Detroit evening times., 1945-12-01
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbro0k
PegIer I

unity tnen INDUSTRY, or man.
agement, is likewise unorganized.
1t IS often charged that capi-
o. tai presents a united front
against labor but if the presi-
dent OF the Go is unable TO
make commitments binding on
the AF'L. then General Motors
il without authority 10 speak
for Ford They are not united.
They are n ais.
However. the President seems
10 have thought that the failure
of this conference 10 produce
results would prepare the pub
lie mind for firm proposals and
remedial laws.
THAT American labor would
welcome such laws when the
futility of conferences has been
dramatically demonstrated IS
reasonable political assumption
because the present program OF
strikes IS series of blows
against the nation itself, almost
entirely composed OF workers.
only A small minority OF whom
are members of the unions.
Too many hundreds of thou
sands of workers have suddenly
found themselves off the pay
rolls with Jobs available and or
dered TO turn out al midnight
or al dawn TO picket for nothing
when At current rates. they
would be paid overtime for such
hours.
TDO many Of them have simply
been ordered off the job. re-
gardlcSs of -thctt desires and
their individual necessities AZ
home m erel y because some
loathcSOme raCketcer. sitting N
the very cabinet OF the AL,
has decided 10 shake down an
employer.
70 The larger clement. tho
whole public, Mr Truman viii
bc able 10 say. # he Is alert 10
his psychological chance. that
the kind of strikes that Nc have
had lately are strikes against
the security of the United States
and Will be able 10 prove his
case by dramatic Illustrations
The General Motors strike -
one such, for here fewer than
100000 workers, led by clever
manipulatorS Of mass pSyChol-
ogy. have pulled the switch. so
10 speak. on the entire process
Of conversion from war industry
10 peace industry -
Mr. Truman can P0NAt out
that there are no laws a present
10 stay the hand OF the reckless
union executive, whether COM
mon EangSter Of the AL type.
Go Communist " ruthless m
dlvidualiSt with diclatoral pow
crS over some key union.
II RECOMMENDING laws 10
pat the national safety and
the interests OF tho oNcrWhelm-
ing majority beyond such threats
and danger he may count on A
Joyous response from the public
and quick action from Congress.
including even the Senate which
hitherto has been deferred from
such action only by arbitrary
orders from tho White House
which killed IN committee. and
-etttitotft argument m ttre Senate
fIOOy acts that were passed by
the House
OUCH laws very well could
- restrict the right 10 strike on
such an issue as a demand by
group Of union executives for
the right 10 limit profits and
regulate the retail prices ~
automobiles
1t has been only during the
last few years that even the
government has exercised that
power and the regulation of
profits was accomplished in
directly by taxation and ot
prices by special wartime laws.
Here small group Of ire
sponSlbleS demands that power
by which II could destroy the
automobile industry or social
lIe' II. and also calls a strike
that may soon blockade recon-
version, including housing and
unemployment generally.
Mr. Truman would not offend
public opinion but on the eon-
trarN, would hcarten the whole
nation, including labor, should
he propose law to exclude
from the valid strike issues all
demands of this kind. which are
only preteNtS, anyway
THERE rs no danger Of "op-
Il preston 90 OF labor IN any ~
the laws proposed
They would eliminate the
blackmall or ShakcdOWn strike
and the luriSdlctional strike IN
which rival union bosses inflict
woe on their own subjects. the
public and unoffending employ
erS in their greed for power and
funds
They would drive off the high
ways the brigandS who collect
tribute from farmers and truck
erS which ultimately is collected
from The public through in,
creased prices. .N
Mr.. Truman has beautiful
opportunity and. ironically, the
most helpful sfade-work has
been done for him In recent