Detroit evening times., 1945-11-09
POLITICAL
PARADE
By George
RothweN Brown

THE approach 10 domestic
u peace through President Tru-
mans labor-management con-
ference is strikingly similar to
that of the farmer who hitched
his cart before his horse.
No solution Of the grave prob
lens between workers and em-
ployers. intensified by nation
wide wave of strikes and
sit-downs that are jeopardizlng
the economic future of this
country, is possible at this con-
ference, and this by the very
nature of things.
The conference is face
saving device at best, pallia-
tive for a patient who gravely
requires an immediate surgical
operation.
There can be no solution of
these problems until they are
grappled with by Congress.
Congress is the surgeon, and
there is no other!
ORGANIZED labor stands to-
" day entrenched behind
formidable wall composed of
statutory enactments by Con-
gresS. executive directives, arbi-
trary rules and regulations Of
various boards and other gov
ernment agencies, and one-sided
decisions by the courts, includ-
ing the u. S. Supreme Court.
The oligarchy of powerful
labor bosses which has taken
over the leadership and direc-
tion OF a vast army of workers
has waxed great and arrogant
behind the protection of these
bulwarks, created or permitted
by Congress, and only to be torn
down in the public interest by
Congress.
"HEN labor and manage
W ment awakened on Tues
day morning of this week, the
second day of the Presidents
conference, il was 10 find the
capital city paralyZed by a
walk-out which tied up every
street car and bus line in
Washington.
A mere handful of some
$500 employees of the transit
companies had compelled 500,-
600 people who ordinarily ride
10 work on the cars and buses.
TO walk or hiteh-hike to their
jobs
1t was striking object les
son for the delegates of the la
Dor and management groups,
who had assembled in an effort
TO compose the existing differ
ences between workers and en-
ployers.
For this "walkout." so called,
which swept every Washington
street car and bus from the de-
serted streets Of the city. was
lust such a wildcat strike as
those which are now paralyz-
ing the industrial peacetime rec
covery Of the nation.
That is 10 say il was unau-
thorized, and in violation of SOL
emn contractual obligations.
entered into by the union with
the transit company. by a con-
tract which does not expire un-
I'll next summer.
THE national crisis is acute.
i The time has come for
Congress 10 assert its indepen-
dence, and for individual men,
bers of the Congress 10 remem-
Der that before they took their
seats on Capitol Hill they first
took solemn oath 70 defend
and support the Constitution OF
the United States.
| This oath of office obliges
them to legislate for the Ameri-
can people as a whole. and not
for special and privileged
groups with large voting power
in congressional and national
elections.
II is because Congres
"knuckled down" to these labor
groups. during the whole decade
or more of the Roosevelt New
Deal. that something pretty y
nearly akin to a reign of terror
is now sweeping the country
The re m g dy is at hand, II
| Congress has the courage and
the sense of moral responsibility
to apply it.
THE situation calls for a COM
L plete overh auling Of the
whole fabric of labor legislation,
conceded to organized labor by
the Roosevelt administration as
a price for political support.
The responsibility for the
chaotic situation existing today
the slowing down of production
the interference with peacetime
reconversion, rests on the Demo
cratic majorities of Senate and
House.
The remedy lies in the hands
of a conservative coalition OF
Dem ocrats and Republicans
The first thing 10 do is TO pass
the May bill, m EN- d ing the
Smith-Connally law. II is the
duty Of the House leadership to
bring this bill 10 vote.