davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-11-27
Congress Should Be Called
BY Raymond Moiey

Before this Lewis mess Is finished, we
shall have an entirely new example of
why Federal labor laws should be re-
vised. The Norris-La Guardia Act,
which was hailed as one of the hum
dred or so Magma Chartas of labor. Is
about as battling piece OF legal TOM
foolery as was ever enacted. 1t was.
like most reform laws, designed for a
noble purpose--in this case, to stop the
issuing of injunctions in labor disputes.
Thirty -eight years ago William Jen-
nings Bryan, angling for the support
of Samuel Gompers, thundered against
government by injunction" The Demo-
cratic platforms of 1896. 1904 and 1908
pronounced against it. So, In 1882, an
evil which was almost outdated was
supposed to be enacted out OF existence
by those doughty champions of the
common man, George Norris and Fio-
relic La Guardia. Now, generation
later, we still do not know what the
Norris-La Guardia Act means.
49,
It seems to mean that Federal courts,
with certain exceptions, cannot issue
restraining orders or injupctions in
labor disputes But the act Is SO am
biguous that 1t is hard to tell whether
it applies in case where the Govern
nent is one of the parties. The Lam
guage of the act seems to say that the
act applies only in disputes between
owners and employees. In any event,
it is unclear 1t may fail to prevent a
national calamity And It needs clari-
flying amendment in light Of present.
day conditions.
This need of amending the Norris-La
Guardia Act may, before the immedi-
ate case is over, be another clear rea-
son why the President should summon
the 79th Congress II John Z. Lewis
has chosen to defy the Government
because the law is obscure, Congress
has ample power to clarity the law.
This should be done regardless OF the
bearing that the punishment Of Lewis
may have on settling the greater me-
cessity Of getting coal.
1t may well be that, even before the
judicial status of the restraining order
is determined. Lewis and the Govern
ment will find way mutually to save
face This might be TO turn the mines
back to the owners, which would wipe
out the Lewis-Krug contract issue.
Then, while negotiations are under way
for i new contract work can be re-
suned But, while this might save the
two faces involved, It would not save
the country from endless repetitions of
Evening star., 1946-11-27
Fother, We Thonk Thee

America, you lie too deep for tears,
Close folded in our hearts throughotK
the years.
your infinite skies that near thousane
moods,
Rock-armored shores and forest soit-
tudes,
Your mountain silences. pour sunnp
riUeT---
Bone OF our bone, blood OF otr blood.
forepert
white shrines to great-souled men, yotv
loDers, rise.
We gase at them NTH t1orship IN or
eyes
Stal grant us leaders through the tDis-
with steady hands to chasten or to biess.
fnheritors of freedom, let US care
So much that nothing Is too great %
dare.
FOR fearless childhood, for bit OF soil
Where man may knoiD the JOY and peads
OF toll,
FOR simple homes, for kindly brother
Father. zoe thank Thee. for these things
are good.
We hit our Nations nag and see It shine:
Long hast Thon blessed 1t and the praiss
iNEz BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1946-11-27
LoyuIty Commission

In creating the Temporary Com
mission on Employe Loyalty Presi-
dent Truman has taken proper
cognizance OF the fact that an
emergency exists in the civil service
investigative field. The emergency
results from failure of the Seventy
ninth Congress to appropriate suf-
ficient funds with which to conduct
the customary pre-employment 10y
atty investigations. The result has
been a serious breakdown in the.
SYSTEM of safeguards heretofore
erected to protect the internal
security and integrity of the Gov
ernment.
Deprived of funds for all but q
few investigative activities, the Civil
Service Commission some months
ago reluctantly turned over to
personnel directors OF the respective
Federal agencies the responsibility
for checking on the possible criminal
or subversive background OF new
employees. Civil Service Commits
sioner Flemming and FBI Director
Hoover both warned Congress that
this would result in haphazard and
thoroughly unsatisfactory enforce
ment of the ban on criminal and
disloyal elements. Departmental
facilities for conducting such inves-
LEGATIONS are virtually nonexistent
except in the War. Navy, Treasury
and Justice Departments.
The President apparently has fol-
lowed closely the recommendations
last July of a House Civil Service
subcommittee which warned OF the
seriousness and magnitude OF the
problem of protecting the Govern
ment against disloyal employees. The
subcommittee pointed out that
adequate investigations cannot be
made without adequate appropria-
tions, that there Is no uniformity
among the departments In dealing
with subversive cases and that no
standards exist to guide personnel
officers in such matters. The sub
committee suggested the creation of
an interdepartmental commission to
undertake a comprehensive study
OF these problems and to- prepare
for Congress "a complete and
UNIFIED program that will give
adequate protection to our Govern
Evening star., 1946-11-27

