The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-08-20

Here I go again on one or my raw
orite themes-tolerance and under
standing between groups in America.
Reason for it this time is the number
of extremely bitter anti-labor and
antiadministration criticisms which I
have heard recently in my travels
around the state.
Criticism is fine and democratic and
helpful if it is based on study and
understanding of all the facts and
both sides Of the picture and is COM
bined with suggestions to remedy that
which is criticized. Criticism is de-
structve and harmful to our war eff
fort if it is made In a spirit Of bitter
ness, is based on biased or distorted
picture and If it tears down what we
have without building something to
take its place.
Far be it from me to argue that the
leaders of organized labor and the Ad-
ministration have not made mistakes
know they have. Leaders of Labor
for instance, should have taken the
lead in demanding formulation OF
basic policies for determination OF
union security issues in labor dis
putes and for establishment of fair
and workable formula for Sterilization
of wages. Not only does the general
welfare Of the nation demand such
policies, but they would be to the
advantage of Labor itself in the long
run. Instead, too many Labor leaders
taking the short view and fearing
militant opposition within their own
groups, took the easy way and argued
in effect, that their group should not
| be subject to the same sort Of con-
trolls being applied to other economic
groups such as business and agricul-
ture.
Likewise, the Administration has
been slow to take the lead in formu-
lating a strong domestic economic
policy for the duration of the war. II
should have taken and still should
take the lead in demanding that al
groups In the nation subordinate their
special interests to the general well
! fare and share alike the burdens OF
| total war. It's slowness in this field
not only has weakened the position Of
these farm, labor and business leaders
who want strong overall domestic
policy, and there are plenty of them
but it has hurt public confidence.
I believe the remedy is for govern
ment to take them lead in formulat.
ing a strong domestic war policy go.
| ing clear across the economic board
and I am confident that the over
whelming majority of the people will
cooperate with the support such lead.
ership 100 per cent, as will leaders OF
the major economic groups.
The trouble, however, with much oil
the criticism one hears is that it i
not directed at real mistakes, but II
! is based on distorted and aften erro-
neous reports. Labor unions are criti-
cized, for instance, not for mistakes
made, but simply for existing. That
does not make sense because unions
are here to stay, they have made a
great contribution to progress in
America and our splendid production
achievements of the past eight months
would have been impossible without
any fanfare or publicity, several inter-
national unions already have devel-
oped wage sterilization formulas which
they are insisting their locals observe.
Typical of the phony stories circulat-
ing is one picked up several places
to the effect that machinists from
rural areas in Minnesota were required
to join union and pay $50 initiation
fee in order to work at Northern Pump
in Minneapolis. It so happens that
Northern Pump is an unorganized
plant and has no contract with any
union.
Another one equally phony is the
charge that raw material shortages
and mistakes in our war effort are the
fault of radical New Dealers running
the war program. There is no ques-
ton but there have been mistakes in
our war effort. The biggest reason for
them is the fact we were a peaceful
nation, busy with the work Of peace.
We had no blueprints for total war
and our leaders have had to make
plans and meet new problems as they
went along. Being human, they have
made mistakes. But to blame those