Evening star., 1946-01-14
Public Is Apothetic
Over Strike Results
Writer Says Cry for Fascism
Rises During Weakness
BY Daoid Laurence

BY Daofd Laurence
Two theories have been upset during
the present strike crisis. One is that
the public cares when it is inconven-
fenced and does something about it. The
other is that either management or la
Dor pays any heed to the requests of a
President of the United States.
1t might have been supposed that the
public would be so aroused by lack of
telephone service and tieups which
mean shortages of necessary goods that
members of Congress would not dare
evade the problem. 1t might have been
supposed that when a President asks
a big labor union to send its members
back to work while fact-fnding board
investigates a dispute, the union would
heed the plea-or that when the board
makes its recommendations the COM
pany would comply with them.
Unfortunately, the prestige of Presi-
dent is not in peacetime what it Is in
wartime. Both labor and management
nonchalantly disregard presidential re-
quests and pleas nowadays.
Congress, Too, Afraid.
The reason is that neither side has
the slightest reason to believe that the
President has public opinion behind him
in fact, they think he is playing poll
tics and that he does not dare oppose
the political pressures which the union
groups now possess.
Congress is back here this week, but
the people cannot hope for any action
by their elected representatives. They,
too, are afraid of offending the organ
lied pressure groups, of which the unions
are so conspicuous an example. What,
then, is the answer? 1t rests only with
the people. If they really showed that
they cared about the inconvenience of
the strikes and would say so to their
elected representatives, things might be-
gin to happen.
But the same drift and purposeless-
ness was manifest in Italy before fascism
came and in France before her popular
front" government permitted such state
of economic anarchy as to weaken her
when the war came in 1889.
Despair Breeds Fascism.
oSNAciil SSGo 40 III ot 11OIO UIl IIlC pcO~
pie when they begin to despair of bloc
and party politics and they see legisla-
tive bodies Indifferent to the public need.
The situation grows so obnoxious that
the cry arises for a strong man in the
government. When all the veterans
come back from the war, it would not
be surprising if they began clamoring
;,,+ !, ~; -
| Mr.. Truman has lost popularity. 1t
| may be doubted whether he will recover
! from the effects of this period of weak
ness. 1t would not be surprising if he
had opposition even for denomination.
In quarters not too friendly to him
stories are being spread that he does
not wish denomination anyway.
Congress Shares Blame.
The President means well. Everybody
| says so. But either he is afraid of the
unions or of the managements or both.
For he has not dealt firmly with the
telephone strikes, which are inconven-
fencing the population. strike on any
public utility ought to be prevented and
it can be by the same series of safe
guards as are now applied against rail-
| roads.
The idea that telephone union and
management cannot be required to go
through certain prescribed processes be-
fore an interruption of service is even
considered and that some method to
settle sporadic grievances cannot be de-
vised is incredible.
Congress has failed to pass legislation
to care for strikes of this kind. The
blame rests on both political parties on
Capitol Hill as well as on President
Truman. If democratic government Is
to ward off fascistic trend, the public
must make its wishes felt. Unless the
strike situation is promptly handled by
Congress, the people ought to turn out
of power next November members from
both parties who have voted against i'm
mediate adoption of remedial program.
Public patience is rapidly diminishing
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