Evening star., 1946-11-12
Closed Shop Abuses
Coll for Full Probe
Republicans Will Be Recreant
If They Dodge Inquiry
By DAVID LasCrence 9

II They Dodge Inquiry
BY David Laurence
II Is commendable Of both President
Truman and the Republican leaders
that they should be emphasizing co.
operation rather than division. The
chances are good that legislation will
be approved which meets such OUT
standing problems as housing and bud.
get-balancing, together with reduction
Of taxes and econonising in Government
expenses, for these are not really par
tisan questions.
Whsnever the Nation faces an emer-
gency there can be cooperation ON
. nonpartisan solution even OF, do
mestic affairs. That Is what should have
happened last June when President
Truman took the advice Of the sponsors
Of . controlled economy and rejected
the advice Of his own party leaders on
price legislation.
Today the decontrol of prices Is
recognized as wise step toward ulti-
mate stabilization. For the experience
with meat has proved that the public
itself can be counted upon to apply
price control.
Partisanship Not Over.
There are certain partisan groups.
however, which for . long time have
pulled the strings in Government. They
messed up the price situation and the
labor problem, too. II Mr.. Truman's new
statement of policy means that he will
follow his own judgment and not be
influenced by the pressure groups who
have tried heretofore to manipulate
public policy. the country can expect
smooth shedding on most OF the inn
portant measures.
1t would be wrong, however, to assume
that all partisanship win disappear.
The Truman statement was carefully
phrased and is model Of restraint,
but nobody can expect the Republicans
10 rest content to overlook the abuse
Of power by the New Dealers in the past
decade or more. The country is, en-
titled to know what has been going on
behind the scenes. It Is entitled to
know how political pressure affected adj
ministrative agencies and boards and
caused them to play favorites. 1t is
entitled, moreover, to have COM
plete exposure of what has been done
on war contracts.
On the whole, the Government has
done an honest job in handling public
funds but the few exceptions deserve
the most comprehensive uncovering so
that the klicg lights Of publicity can be
turned on them.
1t is important also TO have all the
facts on how the governmental agencies
have used their power In favor of certain
labor groups. This is vital piece of in
formation-yital In the interests OF the
workingmen who have lost jobs or had
their pay reduced through the tyranny
imposed on them IN closed shops.
There can hardly be competent job
OF legislating until all the facts are dis
closed. Some amendments to the Wagner
Act are long overdue and are very simple
to draft but the vice OF the present labor
emergency is not related merely to rec
ognition Of bargaining units. 1t Is re-
lated to the misuse Of power by intoler-
ant majoritics after recognition Is ex-
tended to collective bargaining units.
Abuse Of Union Power. :
The American worker looks to unions
to increase wages and maintain employ
ment. When factional fights inside un-
ions make 1t impossible for the rank
and file to overturn their leadership
without risking penalties from the ON
GERS In charge, then closed shops become
. threat to the workers freedom. Many
. worker In the skilled trades has had
his wages reduced by reason Of the ma
nipulations Of politically minded union
leaders who have stretched their con-
stituency beyond the craft unions to In
clude lower-paid units, thus causing
horizontal reduction In the pay Of the
upper groups.
The skilled worker is suffering from
the abuse of power by union leaders and
1t seems safe assumption that many of
these skilled workers voted the Repub-
lican ticket last week as q means Of
protest. They could not express them
selves inside the union without risking
the blacklist and other punishment.
They could. however, vote for the Re-
publican Party whose leaders had prom
ised to remedy these abuses. But many
union spokesmen will deny that such
abuses exist, and between these denials
and counter -denials the country will be
confused. Hence . comprehensive inquiry
into the relations of labor and manage
ment OF closed shops is a much needed
study and one that would not conflict
with the moves to amend the Wagner
Act In other particulars.
When all the facts are revealed, pub
lie opinion can decide what corrective
measures shall be applied. The Repub-
licans now have the power to investigate
and they would be recreant to their trust
il they did not use it to bring all the
facts out in the open.
(Rsproducticn RIGHTS Reserved.D
Heurse Bolt
From the McPherson Republican.
Friday night a man was critically in