this crisis. For, presumably, II the new
negotiations fail, there viii be another
strike and another seizure of the mines
by the Government.
One reason why a compromise may
take place is that both sides viii prob
ably shrink from the ultimately brutal
consequences of fight to the finish.
Both sides have the power to inflict
tremendous injury. But such injury
would be suffered by more or less inno-
cent people. The Government, II the
President summons Congress, can heav-
lily punish the miners by fines or by
impounding their funds. Lewis can
paralyze the country. Probably neither
side wants to go that far.
But above the whole issue stands the
paramount need: An orderly and just
revision of labor laws. A start on this
should not wait until January, for by
that time other unions may be heavily
committed to disastrous strikes.
1t is silly to say that the old Congress
could not act. Its leaders, under the
Presidents direction, can cooperate with
the prospective leaders Of the new Con-
gress. subcommittee can be appointed
and can go to work. There should be no
Christmas holidays for those members
of either new or old Congress who are
charged with industrial relations. The
country cannot afford to walt
+ released by the Associated Newspapers. Inc.l
Evening star., 1946-11-27
Freedom of information

In view of present realities, 1t
would be naive to expect that the
world as whole will soon adopt and
practice the principle of freedom OF
information. Yet the General As
sembly's Social, Humanitarian and
Cultural Committee has taken a
good step toward that end in calling
for an interns tional conference on
the subject. Such a conference. OF
course, may result merely in talk and
the passage of pious resolutions But
even that will be something, for the
more this question is discussed, the
more chance there will be OF even
tually acting upon it in concrete
and constructive fashion.
The committee recommendation
instructS the Economic and Social
Council of the United Nations to
convene the conference next year.
The Russians have made clear that
they are not opposed to the idea,
though they would limit discussion
to the press, whereas the committee
proposal covers the radio and mo-
ton pictures as well. Active Soviet
participation in such an undertaking
would be a hopeful development,
making possible frank and open
international exchange of views on
ways and means of doing away with
the iron curtain" or at least of lift
ing it bit to reduce some of the
suspicion and misunderstanding 1t
causes. Any concessions in this re-
spect-no matter how small are
certainly worth striving for.
In a perfect world, all men in all
nations would be kept fully and
truthfully. informed about them
selves and their governments, and
there would be a mutual, complete,
unrestricted interchange Of news
among peoples everywhere. Ideolo-
gies and human nature being what
they are, this ideal may never be-
come a reality, but mankind has
Evening star., 1946-11-27
On the Record
Bv Dorothy Thompson

roots not easily pulled up. Needed is
previous to any attempt at modification
"a thorough overl1auling Of all relation
ships-of rights, duties, and response
bilities of management, labor, the state
and society. Needed is the establish
ment OF clear standards and plans for
their realization
The authority of society cannot, how
ever. be restored until there Is society,
a social order, and state which ex-
presses It, Today we live in anarchy,
and anarchy cannot be dissipated but
only infiamed by an attempt, levelled
against one man and single group OF
workers, to restore the authority Of the
law in field which the law has all but
abandoned.
The test Of authority is enforcement.
The Government, to have Mr.. Lewis
authority must have his power to COM
mand the workers voluntarily to return
to the mines. If, unlike Mr.. Lewis, it
must starve them into submission. 1t
is not exercising authority but force,
which Is not the same thing.
From what does Mr.. Lewis authority
derive apart from the fact that the
state has tacitly conferred it on him in
the past?
1t derives from his understanding Of
miners. as men.
Does our Government possess the
same understanding? I think not.
X
The problem of the coal miner and
his relation to the social order is q
world problem, perplexing even socialist
states It is not only economic, but
psychological almost metaphysical
Towering over all legAliEms Is the fact
that agriculture and mining are the
basis Of all economics Mining Is the
heaviest, most hazardous, and most in
dividualistic 81 industrial endeayors.
Miners. who spend most Of their days
In darkness, in stopped positions. subject
to accident and many occupational dis
eases: who live APART from other work
ers, in towns of their own; who develop,
by the nature of their work, q tremen-
dous. almost tribal solidarity, viii never
work for money alone. For there Is no
wage no price, adequate to compensate
the soldier in the foxhole or in the battle
line. The miner Is the soldier of peace,
and. like the soldier, he must be COM
pensated by the tribute OF the whole
people to his honor and virility, by adj
miration, love, and recognition. To
deprive the miner Of pride Is to de-
mobilize him in his manhood. And
his pride is expressed in his union.
which for the miner Is more like an
order than bargaining agent
The psychological attitude OF miners
Is known to all who have sympathetic
ally studied them everywhere on earth.
Not even totalitarian states have ever
been able to coerce them. For they
know. as farmers know, that society
cannot live without them. That is the
basis OF their authority. They will work
freely, and therefore well. only for .
society that loves them. recognizing its
dependency, and Its debt
(Released BY the Bell syndicate. Inc)
Evening star., 1946-11-27
This Chang nging World
Bp C onsfaHfine BYOfCn

