The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-20

| Mya3AG1E
 ~ hearings before panels of the War Labor Hoard. Clarence B. Randall of Chicago, In- land Steel vice president who pre- sented his company's case before the WLB recently, told about few of the fast rounds fought in this case, and they make an interesting chapter on one phase of the war effort that isn't generally known. Much to-do was made over the announcement that WLB was to make its full board meetings open to the public, but this does not ap- ply to the panel meetings, where the real arguments are presented before three members, one representing the public, one laoor, one management. In the Inland Steel case, Arthur s. Meyer, chairman of the New York state mediation board, presided as panel chairman, and at its opening session on February .26, 1t was agreed that no one would talk until after the hearings were concluded. At first that was considered gag rule, but as the hearings progressed 1t became apparent that this gag was probably for the best interests, for If the two sides had been per- mitted to spout openly there would have been daily grandstanding and attempts to grab headlines that would have made this controver- sial dispute over closed shop or union maintenance exceedingly dirty.
 RESPECTS
 MURRAY
 Randall himself is never at a loss for a word, and he pays full respects to Phil Murray, president of the Steel Workers Organizing Commit tee who presented the case for the i union, as his opponent. Murray's rich Scotch burr, his sense of the dramatic and his timing make him an extremely forceful speaker. In one session he talked for more than three hours without stopping, be- ginning at noon and so making everyone miss lunch. In another session, Murray, in objecting to a ruling of Chairman Meyers, said bitterly, T do not think you are it to preside over this panel!" It threw the session into an uproar, though week later, Meyer and Murray were laughing about 1t when Mur- ray had occasion to remark with mock meekness and sugary hu- mility, May I enter my usual mild objections?"
 Murray and Randall had one of their hottest rounds when Murray at one stage in the proceedings demanded the right to audit the Inland books. Randall countered with demand to audit the union books and charges that there were plenty of things in the union rec ord which would not stand the light of publicity. They called the round draw.
 Those are just samples of what goes on in session after session as these labor disputes are argued out. The Inland Steel negotia- tions have been going on eight months. There were IT sessions of direct company-SWOC nego- tiations from September through December, disposing of all ques- tions but closed shop and check of. In mid-January, SWOC asked for $1 day increases. In Febru- ary the case was certified to War Labor Board. Panel hearings were concluded toward the end of April. The panel = Meyer, Cyrus Ching and Richard F'rankensteen - has since then been reviewing the record. They will call back the union and management repreSen- tatives for questioning. They will make their findings. Then will come sessions before the full War Labor Board = public sessions in which there will be oratory and legal arguing to tire the patience of the gods themselves. It will be June or July by then, and the end will not yet be in sight.
 The record of the Labor Board in the Walker Turner, Interna- tional Harvester and Kearny ship yards decisions might lead any, one to believe that Inland and the other little Steel" companies - Republic. Youngstown and Beth lehem = are in for licking on this union maintenance or closed shop issue. Four things might happen then: The companies can comply gracefully. The companies can comply and yell. The companies can refuse to accept the decision. which would lead naturally to a takeover by the government. The companies might decide to take the Issue to court. on the principle of equity that the courts have the power to review the findings of the War Labor Board. No such right is admitted in the Presi- dents executive order setting up the War Labor Board under the war emergency powers acts. r the courts should accept Jurisdif- tion, legal battle longer than the fghtin' war itself might ensue.
 STRIKE
 POSSIBLE
 There are two further outcomes If you care to consider the long g-shot possibility that the War Labor Board would decide against the unions on the closed shop or union maintenance issue, or decide that this issue should be frozen for the duration of the war.
 The unions might go, on outlaw Istrike if the decision went against Ithen, in spite of the no.strike agFeemcr,
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