The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-06-17


than the methods resorted to by spon-
sorS Of the ConnallySmith anti-labor
bill to steamroller it through without
affOrding the opposition opportunity to
present its views.
During the three days the legislation
was open to general debate, the time
was almost exclusively monopolized by
labor-haters That was possible be-
cause foes of the workers, under the
rules of the House, CONTROLLED the
time for Republicans and Democrats
Those who wished to attack the pro,
five-minute rule.
In spite of this handicap, more than
Il score of members did a pretty thor
ough job of exposing the hypocrisy 'of
the bill and the sinister purpose OF
those seeking its adoption. LABOR re-
gretS that lack of space makes 1t i'm
possible to give space to their utter
ances, particularly because of the diff
culties under which they waged theil
battle against the iniquitous proposal
May Is Discredited
For this discrimination Congressman
Andrew Jackson May (Dem., KyD
chairman of the Military Affairs Com
mttee, was responsible. The Ken
tuckian emerged from the contest q
rather pathetic and discredited figure
his leadership greatly weakened.
May was guilty of what the House
regards as an objectionable Offense--
an attempt to deceive his colleagues. A
member who does that thereafter has
very little influence.
May told the House his committee
had permitted labor spokeSmen tt
testify on the legislation. When this
was shown to be false, he said labor
representatives had been invited to ap
pear before the committee and failed
dence labor had no objection to the
bill.
Was His Face Red?
The Kentuckian's face was reddenet
when he was confronted with cOrre
spondence showing that labor hat
earnestly sought an opportunity to be
heard and that its request had beer
denied
Rarely has member of the House
been as bitterly criticized as May fol
his discrimination against the. opposi
tlOn in allOting time for debate. ,bI,,.,
Congresswoman Mary II. Morton
Dem., n. d. chairman of the Labor
Committee told the House:
81 have been trying ever since this
bin was brought up to get time to ad
dress the House. Went to the chair
man of the Military Affairs Commit
tee, who is now the presiding genius
of labor legislation, and asked him
he would give me some time to dis
cuss the bill and he refused.
Ought To BE Ashamed
II asked him II he thought it quite
fair TO refuse the chairman of the La
Dor Committee an opportunity to dis
c,lss II labor bill, which, OF course, thi
is. He replied he had no time. Wha
he meant was that he had no time I,
give anyone opposed to his authority.
The gentlewoman from New Jerse.
Indignantly declared that I'VE ough
to be ashamed for even discussing thi
Smith perennial and added:
Are we helping to win the war b.
writing legislation which will plac
our patriotic workers, with their maj
yelous production record In n strait
jacket? What kind of justice Is that
when men and women of this couI
try are giving everything they have
their hearts and their sous-in thi
war effort To pass bill of this kin,
Is reprehenSible.
Backbone OF Our Country
''My fear Is that. ii we destroy
their faith in government by pass
ing punitive legislation. the reaction
will be something far more difficult
to deal with than a strike here and
there"
Other members joined Mrs. Norto
in the blistering denuncintion of tn
May gag"
Congressman Augustine b. Kellc
Dem., Pa.) objected very strongly t
the steamroller method used by pro
ponents of this measure"
Why" he added, "thcy have eve
challenged the patriotism of member
who are opposed to this legislation.
resent that sort of thing.
Can DO Only Harm
An experience of more than 4
years in industry cOnvinceS me this bi
can do only harm. 1t Is Il shame tina
this House would stoop To this sol
of thing The question Is raised that
must be II choice between the govern
ment and labor, but that Is not tru,
1t Is IA question of protecting the right
Of our people, as guaranteed by o,
Constitution
That no member was better Qualitie
than Kelley to discuss labor legiSl;
tion was brought out by Congressma
Samuel 4. Weiss Dem.. Pa.), who II
terrupted his colleague To remind I'll
House that " the gentleman Is Il mir
operator employing several hundre
workmen and has given five sons VIII
are serving in Uncle Sans arme