Evening star., 1941-03-28
Labor S Suicide Seen
In Following Leaders
Jeopardizing Defense
Representative Hobbs
Cites Mon-Doys Loss
In G. W. U. Session

The charge that labor may "com-
nit suicide" unless it renounces the
sort Of leadership which cost the
defense industries 10000 man-days
through strikes in the last two
months was made last night by
Representative Hobbs of Alabama,
member of the House Judiciary
Committee.
Mr.. Hobbs told a meeting called
by George Washington University
Law School to discuss The Law of
Labor Relations" that American
labor, although at least 80 per cent
loyal and patriotic, is following too
many false leaders-"termites, bor-
ing from within, and taking orders
from Moscow"
He cited the New York leader who
called Mayor La Guardia lineup
Mayor" and others in the Middle
West who defied the return to
work" request of William Knudsen
and Secretary of the Navy Knox.
The need now, he said. Is to give
the 80 per cent of loyal men a chance
to work, TO preserve labor from
suicide" and to rid the unions of
false leaders.
Sees Public Opinion Ruling.
Whether a swing of public opin-
ion in the present emergency may
deprive labor of some of its hard
won rights was discussed by Alex
ander H. Frey, professor of law at
the University of Pennsylvania Law
School. He warned that "the Gov
ernment will move in the direction
of public opinion" and made four
suggestions as to how labor can best
retain its present position:
% Use discretion in resorting to
strikes, particularly in defense in.
dustries; CD avoid jurisdictional dis
putes and interunion strife, 90 strive
to develop an efficient mediation
system for the strongly organized
industries and a. check all un-
democratic processes in the unions
themselves.
Prof. Frey declared that "the
right to strike is an important one"
in our present system and should
be retained or the Government will
be forced to regulate labor man.
agement and capital strictly. He
said he believed public opinion will
support well-founded strikes, even
in defense industries.
Prof. Frey expressed the opinion
that the administration lis too
smart to apply unnecessary COM
pulsion to labor, since this would
impair efficiency when all-out pro-
duction of defense materials has
become national policy. Collective
bargaining would be destroyed, he
said, ''if the privilege of acting to-
gether is taken away from the work.
ingman."
Mr.. Hobbs argued there would be
no need of compulsion if the unions
got rid of irresponsible leaders. The
great majority don't need compul-
SION" he declared. "All they need
is the chance to work."
Gale Points to Sacrifices.
Representative Gale of Minnesota
reminded the audience that I'VE are
committed to total defense. None
of us knows yet what rights we may
have to sacrifice. All must sacrifice
something. We are certain to be
taxed; many of us will be drafted
into the Army.
What about labor and its rights
won by so years of struggle? The
right to organize, to bargain collec-
lively and to strike If need be?
don't think we can or should outlaw
the strike.
TN Minnesota we have a law
which provides period of mediation
before strike. 1t has worked we'll.
I think we need such a law ma
tionally. I believe as time goes on
We will have fewer and fewer strikes.
We should proceed with caution and
not be stampeded into arbitrary &C
ton on the labor question"
Would Speed Labor Board.
"The reforming procedure under
the National Labor Relations Act"
was discussed by Harry Shulman,
professor of law at Yale University
Law School. Prof. Shulman ex-
pressed the view that the National
Labor Relations Board would be-
come more effective when its pro-
cedure is speeded up and its power
decentralized among field agencies
Dean William Cabell Van Week
Of George Washington University
Law School presided at last nights
session, held at the United States
Chamber of Commerce Building.
Other sessions will be held at 8:15
o'clock tonight and at 2:30 o'clock
tomorrow afternoon.
Speakers tonight will include
Hector G. Spaulding, professor of
law at G. w. u; Chester Ward,
associate professor at G. w. u;
Arthur E. Raab, chairman of the
Board of Mediation, Michigan State;
Walter c. Clephane, professor
emeritus of law at G. w. u; James
A. Condrick, professor of law at
Catholic University Law School, and
Clarence A. Miller, general counsel
NF +ha Ay,ooricaY, Short inc Poi1-