Evening star., 1945-12-06
Union Strategy Seen
In Murroy's Charges
CIOr Out to Stop Anti-Labor
Legislation, Says Writer
BY David Laurence

~oASNeAoh3 ouyS
By David Laurence
Sometimes an exaggerated position or
extreme attack is made by one side or
the other in a controversy in order to
prevent much more drastic proposal
from being considered.
This Is about the only explanation
that seems plausible for the cry raised
by Philip Murray, head of the CIO to
the effect that President Truman's
'cooling-off" period for fact-finding In
labor disputes is an effort ito DESTROY
labor unions"
Plainly; II labor leaders attempt to get
the support Of public opinion by argu-
ing that simple plan to get at the facts
Is destructive development. they will
not md 1t easy to win adherents. On
the contrary, such an attitude is only
calculated to make the public suspicious
that labor leaders want to be above and
beyond the law and wish to use their
economic power to get their demands
irrespective of what effect the strikes
and work stoppages may have on re-
conversion or the creation of Jobs for
the returning veterans.
Mr.. Murray is sincere and earnest
and so Is President Truman. It doesn't
nelp matters to attribute diabolical mo-
lives to the President. who is doing his
best, after all, to find wav to bring
the two major economic groups In tn.
country together so that their feuds
Will not impair the public interest
Hence, 1t may we'll be that Mr. Mrr-
ray ana his associates have decided on
drive to stop any really drastic anti
labor legislation, fearing that If thew
assent to a mild proposal it NAV result
IN even more severe amendments when
the Dill moves from the committee IN
the noor OF both Houses and possibly
INTO conference committee.
1t Is not unusual for such stratapv +o
De employed with respect to legislation,
IL is, therefore, unthinkable that either
the AFL or the CIO really regards tn.
iact-nndlng plan as dangerous If any
oppositlon was to be expected to ths
plan, 1t was from the MANAGEMENT side
FOR up to now no government trihu-
nal has been seriously proposed which
"ooio nave the power Of subpoena and
oe able to get the facts about the A.
nances and profits of corporations,
LABOR usually has had the better OF
II on all public commissions or boards
Inc reason for this is that Presidents
'fy 70 appoint as mediators or umpire,
men who are not extremists. TIL.
mlddle-of-the-road public memher
starts out with friendliness tn lahor
IN the nnal result he moves along part
way with the labor member, and thew
Iogetner make two votes against man
agement's one.
Some May Fear Facts.
Labor leaders are probably M, MN
cerned about the fact-fndinp nrocesse.
because they know they can strike in
the event they dislike the findings.
But some OF them may fear the facts
as much as management does. 1t often
happens that labor leaders who ar.
engaged IN collective bargaining for
unions with large memberships do not
tell their members what MANAGEMENT ts
proposing. Their reason Is that II thev
seeiecy tney can press for
more advantages and do not run the
risk OF dividing their following during
negotiation. But after deadlock ha,
developed and governmental interven-
ton becomes necessary, the disclosure of
the facts enables the public to decide
which side Is right or wrong.
Neither management nor labor can
anord very long to defy the publics
Impression as to the merits of the case
II union labor doesn't want to submit
It's case to the court of public opinion
especially when the individuals who
gather and interpret the facts are
bound to be friendly-it may be widely
assumed that labor is afraid of the
truth.
But, in the end, it will be found that
laoor's chief fear is that once tina
Congress starts legislating on a defer
ment even for 80 days of a proposed
strike. it may 60 further and restrict
strikes in certain major industries vital
to public health and safety. Mr.. Tru-
man has pledged publicly that he does
not intend to support or sign any re-
strictive legislation of that kind His
assurance ought to be adequate, for he
Is man Of his word.
Qeprdouetion Rights Reservsd1