Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-05-02
BEHIND
THE NEWS
-BYPau'
Mallon
MaIIon

WASHINGTON, May 2-The
w Roosevelt army seizure OF
Montgomery Ward did not grow
out Of any high labor or legal
principle.
The issue did not involve
higher wages, shorter hours or
any benefits like those, or even
any important right OF labor.
Only by government action
and company resistance did il
become intricately interviewer
with government powers and
constitutional rights, so deeply
as to become difficult TO under
stand.
1T ALL sprang from one single.
Il simple fact in this following
way:
The contract of the company
with the Go union had expired.
The company did not believe the
Go union continued TO repre-
sent the majority of workers.
The only way the company
could cause an election TO be
held (under the law was to
refuse TO sign the contract.
This would force the union to
60 to the WLB and ask an cleo
ton TO show il represented a
ma iority, No employer can get
such an election in any other
way.
This course was actually fol-
lowed, and WLB on Jan. ID is
sued a directive TO cause an
election. can interesting in :
consequential sidelight is that
one business member OF WLB.
George Meade. approved the
directive and the other, James
Tanham. vice president OF the
Texas Co., dissented.)
In THIS directive, WLB or
i dered the old contract con-
tinued for 30 days in order
that the union ask the NLRB
to hold the election.
On April 5, the WLB passed
another order directing the
company to renew the contract,
and pending compliance, the
union was not required TO press
for an election, as previously
ordered. The union already had
petitioned NLRB for an cleo
ton, but none was held.
If the company gave in, it
would lose its best chance for
a free election. The contract it
was directed TO renew contains
a checkoff whereby the union
gets dues of all employees from
the company, whether these
workers want to belong TO the
union or not. There was no
other union in the plant)
TIiE compan thereupon
L stopped paying the check
off, abolished its labor griev-
ance committee, but observed
the rest of the old contract as
10 wages and hours, and said:
"Now let's have an election"
The strike developed, the
WLB felt itself defied, the gov
eminent seized the plant, Mr..
Roosevelt ordered the troops
in, etc.
All any one ever wanted was
an election. The government
itself had even ordered one. If
one had been held at any time,
there would have been no
trouble. If one were held to-
day, the sensational difficult
ties would dissolve.
|. CURFACE suspicious now be-
- ing aired in the controversy
have carried practically every
one away from the real issue.
Mr.. Roosevelt'S critics, with JUS
tice. can complain that he has
used the army against a non
war plant, TO help the Go.
This is quite an advantageous
political opportunity. because
the President has been required
TO resist CLOS efforts to force a
higher general wage level. Also
he has been trying TO get a ma
tional labor draft act. which
Go especially deplores.
On the other hand, the courts
being what they are these days
after II years Of Roosevelt APP
pointees, the company also may
be inclined TO seek political
Judgment Some lower court
might possible challenge Mr..
Roosevelt's act. but certainly
the Supreme Court would uphold
him.
Distributed by King Features synd., Inc.
Reproduction in whole or in part
strictly prohibited.