The Wilmington morning star., 1946-09-17
Wagner Act To Blame

Sundays New York Times contains
an editorial of such strength concern
ing current strikes and the Wagner Act,
readers of the Star are urged to study
it's reasoning. 1t is reprinted in full on
this page.
In the same mail that brought the
Times there also arrived at this office
a statement bearing on the seamen's
and the truck drivers strikes which
also deserves study, and from which
we quote extensively. The statement
comes from headquarters of the Com
mittee for Constitutional Government,
and was written by DR.. Willford I. King,
noted economist, and chairman OF the
Committee.
After noting situation in New York
city brought about by these strikes. and
observing that a general walkout all
over the country is threatened, Doctor
King continues:
"All this is the outgrowth OF the
un-American system of labor strife
fostered and indeed legalized by the
Wagner Act. In this and other avs
supplementing it which exempt labor
unions from the penalties which fall on
all other citizens who violate the laws
of civilized society lies the root OF our
trouble.
"The labor union dictators demand
price control but will not submit to wage
control. They know they will not have
to submit to wage control so long as the
Wagner Act remains. That law gives
the employee a vested right to his job.
He can strike against his employer,
against the public, against his govern
ment. He can picket with baseball
bats, as in New York City; ne can use
a blackjack with impunity, so complete
has become the breakdown of local,
state and national government, and pub
lie morality, during this period of ALI
ance between labor politicians and party
politicians-some of both major par
ties. Labor has become a holy cause
and it's dictators, super-government.
Every time public Indignation has
approached the boiling point and made
legislators listen to grievances, politi-
clans with an eye on the labor vote
have placated public opinion with as
surance that an 'undisturbed era of in
dustrial peace is just ahead
"But experience says there can be
no industrial peace, nor any about eff
fort to offset initiation with increased
production, until these steps are taken:
Replace the one-sided Wagner Act
the National Labor Relations Act of
1885. Outright repeal, Immediately,
would be the shortest, surest way. The
right of voluntary organization for any
lawful purpose exists under the Consti-
tuition.
"Unionism should be sold to work
ers on its merits; never by intirida-
ton, coercion or misrepresentation; nor
by %connivance of government. Good
unions should survive. Compulsory
unionism should cease to exist.
"The individual should be free to
work for whom he p~leases. If he doesn't
like wages or conditions, he should be
free to look for another employer to
his liking. Everybody should be free
to quit work, or not; but strikers should
not be allowed to interfere with others
who do not wish to strike, or with those
who choose to take their vacated Jobs.
employers should be free to hire
whom they please, bargain with whom
they please. Freedom of contract should
be restored. The right to organize for
mutual advantage should not be denied.
The right not to organize should not be
denied. The right to bargain, indivi-
dually or collectively, should not be i'm
paired. But it should be bargaining, not
coercion. Intimidation, coercion, boy
cOff chOI11d MT bo roooo-o1aJ t:-LL.