The Wilmington morning star., 1946-05-25
Whitney chose to reject it and to
call a strike of their unions.
Terrible Havoc

Whitney chose to reject it and to
call a strike of their unions.
Terrible Havoc
T assume that these two men
know the terrible havoc that their
decision has caused and the even
more extreme suffering that will
result in the future. 1t is inconcelv-
able that the rank and file of these
two unions realize the terrifying
situation created by the action OF
these two men.
The effects of the rail tie-up were
felt Immediately by industry, lack
of fuel. raw materials and shipping
is bringing about the shutdown OF
hundreds of factories. Lack OF
transportation facilities will bring
chaos to food distribution.
Farmers can not move food to
markets. All of you will see your
food supplies dwinkle, your health
and safety endangered, your streets
darkened, your transportation facl-
lities broken down.
The housing program is being
given a severe set back by the in
terruption of shipment Of materials.
Utilities must begin conservation
of fuel Immediately.
Returning veterans will not be
able to get home.
Millions of workers will be
thrown out of their jobs.
The added inflationary pressure
caused by the drop in production
cannot be measured.
Food Held Up
While the situation in our country
is extremely acute, the condition in
Europe is tragic. Most of our
friends today in liberated Europe
are receiving less than one-thiro
O: the average American consump-
ton of food. We have promised to
help the starving masses of Asia
and Europe and we have been help
ing them. We have been exerting
our utmost efforts and it Is neces-
sary for us to increase our ship
ments. At this minute, 100, 900 tons
of grain are being held up by the
strike of these two unions.
UNRRA has II ships scheduled
to leave from ports with grain.
These ships cannot sail because the
strike of these two unions is keep
ing the food from reaching the
ports. If these ships r held up
any longer it means that the bread
supply of As, 900, 900 people will be
cut off within n week.
Stark Tragic Truth
These people are living from
hand to mouth. They depend upon
weekly shipments from us to meet
their minimum daily needs. This
grain held up in this country by
4 the strike of these few men means
4 the difference between life and
II death to hundreds of thousands OF
persons. This is stark tragic truth.
If the operation of u railroads
is not resumed at once, thousands
OF persons, both here and aboard,
will starve. During the past weeks
have told Mr.. johnson and Mr..
Whitney of the tragedy that would
result from a strike. They have
refused to heed my warning. ]
doubt whether the rank and file OF
their unions have been told these
facts. I am telling them now SO
that each one of them can face his
conscience and consider the spectre
of starvation and death that will
result from the course which Mr..
Whitney and Mr.. Johnston are fol
lowing
I do not speak tonight of the stu
alton in the coal mines of the ma
ton, for the men are now at work
and negotiations for settlement are
now taking place between the gov
eminent and the unions.
I am a friend of labor. You
men of labor who are familiar with
my record in the United States
Senate know that I have been a
consistent advocate of the rights
of labor and of the Improvement
of labor's position. l have op-
posed and will continue to oppose
unfair restrictions upon the activi-
ties of labor organizations and upon
. the right of employees to organize
and bargain collectively.
Basis Philosophy
It has been the basic philosophy
of my political career to advocate
those measures that result in the
| greatest good for the greatest mum.
Der of our people. I shall always
be a friend of labor.
But in any conflict that arises
between n particular group, no
matter who they may be, and the
country as a whole, the welfare
of the country must come first.
1t is in%conceivable that in our
democracy, any two men should be
placed in a position where they
can completely stifle our economy
and ultimately destroy our coun
try. The government is CHALLENGED
nc seldom hefope IN ALL L..