Evening star., 1943-06-25
Anti-Strike Bill
(Continued From First paoe

vides in effect for strike notices and
strike ballots. Far from discourag-
ing strikes, these provisions would
stimulate labor unrest and give Gov
ernment sanction to strike agita-
tions.
THE 80 days allowed before the
strike vote is taken under Govern
ment auspices might we'll become a
boiling period instead of a cooling
period. The thought and energies
OF the workers would be diverted
from war production to vote getting
The heads of our military, naval
and production agencies have testi-
fled that these provisions are likely
to be subversive of the very purpose
of the bill-uninterrupted produc-
ton.
Hits Bar to Contributions.
Section 9 of the bill prohibits
for the period of the war. political
contributions by labor organiza-
tions. This provision obviously has
no relevancy to a bill prohibiting
strikes during the war in plants
operated by the Government or to a
War Labor Disputes Act If there
be merit in the prohibition it should
not be confined to wartime and
careful consideration should be
given to the appropriateness of ex-
tending the prohibition to other
non-profit organizations"
The President then urged the
change in the Selective Service Act
explaining:
There should be no misunder-
standing-I intend to use the powers
of Government to prevent the in
terruptions of war productions by
strikes. I shall approve legislation
that will truly strengthen the hands
of Government in dealing with such
strikes and will prevent the defiance
OF the National War Labor Board S
decisions. ...r
Prefers 'fDirect Approach"
81 recommend that the Selective
Service Act be amended so that
persons may be inducted into nom
combat military service up to the
age of 65 years. This will enable
us to induct into military service all
persons who engage in strikes or
stoppages or other Interruptions of
work in plants in possession of the
United States.
This direct approach is neces-
Sary to insure the continuity of war
work The only alternative would
be to extend the principle of selec-
tive service and make it universal
in character.
Il recognize that this bill has an
entirely praiseworthy purpose to in
sure full war production. But l am
convinced that section will produce
strikes in vital war plants which
otherwise would not occur. There
fore, I could not properly discharge
the duties of my Office if I were to
approve S. 1885,
Veto Was Expected.
presidential veto of the anti
strike measure has been predicted
with increasing force for the past
two days since Mr.. Roosevelt an
nounced his intent to seek an in
crease in the draft age. Legislators,
however, have been cool to the latter
proposal and many have insisted
that it is no answer to the anti
strike legislation.
House Over-Rider Doubted.
The House adopted the bill by a
vote of 219 to 129 and it is consid-
cred doubtful whether it could
muster the necessary thirds
majority to override the veto.
In leading up to the reasons which
led to his veto, President Roosevelt
said it is clearly the will of the
American people that for the dura-
ton of the war all labor disputes
be settled by orderly procedure and
that it also is the will of the people
that war work is not to be inter-
rupted by strikes or walkouts.
American labor as we'll as Amer
ican business gave their 'no-strike
no-lockout' pledge after the attack
On Pearl Harbor," the President con-
tinued, adding, that pledge has
been we'll kept except in the case
of the leaders of the United Mine
Workers. For the entire year of
1912 the time lost by strikes has
reached only 5-100 of j per cent of
the total man hours of work. The
American people should realize the
fact that SO and 95-100 per cent
went forward without strikes, and
that only 5-100 of l per cent of the
work was delayed by strikes. That
record has never before been equal
ed in this country. 1t is as good or
better than the record of any of our
Allies in wartime.
"Symphathizes" With Bills Aim.
But laws are often necessary to
make a very small minority of peo-
pie live up to the standards that
the great majority of people follow.
Recently there has been interrupt
ton of work in the coal industry
even after it was taken over by the
Government. I understand and
sympathize with the general purpose
of the war disputes bill to make such
Interruptions clearly unlawful"
The President explained that tht
first seven sections are directed to
this objective and he added that
broadly speaking these sections in
corporated into statutes the existing
machinery for settling labor dis
putes. One of the sections would
give the National War Labor Board
authority to enforce attendance at
hearings by subpoena. This would
reach such cases as that of John l..
Lewis, the United Mine Workers
leader, who consistently has refused
to acknowledge the jurisdiction Of