Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-11-29

the law itself ,aIs
does not compel LAUTIER
employees 10 JoinR union, II does
not stop an employer from making
a closed shop agreement with a
labor union, II the union has been
designated by the National Labor
Relations Board as the employees
bargaining representative.
This II one Of the provisions Of
the law which has worked 10 the
disadvantage Of eolorsd workers
and permitted lily-whlte unions to
drive colored workers out Of GER
tain industries where they were
not wanted.
II may be said IN defense Of the
act that II has freed workers from
fear Of losing their Jobs because Of
union activity.
Just what changes the Re
publieans intend 20 make In the
Wagner set are not yet clear,
but the Case bill which passed
both houses and was vetoed by
president Truman. will probably
be TsintFodUeed with some mOdi-
hcati0ns.
The Case bill would create q
federal mediation board. forbid
strikes and lOckOutS for 90 days,
provide for civil suits against en-
ploysrs and employees who break
contractA, deprive those who en-
gage In violence Of bargaining
rights, and establish fact.Rnding
committees TO ascertain the facts
In major labor disputes involving
public utilities.
Because Senator Robert y. WaR-
nsr, Democrat, Of New York, was
the principal author Of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act, Waltsr
White. executive secretary Of the
National Association for the Ad-
Vanesment Of Colorsd People, has
been opposed to any changes what
SOsVsr in the law. lie argued that
once the Wagner act was opened
for amendment. all kinds Of anti.
labor amendments would be writ.
ten into the act. lie was probably
right In the light Of the temper
Of the Ssvsnty-ninth Congress to-
ward labor. But the Republicans
now seem determined to enact q
Constructive but not punitive" la
Dor legislation.
There IL this fact: The Rspubli.
cans are just ~ anxious to get the
labor vote In l94s as they ar0 TO
revise existing labor laws, and may
compromise upon q combination Of
the Case bill with the Ball. Hatch
bill. The latter bill calls for com.
pulsory arbitration Of oil disputes
that may arise out Of differing in
terprstatiOns Of collective bargain
ing agreements.
II seems pertinent that colorsd
organizations would be thinking In
terms Of what changes are desir-
able In the Wagner act from the
standpoint Of colorsd people gen.
orally,
One proposal which merits con.
sidsrRtiOn would make II an unfair
labor practice to discharge or re-
fuse TO hire any person solely on
account Of his race or color.
Another would exclude from
the deRnitIoR Of . labor union
any organization which by ritual.
istie practice, constitutional or
bylaw prescription. by tacit
agreement among ita members.
or otherwise. sustOmATily or aau.
ally denies persons RembsrAhlp
In u on account % race. creed. or
color.
Republicans and northern and
western Democrats surely would
support Such amendments which
would be an approach to fair labor
practices and put an end to some
Of the race Discrimination that 10
practiced in American industry. II
might even go further and compel
unions, which now bar eolored
workers from membership OF re-
strict Thorn to auxiliary organiEa-
lions, to drop their color bars
Advocacy Of such an amendment
cannot in any sense be interpreted
as an AfSront to Senator Wagner.
and tnGsmuch as Il appears that
the law which bears his name will
be amended by the Eightisth Con.
gross, whether he Wills Il or not,
II may be that he himself would
support the changes designed 20
eliminate such discrimination.
Notes: Fleetwood Mccoy. . Re.
serve officer. is slated to succeed
Major Danny Day in the War De-
partmsnt Public Relations division.
He's the choice Of Marcus Ray,
civilian aide to the Secretary Of
War, q fellow Chicagoan. Day 10
on his way to Japan. Paul
Robson. the actor and singer. will
be the principal speaker at tho
Alpha Phi Alpha convention In Los
Angeles next month.