Evening star., 1943-05-01

Board and the sV
Cover n m Mt David Lawrence.
There are some who think that the
exchange of communications be-
tween the President and Lewis COW
ers the controversy. But actually
there have been some serious mis-
takes in policy by the administra-
ton which Lewis has been quick to
use to the advantage of his cause.
1t was mistake, for instance, for
the President to issue his executive
order. now known as the 'hold-the-
line" order. The War Labor Boards |
public members feel so strongly
about 1t that they sent memoran-
dunn to the executive Offices few
days ago asking that some of their |
powers in handling wage increases
be restored.
Mr.. Lewis knows that the "hold-
the-line' order cannot possibly be
maintained, because the CIO and
the AFL are as bitterly opposed to
it as he is, and there is no doubt
but that some notifications are
coming. Mr.. Lewis may be able to
capitalize on those changes and ap-
pears to be the man who forced a
change in the Byrnes- Roosevelt |
hold the-line' order His prestige
in the labor world will 60 up cor
respondingly.
Wants Independent WLB.
1t is a fact, of course, that Mr.. |
Lewis has ignored the War Labor
Board, but he has also said plainly
that his reason is that it operates
with political limitations" which
means that it is directed or in
fuenced by Sterilization Director
Byrnes and the President. Mr..
Lewis wants the War Labor Board
to operate independently and, while
he thinks it is prejudiced, he really
means it is influenced against him.
Now, however, it becomes appar-
ent that some change in handling
wage matters is in prospect. Lewis
will get something in the way of an
increase. 1t may be figured on the
basis of the so-called "portal-to-
portal" method of computing wage
rates which was recently upheld in
court decision. 1t may come out
of the latest effort to discover costs
of living in mining communities.
But whatever be the means used to
increase wages, Lewis will be able
to view the result as substantial
victory for his tactics.
His idea has been to 60 to the
very edge of precipitating a Nation
wide strike and then recede. He
may even permit the so-called un-
authorized walkouts to go on here
and there, but the general effect
created in labor circles will be that
Lewis has taken his time about or
oerlng the men back and that he
does so only after he feels sure some
concessions are coming his way.
OPA Checks Up on Prices.
One concession may have escaped
general notice. 1t is the admins
tration's order to OPA to send in
veStigators to check up on prices in
selected mining communities. This
affords way out for the President
and the War Labor Board for up to
now no such evidence was permit
ted relating to specific situations
Also when the hold the line" Or
der is modified, it will unquestion-
ably allow the War Labor Board to
determine ''inequities" and Unequal
tiles" This means a f1exibility
which gives the labor union leaders
a chance to earn their salaries by
being able to egitate for something
all the time. 1t means also, on the
other hand, that there are some
legitimate INEQUALITIES" and in
equities which ought to be ironed
out, especially if the inflationary
trends brought on by the continued
payment of time -and-a-half and
double time keeps billions of dollars
vi pdI SlldoiiiS poWCl lAl III SuldUiOIl
against the diminishing quantities
of goods available
Lower Pay Hardest Hit.
The lower paid workers of the
country are the ones who are going
to be hardest hit as initiation reaches
slowly but surely into the purchasing
power of the country. Black mar
kets are having some effect on the
opportunity to get needed supplies
and articles involved in living costs.
There is no doubt, also, that GER
tain inequalities" exist in the price
levels, and that if the wage levels
are modified to permit increases.
certain price adjustments upward
will have to be made. The sad truth
is that the battle against the pres
ent-day imitation was lost in June,
1910, when the present spiral of
wages and prices was permitted to
develop. The administration didn't
act in time and it will be compelled
now to see more initiation before the
trend can really be effectively curbed.
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