Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-10-29
New Labor Lows


indicated, asks Congress for legisla-
ton to enable him to deal more effec-
lively with strikes in defense indus
tries, it is to be hoped that the
problem presented by labor excuses
will be dealt with in its entirety and
not in stops gap fashion.
The selfish and recalcitrant stand
which has been taken by John L.
Lewis in connection with the strike
in the captive coal mines provides
an immediate provocation for con-
gressional action designed to bring
irresponsible labor leaders into line.
But the mere clipping of Mr.. Lewis
wings would not constitute solution
of the basic problem. .
Obviously, the insuring of uninter-
rupted production in defense indus
tries is a prime consideration at this
particular time. 1t is not too much
to say that our national existence
depends on achieving this end For
all practical purposes we are already
at war in the Atlantic, and, as Sena-
tor Byrd has suggested, it would be
sheer folly to take any action that
might involve us more deeply in
hostilitieS unless we were assured
that our military effort was not to
be sabotaged by strikes and slow
Il I.
Thus, in view of the possibility that
at any time we may be plunged into
war up to the hilt, whether we want
it or not, it becomes a matter OF
critical Importance to put an end to
the disgraceful and dangerous sue
cesSion of strikes which have closed
the gates of one defense plant after
another. But the elimination of
reckless and irresponsible strikes, as
we'll as other excuses of uncompro-
missing labor groups, are not things
that should be banned just for the
period of this emergency, If these
strikes are bad for the Nation when
it is trying to build up its defenses-
and they most certainly are-it
follows that they also will be bad
when the emergency has passed and
there is no menace to the country
from abroad. The difference is one
of degree only.
In those circumstances it is plainly
the duty of Congress to re-eXamine
the whole structure of labor legisla-
tion that it has erected. At the time
of their adoption these laws inten-
tionally were weighted on the side
of labor, and labor has grossly abused
the privileged status thus conferred
upon it, The Wagner Act, for ex-
ample, was intended to protect labor
in its right to organize and to insure
an orderly system of collective bar
gaining. Under the protecting wing
of that statute, labor grew to giant
stature, but, having grown strong, it
has not heSitated to fout the spirit
of the law. nor to ignore its orderly
formula for adjusting grievances
when direct and violent tactics
seemed to offer promise of greater
gains.
What is needed and needed
urgently, is a complete overhauling
of these laws 1t will not be enough
just to crack down" on Mr. Lewis, for
he is the product rather than the
cause of the basic trouble. The first
objective should be to prevent all
strikes that interfere with the defense
effort, and that, in a wartime econ
omy, means virtually any strike. And
then, after the attainment of this
immediate end has been assured,
Congress should move on to the
larger task of setting up perma-
nent legislative basis for a fair and
reasonable balance in industry be-
tween labor and employers.
1t is to be hoped that such legisla-
ton as the President may recon-
mend will be far-sighted enough to
encompass both of these ends. But
if not, it will then become the plain
duty of Congress to make the essen
tial adjustments on its own initiative.