Evening star., 1943-03-17
Austin Bill

Austin Bill
Continued From First Page
unprecedented a measure is umneces-
sary."
Hot Exchange With Holman.
Senator Holman Republican. OF
Oregon interrupted MI Green S
testimony al one point to charge
that because of strikes men in the
armed forces had been denied some
Of the equipment they needed. He
said the committee had been in
formed that three recessions in
plane production in the last two
years were attributed to strikes.
Mr. Green angrily challenged the
statement, asserting that organized
workers had a near perfect record
of no strikes and had done won
ders" in production.
Reading a statement by Robert
P Patterson. Undersecretary of
War, that $500 planes had been
produced in February. he added:
Here's Patterson's statement-he
ought to know"
Yes Senator Holman retorted.
but what's his standard? What's
the goal?'
This is a. record production, the
most planes ever produced, Mr.
Green said loudly.
Il know" Senator Holman shouted
back, but that doesn't mean any
thing. What's his standard?'
You mean to say that the state
ment of the Undersecretary Of War
doesn't mean anything?" Mr.. Green
demanded
Not unless YOU know what the
standard is Senator Holman IN
sisted. adding that because he ran
100 yards in 25 seconds for the
fastest time he had ever made at
that distance didn't mean that he
had accomplished anything note
worthy.
Worker Deaths Cited.
Mr.. Green asked Senator Holman
if he knew that deaths and. injuries
among industrial workers have been
more than five times greater than
the fatal Casualties Of Americas
armed forces in the first IA months
Of the war.
That's terrible" observed Senator
Holman, but I'm not going to be
diverted by the balderdash of this
man. In not going to set aside the
testimony of lieutenant generals and
other officers who have given figures
to the committee and ignore them.
On the other hand. men have been
impressed into the armed forces and
they must be maintained
Il Weld to no man in my respect
for working men. but I mean work.
erS, not shirkers.' the Oregon Sen
atOr shouted He charged that in
his State rival unions have had
beat-up squads" attacking each
other. and added:
I resent the fact that there has
grown up in this country an unlaw-
ful and unconstitutional force. some
times more powerful than the Gov
eminent
We'll I understand your opinion
Of organized labor" Nj. Green re-
piled.
I've certainly got an opinion of
YOU, Senator Holman responded.
All right, you're entitled to have
1t, said Mr. Green
Necessity for Bill Denied.
Declaring the bill raises an issue
Of free labor versus slave labor. ="
Mr.. Green said he assumed it is
predicated on the assumption that
there is dire necessity for COM
pulsOry labor in order foctively to
prosecute the war
Il categorlcally deny the truth of
that assumption, he added 1T
has not and cannot be established
that the absence Of compulsion of
labor is factor in retardlng pro-
ductlon
Although Senator Austin. Repub-
lican Of Vermont, co-author Of
the legislation. previously expressed
Willingness 20 revise the bill to meet
organized labor's objections, MI
Green said that so drastic and un-
preccGented a measure is mnec-
cSsary.'
"Sugar-coat them as YOU may.
he added, the 1malterablc fact re-
mains that under these bills work
IS subject 10 Compulelon under
threat Of imprisonment for six
months and a fine Of $1,000
ANY delays that have occurred
IN war production have been caused
by conflicting Government policies
and nOt by any failure Of any
segment Of our working population
voluntarily to perform the Jobs that
nave TO be done, he said
Nj. Green cOntcnGcd tho man
power problem must be Intogralcd
with all other phases Of the war.
such as the SIZE of The armed forces
and allotment OF critical materials.
To illustrate, he said it would do
no good 10 assign 1000 more skilled
workers to plant already below
It's production levels because of a
want Of essential materials.
He called the Austin -WadsWorth
bill a potent ard dangerous drug
rather than a cure for any existing
i'll
He declared The measure would
interfere with the process Of col
lcci|e bargaining, particularly IN
me matter Of closed shop The
bill leaves worker assigned BY his
Draft board free to JOIN the union
IN the plant to which he goes. but
would not compel him TO Join NJ,