The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-06-25
NEW CURBS ON
LABOR SEEN in
NEAR FUTURE
EFFECTS OF COAL strike
PREDICTED TO LEAVE ITS
MARKS DEEP INTO THE
NEXT SEVERAL YEARS
Nv JOHN GROVER

pY 10k14N GGtO v 4Ak
WASHINGTON, June 25.--Pos-
.ible long-range effects Of the on
again, offagain coal strike have
been overshadowed by its imme-
diate threat to war production, but
analysts here see it leaving its
mark deep on the next several
years.
Veteran observers attach great
significance to Assistant PreSi-
dent James Byrnes' espousal OF
anti-strike legislation. This move
by the Administrators No. 2 man
indicates revolutionary Admin
istration tack.
Always before, the administra-
ton fought off all attempts to
pass legislation restricting organ
lied labor. Within the past three
weeks, Madame Secretary Perkins
and other Administration spokes-
men were sniping at the anti
srike proposal. 1t is justified con-
clusion that their views were pre-
approved at the White House. Cab
met members do not customarily
run counter to the boss mans pol
icy. Il ri sar
Startling Development
The startling development that
Byrnes has thrown his consider
able weight in favor of anti-strike
laws marks the first time the Adj
ministration has tried anything
but sweetly reasonable persuasion
in dealing with labor chiefs.
The growing group of political
wiseacres which sees Byrnes be-
ing groomed for place on the
1914 presidential ticket reads
deeper meaning into, the choice
of the assistant president as the
first Administration spokesman to
support restrictive laws.
1t is their thesis the Admins
tration has concluded that the
lack of firm labor policy has
been increasingly unpopular over
the country, and has determined
to bow to this political wind.
Byrnes, already being given a
build-up, was named sponsor of
the new labor line to increase his
stature further.
1t is the informed consensus that
organized labor's days as. a PAM
pered political darling are num-
bered But no well posted observ-
er contends that this means an era
of labor batting and ,union-bust-
ing is about to begin. Far from. it
What the Smith, onnually bill
presages is simply labor's coming
of age. If the Interpretation of ma
jority analytical opinion is cor
rect In other words, labor will be
forced by the middle-of-the-road
legislation, to accept responsible
tiles to the national community
commensurate with the privileges
granted in the past ten years.
Another development freely
predicted in the press galleries is
the indicated eclipse of the old
time labor boss. The recent trou-
bles in industry have caused even
staunch friends of organized la
Dor, who support labors gains, to
conclude that some curb on per-
sonal powers is necessary.
Reforms Favored
1t is notable that many who IA
vor continuance and even ex-
pansion of organized labor's social
gains at the same time differen-
tiate sharply between rank -and-
file labor and its entrenched lead
ers. 1t is also reported by some
congressman that large blocs Of
organized Labor also favor reforms,
forced if necessary, to prevent la
Dor dictatorship and to make the
labor movement more a democracy
and less an oligarchy of self-per-
petuating policy committees who
give orders instead of carving
out the directives of the member
ship.
Even Senator Robert Wagner.
labor's eldrr statesman and best
friend, protested sharplv at the
reported use Of the Labor Rela-
tons Act bcarine his name to
justify the coal strike.
So, these are the developing
trends in the labor picture, accel-
Grated by Tho coal strike. as gen
orally seen in Waskinnton: fN la
boris basic gains will be protect
ed; (2) labor will be forced TO ac-
cept added responsibilities: (3l
the Administration will not be so
amenable to every whim of labor
chiefs; a. powers Of the labor IT,
tans will be curbed. S
ADOPT RETIREMENT