Evening star., 1946-11-27

time public indignation is intense
and our statesmen belligerently pro-
claim the necessity for action.
Then the crisis passes, the people
relax, popular determination be-
comes diluted and the politicians
released from pressure, find inaction
more convenient than action. This
has been the consistent record.
Plays Into Hands of Labor Bosses.
It is a natural, though unfortu-
nate, reaction and it plays directly
into the hands of the labor bosses
and professional breast beaters
who, through 13 years OF active
White House support and political
terrorism, have acquired undreamed
of power and unprecedented protec-
ton.
Now that John L. Lewis has
brought us to the very brink OF a
great disaster it appears inevitable
that at last the link between Gov
ernment and the union bosses may
be broken; that at last the wicked
ness of political policy that exalts
one class of citizens above all others
will be clearly seen; that at last 1.-THE
movement to rectify our mistakes
will get somewhere.
Perhaps so, but it is naive to ex-
pect it will be easily done or thst a
bitter fight to prevent any restric-
tive or restraining steps will not be
waged. In fact. it already has
started. A stream Of propaganda
has begun to flow from the CIO pub
Icity agencies and the press agents
of the liberal" parties in which dire
warnings are sounded that the re
dictionary Republican," and the
greedy employer classes" are deter
mined to cruelty labor"
Stirring appeals are made for the
conservation OF "labor's hard-won
rights" and it is made perfectly clear
that any modification in the exist
ing labor laws will be resisted, the
theory being that there are no labor
abuses and no law that needs to be
changed.
Commentators Echo Sentiments.
There Is considerable number OF
extremely articulate commentators
of the bleeding heart type who echo
these sentiments and support this
attitude. These assert that Congress
is preparing to enact "vindictive"
legislation and that anything like q
general revision of the Wagner Act
will induce something very like q
national civil war with many bitter
strikes attended by great violence"
To avert revision, to prevent the
outlawing of the closed shop and
checkoff, to block any effort to limit
the right to strike against the Gov
eminent or public utilities, the labor
professionals and their liberal
allies are prepared to battle to the
finish. The CIO-inspired theory Is
also advanced that if any drastic
action" is attempted the CIO viii
be compelled to "open its arms" to
the Communists, instead of reject
ing them as it recently did In Its
Atlantic City resolution.
The fact that this was q phony
resolution which the Communists
themselves participated in drawing
is ignored and the warning Is trans
parent and ridiculous.
However, despite their defeat In
the last election, they still have a
lot to fight with Though Henry
Wallace is no longer in the cabinet
and President Truman is reported
thoroughly disillusioned concerning
the character of the labor bosses,
there remain men high up in the
administration whom the CIO ap-
parently can count on for support
no matter what it does.
SchwelIenbach Stand Attacked.
An example of this was furnished
last week by Secretary of Labor
Schwellenbach At its Atlantic City
convention, the CIO was addressed
by A. F. Whitney, president of the
Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen,
who made q violent and vituperative
personal attack on the President,
which was enthusiastically cheered
by the CIO delegates. Then Mr..
Whitney was effusively thanked by
the unctuous Philip Murray, who
presided.
Two days later Mr.. Schwellen-
bach addressed the convention,
eulogized its officers, commended its
record and assured the CIO that he
is in sympathy with its proposed
new campaign for higher wages.
This performance seems almost in
credible.
Here is a member of MIR. Tru-
mans cabinet not Oily addressing
a gathering which had just ap-
plauded coarse TRADE against his
chief, but giving, in advance, un-
asked governmental encouragement
to movement certain to result in
another wave Of crippling strikes.
After the Whitney attack, cheered
by the convention and indorsed by