Evening star., 1942-08-12
What Are the Focts?

At his press conference yesterday
the President told reporters that he
could not comment on wildcat"
strikes and tagging production until
he has been supplied-by the news
papermen-with more facts and
figures.
One correspondent asked the Presi-
dent for comment on report OF
union steward who told worker to
produce less than a fair days work.
If the reporter would dig up the facts
and the names, the President said, he
would look into the matter. Another
reporter asked if the large number
of wildcat strikes had come to the
Presidents attention. He had heard
of few, Mr.. Roosevelt said, but more
facts are needed. About six months
ago, he added, some newspapers were
giving the impression that IS per
cent of the munitions plants were on
strike, whereas. actually, only l12 per
cent, or maybe one-half of l per
cent, were on strike.
Another press representative want
ed to know whether the President
had seen a statement by Chairman
Davis and Dean Morse of the War
Labor Board that the laws of treason
might have to be resorted to in the
jurisdictional strike situation. In
quiring as to when the statement
had come out, Mr.. Roosevelt asked
reporter to get copy for him.
The President, of course, was not
speaking literally. He is fully aware
that there has been sharp increase
in the number OF wildcat strikes,
and If he is in need of any facts on
that score his Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics has been making them public
each month. Nor is it likely that the
President is totally unfamiliar with
the War Labor Board statement on
jurisdictional strikes. And, certainly,
he is fully cognizant Of the fact that
this particular form OF strike, de-
spite the no-strike agreement, has
persistently interfered with war pro-
duction.
The problem of strikes and tagging
production is not trif1ing matter,
and real harm is done when the
President elects to treat it lightly.
Obviously, such an attitude on Mr..
Roosevelts part tends to counteract
the efforts that his subordinates are
making to impress workers with the
Importance OF staying on the Job
and stepping up production.
At the very time that the President
was parrying these press conference
questions, the latest wildcat strike
had closed cable plant engaged on
war work in New Jersey. About 1000
men walked out to enforce a wage
demand which allegedly had been
turned down by the War Labor
Board. While the President was
calling for more facts at his press
conference, the labor board was ap-
pealing to these strikers to return to
work, urging them mot to forget the
boys who are nghting for us in the
Solomon Islands" What, it may be
wondered, will be the reaction of the
strikers to this appeal when they
read. it in the light of the Presidents
comments?
Concerning this whole matter,
there are certain facts with respect
to which there can be no doubt on
anybody's part. One is that we are
engaged in a war which we are not
winning at this time. Another is
that any strikes, whether they affect
1h per cent or one-half Of per cent
of our munitions plants, impair to
some extent our capacity to fight.
Still a third fact Is that anything
which interferes with the prosecu-
ton OF the war, to whatever extent,
should not be brushed aside lightly
by the President or any one else.