Evening star., 1943-02-05
Lewis Sure
To Win New
Triumph
Little Steel Wage
Formula Seen
Reody to Crack
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
John L. Lewis still holds the bal
a1ce OF power in the formulation OF
national labor policy. When he
cracks the whip, not only the
Roosevelt Administration but also
William Green and Phil Murray of
the AFL and CIO, respectively,
Jump through the hoop.
Mr., Lewis is about to achieve his
second great victory-the breaking
down Of the Little Steel" formula
for wage increases. His first tri-
umph occurred in December, 194l
when the President himself, after
declaring publicly against the
CLOSED shop" made possible the
application of the CLOSED shop"
idea to the whole coal-mining in
dustry in commercial as we'll as
captive" mines exactly as Mr..
Lewis demanded.
TodayMr Lewis stands on plat
form announced a few weeks ago
when, In the midst Of war, anthra-
cite coal miners staged a strike in
part as protest against increased
dues, but actually a forerunner of
a demand for augmented wages. No
punishment was meted out and they
soon will be rewarded.
Mr.. Lewis defiantly told the War
Labor Board then that when the
major coal contracts expired next
month he would demand an increase
in wages for the coal-mining unions
irrespective of the War Labor Board
policy Of sticking to the Little
Steel" formula This provides for
an increase in wages of Is per cent
over and above the wage levels of
January, 1941, and was based on the
assumption that costs of living had
risen since that time about that
percentage. It was worked out
between the smaller steel companies
and the CIO unions and the War
Labor Board.
Murray Follows.
mo sooner had Mr.. Lewis laid down
the law than It became necessary
for Mr.. Murray at the head Of the
CIO also to insist on the modifica-
ton Of the Little Steel" formula
or else appear to be arguing against
Mr.. Lewis who still maintains
position from which he could oper-
ats to advantage stn building up .
rival to the C1O by the simple pro-
cess Of claiming to be able to get
wage increases where presumably
the CIO cannot.
So It was not surprising to see Mr..
Murray going to the White House
this week to AK for . more flexible"
policy Of wage increases and to point
out that living costs had increased,
according to the Department Of
Labor's bureau Of labor statistics,
by 1914 per cent as Of December,
1912, in comparison with the Janu-
ary. 1o4l, base.
William Green Of the ALL, Of
course, cannot be caught mapping
on such naneuver, 20 he, too. told
President Roosevelt on "wednesday
that something must be done on
wage increases 20 as 70 take account
OF the rise in living costs.
To confuse the situation bit and
make It easier for tho War Labor
Board or the administration to re-
verse itself and abolish the Little
Steel" formula, 1t is proposed by
Mesxr1. Green and Murray that
there be. universal ceiling on all
prices for civilian goods and ration
ing Of every scare article.
There b report. moreover, that
some New Dealers favor the crea-
ton Of an additional governmental
agency, possibly under the wing OF
Director Byrnes Of the Once of
Economic Stabilization, to handle
the flexible" policy Of wage In
creAses now recommended. This is
excellent tactics to cover up retreat
and defeat at the hands Of labor
politicians.
Bound to Win.
Mr.. Roosevelt doubtless will oblige
the two chiefs Of labor because un-
less he does 20 he will give an ad-
vantage to John Lewis, and this
bugahoo, is constantly held up to
the President As the reason why he
must make concessions The Presi-
dent has bowed again and again to
the Lewis dictation both directly
and indirectly so it may be assumed
that the Little Steel" formula will
be changed in the next few weeks.
Just what all this does to the
argument that salaries of executives
had to be limited to net of $25,-
600 and that the vicious scheme Of
issuing tax decree in defiance of
the expressed wish OF Congress was
absolutely necessary in order to
hold labor in line with the Little
Steel formula will not be difficult
to surmise. The hypocrisy of the
whole political gesture will prob
ably be revealed in due time.
1t is to be hoped that the spon-
sors in Congress of a change in the
$25 900 limitation will patiently
wait until about April IS when the
new wage formula will be ready lest
the action of Congress in outlawing
that limitation become the pretext
for breaking down the present sys-
tenn OF freezing wages at the level
Of IS per cent over January, 194l.
Whichever way the game goes,
Mr.. Lewis is bound to win out for
he was the first TO shake warn