Evening star., 1946-01-08
Violence in Picketinq
Held Threat to Labor

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Held Threat to Labor
Observer Sees Technique Stirring
Both Congress and People
By David Laurence
Physical violence. actual or threat
ened, has emerged as technique on the
picket lines to such an extent that 1t
rapidly Is creating national scandal
comparable to the "sit-down" strikes
Of few years ago, when strikers at
tempted to seize property and hold 1t
against management
When State laws break down and
local police allow unions to determine
who shall or shall not enter q plant
where strike has occurred, 1t is con-
ceded that illegal picketing is In prog
ress. The fact that several instances
in widely separated localities have oc-
CURED recently unhappily confirms the
fears Of those who urged in vain the
passage Of the famous Tydings amend
ment to the Wagner Labor Relations
Act in 1885.
At that time substantial number
Of Senators favored an amendment
which would have prohibited coercion
from any source" Other Senator's
majority-insisted that this was un-
necessary because State laws protected
individuals and that there was no need
to vest additional police power in the
Federal Government.
Pickets Bar Management.
Since that time, however, the su-
preme Court of the United States has
ruled that the laws which prohibit in
terruptions or forcible restraints In
in 4 state commerce could not be ap-
plicd to labor disputes, and that the
management in the famous Apex case
had to 60 to the State courts for re-
dress.
| There are many persons now who feel
that the case for an amendment of the
| Wagner Act to make 1t applicable to
unions as we'll as management has been
made by the strikers themselves in re-
cent weeks. Thus, in the Yale & Towne
strike In Connecticut the local police
have failed to safeguard managements
right to enter its own plant. Encour-
aged by the breakdown OF State and
local authority in Connecticut, picket
ing forces have taken the same steps
| In other areas, 80 that now 1t is be-
coming common to observe unions issu-
ing passes permitting selected personnel
to 60 through picket lines.
None of the laws of any of the several
States relating to peaceful picketing"
condones physical coercion or violence,
even by implication. These laws usually
permit only peaceful devices to persuade
nonunion or other workers from re-
Stunning work. Now, however, 1t Is
often to be noted that management Is
forcibly kept out Of its own ofices and.
In some instances, 1t has been found
necessary to apply for injunctions In
State courts.
Bloodshed In Prospect
Congress, supported by Supreme
Court decisions, has taken the position
that it is within the Federal jurisdic-
tion to compel an employer to bargain
collectively and that he can be punished
for discouraging union organizing ac-
tivities. The theory Of the courts was
that labor disputes directly affect inter-
state commerce. Plainly the same
theory can be applied to violence which
Is used to interrupt the How of inter
state commerce and especially to deprive
citizens of their individual liberties.
II the situation were reversed and
some employer forcibly elected some
employe, the clamor that would come
from the leaders of organized labor
would be heard from coast to coast.
But when labor union leaders actually
order their members or professional
pickets to take up positions at the
entrances to plants and forcibly prevent
management from entering, it Is only
a question Of time when resistance will
be made and bloodshed will ensue.
VIII it require bloodshed to awaken
the States and cities to their duties In
relation to illegal picketing? Or must
Congress be persuaded to pass laws to
use the Federal authority to protect
private property where labor disputes
anect interstate commerce?
Threat to Government.
Recent events unfortunately reveal
that labor controversies are not being
conducted with processes of reason or
even with the use of economic power
but by physical coercion. 1t would
seem that the Nations labor leaders
would recognize the danger of such a
situation and prohibit illegal picketing
at once. For as the whole labor situa-
ton produces climax, it is quite DOS
siole that many Of labors hard-won
gains may be wiped out overnight by
statute OF an angry Congress.
The "sit-down" strike hurt the cause
OF union labor because it was seizure
OF property and an unlawful trespass.
The blockade and physical seizure of
the entrances to Industrial plants is In
the same category and when public
opinion fully understands the issue,
illegal picketing will be looked on as
Just as lawless as lynching or any other
course that insists on taking the law
into ones own hands. Violence besets
violence and lawlessness breeds more
iawlessness. The illegal picketing now
developing on "a wide scale constitutes
a grave threat to orderly government.
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