The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1946-06-21
Congress Promptly Sustains
President By Close Vote
TEXT OF VETO MESSAGE


bring in it's recommendations for ap-
propriate legislation. / again renew
the recommendation that a joint COM
mittee be appointed to make study of
the whole subject of labor relations,
and to suggest permanent long-range
legislation.
The fact that we are faced with an
emergency which does justify the pas
sage of temporary emergency legisla-
tion does not, in my opinion, justify us
in the adoption of permanent legisla-
tion without the study that such per-
manent legislation needs. The bill is
actually a collection of separate un-
related masures and is not an overall
solution of this most important prob
lem. We must not make false start.
We must not approach the problem
on piece-meal basis as this bill does
1t is suggested that the bill merely
constitutes a beginning, that it should
be placed upon our statute books, and
that we can then proceed with the
study of additional legislation. | can
not agree with this thesis. This bill
is not permanent solution of our diff
ficulties; and if it should become law,
| fear that it may possibly result in
being the only permanent legislation
we would obtain.
We are not faced with decision of
choosing between this legislation and
no legislation at all. 1t is more prop
erly a choice between this particular
bill and more adequate and more in
elusive solution of the problem.
The proposed measure, although de-
scribed as a mediation law, is divided
into two unrelated parts. The first six
sections contain provisions relative to
the indication of labor disputes, post.
ponement Of strikes, and fact-finding.
The remaining sections consist of pro-
visions relative to robbery, extortion,
unauthorized welfare funds, prohibi-
tions against the organization of sup
ervisory employees, union liability in
the courts, and provisions establishing
criminal sanctions, injunctive remedies
and suits for treble damages against
unions engaging in secondary boy
colts, jurisdictional displtes and GER
tain other activities. These are few
of the many complex problems which
fore the proper solutions are found
and Incorporated into permanent legis-
lation.
One of the factors to be considered
in judging this bill is whether or not
it would have prevented, or shortened,
the strikes which have SO seriously
damaged our economy these last few
months. Judged solely from this stand
point, | am sure a fairminded man
would have to admit that it would
have failed completely.
In 1913, in the heat of a contro-
tion in the coal mines, the Congress
passed the War Labor Disputes Act,
more commonly known as the Smith
Connally Act. In his veto message of
June 25, 1943, President Roosevelt
warned the Congress that the strike
vote provisions of Section 8 of the
Smith Connally Act would not lessen
but would promote industrial strife.
That prediction was fully borne out
by subsequent events. 1t is my be-
lief that a similar result would follow
the approval of this bill.
If "a joint committee to investigate
this entire subject were appointed
Immediately and if the subject were
given the priority to which it is en-
titled, a report covering the entire
field could be submitted to the Con-
gress within this calendar year.