Milford chronicle., 1946-06-14
THE STRIKE PARALYSIS that besets


this country was inevitable. 1t is largely the
result of deliberate legislative and judicial
acts of the past decade
In 1898, the Supreme Court held that the
Norris-LaGuardia Anti-Injunction and Pick
citing Act protected picketerS even when they
are not employees; also that the Labor Rela-
tions Act authorizes the board National
Labor Relations Board) to make an Infer
ence" from any evidence, even though such
inference is contrary to the weight OF evil
lence In 1910, the Supreme Court held that
picketers may publcize any statement
against an employer. This right to pubcize
is the freedom of speech guaranteed by the
Constitution The employer however, is sub
ject to punishment under the Wagner Labor
Relations Act when there is any evidence
from which the Board might infer that the
employer interfered with union activities.
Again in 1910 the Supreme Court reverS-
ed the decisions of 80 years and held that la
Dor was for the most part immune from anti
trust acts.
In 1912, the Supreme Court held that
sums extorted from truck drivers under
threats of assault and battery should be re-
garded as wages of bona tide employer to
an employee" and the interference with
such extortion would be interference with
traditional labor union activities"
In 1912, in wartime, the National War
Labor Board required maintenance OF men'-
bership" in labor contracts, contrary to the
intent of the Wagner Act when passed.
Next, the government took over Mont
gomery Ward because it refused a mainte-
nance of membership clause. But in 1914
Petrillo refused the Presidents request that
he accept the directiveS of the National War
Labor Board Nothing was done about 1t.
No wonder strikes have approached the
point of revolution in the United States.
~>@o&~
AMERICA HAS USED more paper pei
capita in every year, and decade, and cen
tury, than any other nation on earth. Free
dom to go into business, conduct business
advertise a business, print the news, write :
book-all of these freedoms meant paper
We never miss plentiful bascs, such as paper
until there is scarcity or shortage They
had to take paper, planned for printing Bi
bles, to print the messages of freedom during
the Revolution. Somehow we never realize
the Importance of staple until, by reversal
of economics, it becomes a luxury.
To those engaged in printing, publishing
and advertising, the war years have beel
wears of great scarcity. But all of us felt tina
with the end of the war, and with all pape
production earmarked for the ways of peace
paper would again be plentiful 1t isn't Pa
por is still scarce. But there is no pape
shortage This is paradox which require
an explanation. Mills are producing NOR
paper than ever before. But by that sam
reversal of economies, paper remains luz
ury because there is more demand for
than ever before New publications are Ell
terng the field. Old publications are increa'
ing their Image. Billions of labels and pacE
ages of consumer goods are required. AC
vertising again turns to its actual Job {
selling by printed word. The mills al
swamped with ORDERS and even under speed
ed-up production cannot produce enough p;
per to meet the demand Users of paper mu
conserve it in every way. That is why II
Chronicle, like all other progressive and p
triotic newspapers. must continue to u
newsprint wisely and sparlngly.
N~oN<&
CONTROLLING INITIATION is not Il
nations number one problem. The numb
one problem is how to preserve represent
tive government in the face of infatOn
NAV be impossible to control initiation due
natural forces over which the people have
control 1t is possible to preserve repreSe
tative government because that is polite
question and political questions are clear
within the power of the people to decide.
The argument is often heard that une
initiation is controlled, the resulting cha
will automatically destroy freedom, and h
tory is called upon to support such an arg
ment But in answer to this it can be So
that there has never been another nation
history like the United States. Her peol
are highly iterate, closely integrated
modern communication and transportatic
and we'll informed on the problems of the d;
They have been taught almost from
cradle that their heritage of independence
their most valued possession. Nothing {
take this heritage away from them. If it
lost, they alone must lose it. If they perr
it to be lost in the turmoil of transitory e
nomic upsets, they deserve to lose it.
they should realize now that the suffering
imitation will be as nothing compared to
suffering of political tyranny once it ha
secure hold upon their lives.
No, initiation is not the nations mum
one problem.