(b) Freeze present conditions o
employment, thereby prohibiting
any union from obtaining the uniol
shop in voluntary collective bar
gaining.
"(cl Require the registration o
unions and filing of accounts. to
gether with information regarding
membership.
I'D Prohibit practically all form
Of picketing in case Of any indus
trial dispute.
'"(e) Makes illegal practically al
forms of sympathetic action amont
unions or within a single union OF
behalf Of any group of member
and reimposes the shackles of anti
trust laws on labor.
40 Denies to any trade unior
the benefits Of the National Rela.
tions Act, Social Security Act anc
the Norris-La GUardia Act, to an,
labor union whose members violat,
any of the provisions of the bill O.
who retain on their pay roll person
who are alleged to have engaged il
subversive activities.
Other Measures Hit.
'In addition, the Senate has be
fore it the Connally bill Whicl
freezes all wages and other term
and conditions of employment. ant
the Ball bill. which makes any ney
union shop agreements illegal.
"A grave danger cOnfronts tn
Nation today. II legislation of thi
kind or any repressive legislation
approved by the Senate it will con
stitute a direct attack upon our na
tional defense program. 1t is c
the utmost importance that tn
morale of the American worker
must be maintained and improve,
The legislative proposals would un
dermine and eliminate the basi
rights and privileges of the Amer
can people. Nothing more subvel
sive of American democracy hs
ever been proposed.
1T is now the concern of ever
single member Of the Congress