Evening star., 1943-06-10

so-called Smith David Lawrence.
bill which passed the House two
years ago and was squelched by the
Senate Committee on Labor
The measure doubtless will be
approved by both houses. But will it
be vetoed or be permitted to be-
come law by President Roosevelt?
Opinions differ on that question,
but the issue will furnish the acid
test of the Administrations sim
cerity when it calls on labor and
management to refrain from inter-
rupting the war production program.
The conference committees bill
which was originally sponsored in
the Senate by Senator Connally.
Democrat, of Texas, and in the
House by Representative Howard
Smith, Democrat, of Virginia, and
later modified by suggestions from
Representatives May, Harness and
Short-does many things which
have been agitated for a decade,
1t provides for secret ballot before
strikes are called. This is i'm
portant to prevent reprisals against
members who refuse to follow union
officers bent on playing politics or
the game of outside interests in
forcing a strike. After a secret
ballot calling a strike has been
taken thirty days notice must be
given. The right to strike is not
prohibited. This is in line with
many State laws enacted in recent
years.
Would Bolster WLB.
But the right to strike would be
definitely prohibited once the Gov
ernment seized a plant, as in the
case of the coal mines. The War
Labor Board would get full statutory
authority to do its Work-something
which has been lacking heretofore
II enacted nobody would venture to
dlsobey a summons from the War
Labor Board. Its decisions pre-
sumably would be subject to court
review. 1t would also be bound to
follow the interpretations of law
under the National Labor Relations
Act. known as the Wagner Law.
This means that a continuance of
collective bargaining would be as
sured. WLB would also be bound
TO follow the wage and hour law.
II Mr.. Roosevelt wants an excuse
10 veto the measure, he can find
plenty of technicalities, just as he
did when he vetoed the Logan
Walter bill.
But what would the country say
II the President, after failing to beat
John Lewis, because there were no
statutes which could be invoked
against the miners leader now re-
fuses to accept the authority offered
him by both houses of Congress?
1t might stir up such furor and
such an aroused public opinion as
to compel passage over the Presi-
dents veto. 1t might end fourth
term hopes.
Acceptance Seems Likely.
1t would seem, therefore. not un-
likely that Mr.. Roosevelt would ac-
cept what Congress has submitted
because it does clothe the War Labor
Board with full authority, and
that's about the most important
thing that has happened since the
administration began to struggle
with wartime strikes and stoppages.
AS for the provisions of the new
bill which relate to the filing of
financial data by labor unions or the
prohibition of union contributions to
political campaigns, these are not
regarded as too Objectionable by
labor, distasteful though they are
in the main. But most of the larger
unions already have seen the i'm
portance of making annual financial
statements. AS for political con-
tributions the unions probably will
be glad to be relieved of the en-
barrassments they have faced here
tofore.
There is one clause which labor
distinctly doesn't want. It provides
that members of labor unions hav-
ing a direct interest in a dispute
cannot sit in judgment on it on the