Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14

has sought to induce the signing OF
q contract. One grows out of stip-
ulation to the United States Gypsum
Co. that 1t should sign a contract
with q labor union providing for =
maintenance Of membership ar
rangement, and the other develops
out of the coal controversy in which
the board wants the United Mine
Workers to sign two-year contract
containing a no-strike clause.
No Power to Compel.
But the War Labor Board has no
power under the law to compel the
signing of a contract by either the
employer company in question or by
the labor union. The President has
said that while he has power to seize
. company's property, he does not
want to do so and it is a fact that
WLB, which usually certifies to the
White House any case in which an
employer declines to heed its orders,
has not made a formal request for
seizure of the United States Gypsum
Co. In any event, If such a request
has been filed, the President has not
disclosed it to the public and the
impression prevails that no such
seizure is contemplated at this time.
Should this be the final DISPOSE
ton of the matter, the employers Of
the country will feel at last that the
policy adopted is wise one because
1t has been argued with considerable
responsiveness by the Administra-
ton that the war should not be used
by either management or labor to
obtain advantages not previously
obtained in labor controversies.
But another step which has been
made indicates even more progress
toward labor peace. 1t arises out Of
the language Of the Smith Connally
law. Apparently, according to the
President, the coal mines must be
returned to their owners within so
days after production has become
normal. This means that the mines
will 20 back to the operators soon,
whereas John L. Lewis has indicated
that the present truce lasts only
until october 81.
Notice Now Required.
It might be assumed that there
would be q strike If the mines go
back to their owners, but Mr.. Lewis
statement was made before the
Smith Connally bill became law
The situation is different now be-
cause the mine union would have
10 give formal 3o-day notice Of =
strike and WLB would have formal
powers OF subpoena and mediation
TO get into the problem before the
strike took effect. Then II the mines
were seized by the President again
1t would be unlawful for any strike
to be called and the President could
impose whatever conditions he
wished for the operation of the
mines under the terms Of the exist
Ing law.
If, for instance, the President per-
nitted the owners to operate their
mines and kept the Government as
nominally the pcssessors Of the
property, the operators would not
be inconvenience and yet the union
would not be getting any conces-
kions. 1t is conceivable, therefore
that when the mines 60 back this
time to private owners an excellent
opportunity for a new settlement
will be at hand
Contracts Frozen"
Another development which looks
toward stability comes out Of law
passed by Congress with respect to
the operations of the National Labor
Relations Board. Congress stipu-
lated that no part of the funds ap-
propriated for the NLRB shall be
used in any way in connection with
complaint case arising over an
agreement between management
and labor which has been In exist
ence for three months or longer
without complaint being fled"
This means that the status quo
must be maintained as between la
Dor and management so far as chal-
longing existing agreements or con-
tracts is concerned. 1t means that
closed shop contracts stand and that
where contracts between employers
and employee organizations not afflli
ated with national unions exist, they
cannot be upset.
Some observers argue that the