Evening star., 1942-07-28
Union Responsibility
Argued by Speakers
In Radio Forum
WLB Members Lophom
And Watt Agree War
Is Number One Job

opposing views ABOUT Whetner
unions should be required to file
financial statements with the War
Labor Board and pledge themselves
not to make any financial contribu-
tions to political campaigns were
aired by, an employer and labor
member of the WLB in the National
Radio Forum last night.
Roger D. Lapnam, chairman Of
the board of the American Hawaiian
Steamship Co., now serving as an
employer member Of the board. and
Robert j. Watt, international repre-
sentative Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and one Of the labor
members, participated in the dis
cuSsion, broadcast over the blue net
work in cooperation with The Star.
Mr.. Lapham and Mr.. Watt con-
cluded their argument over the
question of union responsibility with
agreement that employers and work.
ers are "all together" in the job OF
winning the war.
War Is No. l Job.
II think that's one thing that
employer members and labor mem
bers are united on" Mr.. Watt said.
Il agree with you. Bob" said Mr..
Lapham, "and I believe that six
months from now we won't be
bothering about these things so
much-we've got to wake up and
win this war. That's the No.
lob for all of u.s."
Mr.. Lapham argued that since
the WLB has established pat
tern" for union security through
maintenance of membership clauses
in recent decisions, 1t should require
the unions to file financial state
ments once every six months and
commit themselves not to spend
any money on political campaigns"
Mr.. Watt described these sugges-
tions as "a couple of red herrings
that the employers have pulled in to
whittle down the gains that the
unions have made over the past 10
years"
"Oh, no." said Mr.. Lapham. IF it
is the policy Of the board to develop
more responsible unions, then 1t
should act accordingly. After all, If
the public members Of the board are
out to build more responsible unions,
strengthen unions, then I think it
Is up to the board to foster the
growth Of more responsible unions" !"
Responsibility Of Unions.
Responsibility of unions" Mr..
yaf -
time as the employers throughout
the United States accept them in
good faith-accept them as full
fiedged partners in the economy of
ours. There isn't any other way"
Mr.. Lapham insisted that III the
board grants unions certain advan-
tages in the way of maintenance Of
membership-that's what they're
asking for-then it's perfectly
proper for the board to require Ger
tain things"
Mr.. Watt said the maintenance
Of membership clause was q "ques-
tionable" advantage. asserting 1hat
organized labor's drive for closed
and union shop agreements was
stopped dead" in its tracks by "this
very polite, respectable, dignif1ed,
15-day, take-your-choice mainte-
nance Of membership clause which
you're proceeding now to whittle
down q little more" -T~ 80 ts
Mr.. Watt explained that, under
this clause, an employe has is days
after the signing of q contract In
which to decide whether he will re-
main member of the union in
volved. If he elects to remain in
the union he must do so for the life
OF the agreement.
Sometimes it is really hard to
do what you want to do," Mr.. Lap
ham remarked, "and you'll find, I'll
bet, that there are many men who
win find 1t hard to get out of a
union. There's an old saying,
You're In the Army now"