Detroit evening times., 1945-12-07
POLITICAL Fl
PARADE
BY George
Rofhwel1 Brown


labor message 10 Congress
reflects the increasing concern
over the chaotic economic situa-
tlon in this postwar period, that
is felt not only by the Truman
government in Washington. but
by the Truman administration.
Theoretically. these two are
separate and distinct. Actually,
under the American political
system, they are identical.
The President of course had
kAoPrff-for -SUrue time that The
labor-management conference
he had called was hopeless, even
AS a Stop-gap, and that he would
have 70 yield 10 the tremendous
pressure being brought TO bear
upon him TO do something 10
stop the ignorantly-led and
recklesSly-inSpired strikes that
have been paralyzlng reconver-
sion
Mr. Truman has taken a more
advanced step than his political
associates would have been will
ING 10 approve, even s h ort
time ago, but the 81 tuat ion
which ConfrontS the nation. with
more than half a million work.
erS idle in key industries, has
become desperate.
DEGARDLESS of political
~ consequences the President
was obliged to move in with an
eXertion Of his authority
In the ofting is a strike in
steel that would be the most
paralyzlng general strike since
the great twin strikes of coal
and steel in the Wilson admins
tration, or the railroad strike Of
the Harding administration
In all three OF these strikes
the department of justice had
10 exert the full force Of the
law and the Constitution TO pre-
vent disaster.
But times have changed
Today the full force Of New
Deal statutes, backed by deci-
SionS by New Deal courts. has
raised the power OF organized
labor in the United States 10
such a height As virtually by
paradoX-to place labor above
the law.
INHERE- are strong groups
Il Congress who will be far
from satisfied with the extent
of the recommendation made by
the President.
These conservative hiOCS.
comprising both Democrats and
Republicans are determined #
possible 10 get AT the very root
of the whole labor problem
They would amend or repeal
the Smith-Connally law and
bring labor under disciplinary
action by statute. compelling il
TO stand by its own obligations,
particularly with regard TO the
sanctity of no-strike pledges.
which have been flagrantly vio-
lated in the Sit-down. Walkout
and strike-vote techniques OF
the modern strike.
- Ffle Truman administration
has inherited the mess which
now confrontS II from the
Roosevelt New Deal
To put it another way the
Democratic leadership in Con-
gress, meaning the majority
party in the House and Senate.
which was elected with the
fourth-term candidate Of the
party in 1914, is wholly 10
blame for the situation which
now threatens the American
people with disaster.
This leadership at both ends
of the capitol for years has
blocked remedial legislation, the
Democratic Senate and House
labor committees, in which the
- blocking was done, having been
virtually the puppets of the
powerful labor bosses.
TIIE trouble goes back basic
i ally 10 the Wagner law.
which was enacted on what
virtually amounted to false pre-
lenses. That law should be
repealed or draStically amended
And the administration of II
should be placed by the Presi-
dent in the hands of servants
of the people instead of pals and
allies of labor.
If organized labor resiSts the
Presidents mild and helpful
plan. and the strikes continue.
il may have 10 swallow a more
hittar dose nf LONG oVprdue rp-