St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-06-21
HGmmergren Condemns
Truman Labor Droft
Proposal As Slavery

TO draft labor IN strikes against
the government would mean virtual
slavery"
Neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude, except as a punishment
for crime whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, shall
exist within the United States, or
any place subject to their jurisdic
ton"
Thus Harvey E. Hammergren,
1893 Hudson Road, candidate for
the Republican nomination to Con-
gress from the Fourth District at
the July primary election, expressed
his views on President Truman's
desires to draft into involuntary
servitude" workers who strike
against the government when he
quoted from the 18th Amendment
to the Constitution Of the United
States, proclaimed and officially
adopted by the Congress, Decem-
Der 10, 1865.
81 am not forgetting the welfare
of the nation" Hammergren said,
NOR am | unmindful of terrific
havoc to our national economy
caused by such as the coal and rail
road strikes. But" the candidate
added, "the congress has no right
to pass such drastic laws that
would disturb our constitutional
balance. And let me inform you
that the language Of this 18th
Amendment is older than the Con-
stitution itself. Only July 10, 1887,
the congress, under the Articles of
Confederation, passed an ordinance
creating the Northwest Territory
which stated: There shall be
neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude in the said territory other
than punishment Of crimes, where
of the party shall have been duly
convicted And Mr.. Hammergren
continued:
an refusing to work without
contract, American organized work
ers are but exercising a legal right,
the same right, mind you, that bust
ness and industry exercises in SELL
ing their products to the nation
and foreign countries. To contend,
as a broad over proposition, that
men shall not be permitted to
strike, that is to quit work, indi-
vidually or collectively, is in my
estimation, and | am sure in the
estimation of every fairminded
American, a sentence Of involuntary
servitude."
at is my understanding of our
great, free nation and it's pTotec-
tive constitution that no man
should be compelled to work against
his WILL" Hammergren advised.
And he added, ANY such move on
the part of government should be
viewed as radical and bordering on
tOtalitarianism. On the other hand
it is commensurate on labor to take
into consideration the welfare of
the nation and the majority in it's
demands for justice. Experience
has demonstrated" Hammergren
asserted. that the individual en-
joys the greatest and most profit
able degree of liberty and freedom
of action when the rights Of all in
dividuals are circumscribed by reg
ulations, and only those regulations
made necessary for the preserva-
ton of the health and welfare of
the community with which he lives.
Any other concept enables the
strong to profit at the expense of
| the weak"
There are always two sides to
every question and in most Of our
labor disputes the spotlight Of in
quiry is directed toward the work
ers, no one ever thinks to question
management or the operators.
"In times Of extreme labor strife,
government officials shouldn't get
panicky and shout draft labor into
involuntary servitude. The demands
of labor should be carefully scrutin.
lied and so should the reason fol
business and industry not wanting
to meet these demands because il
should be remembered that on labor
largely depends the economic sta
bility of America. To cut thC
throat Of labor is to reduce thu
greatest buying power in tn,
world"
Mr.. Hammergren concluded BY
saying that the entire nationa
Labor Relations Act should be re
written to give equal justice to botf
employers and employees, and 6
guarantee of economic protection
/ RI tho nation