Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-12-31
Labor Hurts Itself

process or impending. the men who
shape the policies of organized labor
could probably take a long second
look at the temper OF the American
people.
Organized labor is stronger in this
country today than it has ever been
before. For many long years, how
ever, the story of labor was a story
OF bitter and often fruitless efforts
to organize in pursuit of legitimate
detectives. The drive for recognition
In the heavy industries had made
little Roadway, and in the bleak days
OF the early 193Os some OF the best
established unions were facing i'm
minent collapse. Then, with the
election of President Roosevelt,
new era daWned. Labor became the
beneficiary Of extraordinary special
favors at the hands of Congress. 1t
was assured of an able champion in
the White House. And even in the
courts, during the latter part of the
decade, it received a measure Of
sympathetic treatment that was
without precedent.
Opinions may and do differ as to
the reasons and the motives under
lying this great advance. Some will
say that it was merely matter OF
quid pro quo-that labor was receiv-
Ing special rewards for special serv-
ices to the New Deal Administration.
Others profess to believe that labor
was not being rewarded at all, but
that 1t was getting only what it was
able to demand by virtue OF its
political strength. There is probably
some truth In both points OF view,
but each overlooks the fundamental
truth that labor would have obtained
little or nothing had 1t not enjoyed
the generous support of a public
opinion convinced OF the merits of
laoor's legitimate aspirations for
greater participation in the fruits of
toll. The multitude Of little men,
belonging to no unions and far
removed from high politics, believed
that labor deserved a better deal,
and labor got it.
There Is no evidence today that
organized labor Is conscious of this
debt to the American public. Armed
with degree of power too great for
their sense Of responsibility, some Of
the dominant leaders Of labor have
seized upon the wartime necessities
OF this country to dictate to the
Government which represents all of
the people. And they have been
supported-perhaps even prodded-
by their union members. These men
have not suffered in any economic
sense by reason OF this war. On the
contrary, the great majority of them
are much better of than they were
before the war started. Yet they
are demanding more money, and by
strikes and threats of strikes they
are getting it. The President, know
Ing that most of these demands are
unjustifled, is powerless to resist
them effectively. He cannot afford
to fight labor at the price OF under
mining the war against the Axis.
And labor, knowing this, is pressing
In from all sides to get what it can
while the getting Is good.
Meanwhile, millions of American
boys are out on the battle fronts,
fighting a desperate war in defense
OF the beliefs and the ideals which
have made it possible for labor to
organize and grow in the United
States. Thousands of these boys
have given their lives. other thou
sands will die before the war is over.
And those who survive will have to
endure the awful stress Of combat
the toll and the mud, the bloodshed
and the anguish, the hopes and the
black despairs that are the price
Of victory. For these men there is
no overtime at pay-anda-half, no
forty-hour week, no strikes for more
money and no periods of absen-
teeism for spending unaccustomed
riches. They are in this war to give,
not to receive.
Back here at home the little men
and the little women-people on the
farms and in the towns and the
cities of America-look at this con-
trast, while slow, smoldering anger
rises within them. They are the
creators Of public opinion-that pub
lie opinion which, like a pendulum,
had swung so far over on the side of
labor ten years ago. But-and this
is something that the labor leaders
seem to forget-pendulums have a
way of swinging back If they keep
on as they have been going, the same
force Of public opinion that made
labor strong will surely turn and
destroy much of what it has gained