Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-13
U. S. Seen CompIocent
On Labor MONOPOLY
Majority of Congress Members
Would Like to Know Answer
By David Laserence

By David Laaorence
Do the American people want nothing
| more done about the labor situation?
Are they satisfied to let present laws go
unamended and to continue the monop-
oily power of labor unions unresrrained
SO that an economic paralysis can be
imposed on the Nation at will?
The majority in Congress would like
to know the answer. This correspondent
has previously expressed the belief that
the American people probably want to
experience further punishment and in
convenience. Maybe the citizens would
rather suffer any amount Of inconven-
fence than write letters to their Senator
or Representative.
For the letters to Congress have not
been sufficient thus far to indicate that
the people really care. Maybe it has
been because the issue hasn't been
clarified or maybe it has been because
the people are very patient and have
expected their President to take care
Of such things for them.
Playing Politics.
Now Mr.. Iruman's message reveals
clearly that he is playing politics and
that he was inundated by the reac-
ton of labor unions to his message at
the time of the railroad strike. His
message of veto closely parallels the
CIO memorandum.
The veto power is tremendous in
Strument for any group to control and
when the labor unions take possession
of the White House, as they have re-
Gently done, it becomes necessary for
Congress to mobilize two-thirds vote
in both houses in order to express the
will of the people. Thus in the House
of Representatives the Case bill received
only five votes less than two-thirdS of
the House. The House is elected every
two years and Oh the labor issue it has
been bipartisan. But minority Of
Democrats in the House, mostly from
Northern cities where the labor union
vote is numerous, has blocked enact
ment Of the Case bill.
The issue has by no means been
settled Efforts TO tack the Case bill
on the so-called emergency draft" bill
will be made. but it is. probable Mr..
Truman would veto this, too.
One unfortunate consequence of Mr..
Trumans ineptitude is that besides
adding several billions of dollars of
costs recently to the railroads and the
industrial users of bituminous coal. the
White House has stimulated the infa-
ton spiral through a general encourage
ment of wage increases. The admins
tration has done nothing TO insure a
corresponding increase in output by
labor. It's theory of more-money-
for-less-Work-a theory that means col
lapse in the end
Initiation Spreading.
Imitation is rapidly spreading. The
Presidents policies are largely respon-
sible. For now that no restraining hand
has been placed on the labor union
monopolies, it is only a question Of
time when the high costs will break
away all price ceilings. Certainly there
is no good reason for keeping the OPA
any longer A free market may bring
America back to equilibrium faster now
that the White House has encouraged
wage rises and stimulated the use of
the economic power of labor unions.
The inevitable debacle in the eco
nomic situation will come, however,
when the public finds it cannot pay
the prices that will have to be asked.
Lyatc ool1
ment will ensue. When there is no
limit to the power of organized work
ers to skyrocket costs Of production. it
invariably happens that prices rise and
buyers strike results.
The belief that there can be no de-
preston of a severe nature, because
there are SO many shortages of goods
and so great potential demand is con-
fined largely TO those who think in
terms of the immediate market. The
long range view now points to an eco
nomic depression in 1948 which will be
known as the Truman depression Nat
urally, the Northern Democrats will
cry out that the elimination of the
OPA was the cause but the public Will
know that the labor policy of the ad-
ministration-Or rather the lack Of it
and the new alliance between the White
House and the left wing were the real
causes of the breakdown
Although Mr.. Truman has failed as
national leader, Congress can still legiS-
late on all these matters. But a two
thirds vote of both houses is required.
lieves in repudiating the responsibility
of the administration in the handling
of labor disputes will have to exercise
his constitutional right of petition to
the House and Senate if Congress is to
feel the strength Of public opinion.
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