don't know enough to understand the
meaning OF the expression Stick them
up, bud They were slow in obeying
the orders and one OF them was shot.
Despite the full explanations given
to Mr.. Manuilsky with all the history
and background Of what stickups in
America are. he could not believe that
this was q coincidence. He had at
least an inkling OF what his underlings
were up to. Hence, ne was not to be
convinced by New York police authori-
ties that this was not q political crime
and that somebody" was not cunning
for his countrymen
1t Is true that In New York there
used to be Ukrainian independence
movement composed of individuals who
were opposed to their country being q
part Of the u. s. S. r. But its active
members have been long dispersed The
full explanations given to Foreign Min
lister Manuilsky were far from being
satisfactory. He insisted that this was q
political attempt at numbering his dele
gates and on his insistence the inyesti-
cations were pushed further by other
agencies than the New York Police De-
partment. The result was that it was
discovered that the delicatesscp was
being used as drop box.
y ~
The American authorities are said
now to be prepared to give the Ukrain-
ian Foreign Minister. II he insists on
his claim OF political implications" all
the available details about the opera
tions which were going on at the deli
catessen But it is believed In some
official quarters that Mr.. Manuilsky
henceforth will be satisfied with the
explanation that nobody attempted to
murder mis- men. although they were
engaged In outside activities.
Evening star., 1946-11-27
Hot Spot for Democrats
om the So. louis Post -Dispatch:

From the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
The Republican maneuver against
readmitting Theodore G. Bilbo to the
Senate Is very shreWd political act.
II Democrats oppose it. they will help
future Republican candidates in closely
contested States where Negroes. Jews
and many other people hate everything
that Bilbo stands for. But II some
Democrats support It, there win be more
ill-feeling between their reactionary and
liberal wings. providing the Republic
cans with further spectacIes Of Demo-
cratic division to hold up to public
view
The dilemma IS still more uncosn-
Portable because. through alphabetical
accidents, Democrats could halt the
maneuyer Holdover Democrats viii be
majority Of those voting when the
motion comes pp for Bilbo to stand
aside while charges Of peuonAl cor
ruption and electoral irrss larity are
considered. The motion will fall with
out some Democrats support.
Evening star., 1946-11-27
Labor Court Proposals

1t may be that the efforts now
being made to bring about direct
negotiations between John L. Lewis
and the coal mine operators will
result in settlement of the week.
old strike Such result would spare
the country the ordeal of fight to
the finish in the coal fields, and for
that reason, if for no other, It would
be welcome. But even If this latest
Lewis strike should be called of,
that, of itself, would provide no
answer to the, question Of how this
Nation can protect itself against
extreme abuses by those who have
the power to cripple. If not to de-
stroy, our economy.
Mr.. Lewis has displayed a lofty
disregard of the welfare and the
rights of the American people. Even
il he should consent to negotiate
with the operators now, he retains
the power to call another strike
within a few weeks or few months
Ii his demands are not satisfied.
And it should be remembered that
Ii the Government were to return
the mines to private possession Tor
purposes of negotiation, then Mr..
Lewis would be free to strike when
and as he pleases, for in that situa-
ton the Government would have no
sanction in law to proceed against
him.
BY this time If is clear, or 1t
should be clear. that the country
cannot continue to tolerate one
strike after another in its key
industries. At best, in the status OF
organized labor today, any such
course of conduct is wasteful and
senseless. And the people are not
going to put up with it much longer.
There are several possible rem
edies. One would be to break the
power Of the big unions by making
the antitrust laws apply to them.
just as they apply to big business.
Another might take the form OF
repair lob on existing legislation
a rebalancing of the laws to impose
obligations on labor commensurate
with the privileges that have been
granted.
1t is doubtful, however, that the
best solution lies in either OF these
directions. In our complex econ
omy, where so much depends on the
orderly settlement OF industrial
disputes. there is steadily increasing
reason to believe that the only real
solution lies in the establishment
of a system of labor courts pat
termed on the lines now being dis
cussed by men like Senator Fulbright
of Arkansas and Senator Ferguson
of Michigan.
After all, in a matter which so
vitally affects the national welfare,
WHY should rule Of law not be
substituted for the jungle tactics
which now prevail? 1t is sheer
nonsense to say, as some do, that
this cannot be done Selfish labor
leaders and industrialists would cry
out against it, but there can be little
doubt that an equitable system OF
labor courts would be welcomed by
the vast majority of workers and
employers. This is something that
can be done and should be done at
the next session of Congress.
Evening star., 1946-11-27

every reason to keep on pursuing it
In the hope OF achieving i rough
approximation OF it some day. The
projected international conference,
even II it produces little more than
talk, will serve at least to dranatize
the objective and promote greater
universal understanding OF the vital
relationship between this freedom
and a good and enduring peace.
That in itself will be progress OF q
highly useful sort.
Evening star., 1946-11-27

The capacity to see how details mt
into larger integrations, and to recognize
the difference between fiction and
reality are the chief characteristics OF
political intelligence. Never was 1t
more needed.
For We are In time OF gravest crisis.
domesticaliy and externally. and every
thing is interrelated. Internally. the
labor unions, largely anti Communist.
are struggling to break the hold which
Communist minorities. workers for an
other power and hostile civilization.
have in many key positions. Whereas
the middle classes live In illusion that
Communism is not an issue here, labor
leaders more familiar with the tech
nique Of the coup d'etat and the Com
munist strategy know better. America
minded labor leaders. therefore. need
strengthening in their positions.
Externally, we are In an acute politi-
cal war which we are losing The revolt
in the British Labor Party against too
close dependency on America Is re-
fiected in trends in every country. even
the neutIais like Sweden and Switzer-
land. In Italy and France. the situa-
ton Is precarious for the prowestern
parties. The mastery Russian maneu-
vers on Trieste are not improvised, and
the stake is not Trieste but Italy itself.
In France, the pro-Russian party is
stronger than any other and tomorrow
may be stronger than any combination
OF other parties, divided. and operating
within weak state structure.
Europe Is turning from us, not only
because it fears to be the battle-ground
Of the struggle with atom bombs, but
because. more Immediately 1t fears the
breakdown of our economy and social
order. ThnUugh the presence Of u. N.
all nations have box seal here. II is
feared that our economy may disinte-
CRATE, as in 1929. pulling down all Ted
to 1t. This Is the world picture.
-
1t Is at such a moment that the Gov
ernment chose a showdown with the
most sensitive and essential labor group,
in an industry to which all other IN
dustries are tied; and on which the
economic life OF Europe depends as
we'll: with the most union conscious
and Aat the same time anti Communist
American workers: by means-the in
junction which Is q red rag to every
Union mdH, utlucT COuuatiOAS Which,
might entail lengthy legal processes
and attendant paralysis: with q Con-
gress, some of whose members are
terrifyingly boastlng of . smandate" to
break labor: and apparently without
the foggiest concept or plan Of how they
viii resore the workers to the mines
and the mines to society. and tM
supremacy of society via the state over
our economy and its needs.
The coal struggle Is. it Is said, test
of authority. But authority is not only
\ in law. but in reality. The authoritative
position OF John L. Lewis has been. in
part, created for him as for other labor
leaders. by long history OF consent
and even connivance. 1t has established
Evening star., 1946-11-27

Secretary Of State Byrnes will adj.
wise Dnitri 2. Manuilsky, Foreign Min
lister of the Ukraine. that the diplomatic
incident caused by the shooting OF one
of the Ukraines U. N delegates In a
h0ldup In q New York delicatessen
had no political tinge and was only
an unfortunate occurrence. 1t Is doubt
full that Mr.. Manuilsky will press the
matter any further.
According to certain quarters which
are responsible for the supervision OF
stibyersive activities and espionage In
the United States, the whole matter
was strange coincidence.
The store where the Ukrainian dele
gates, Gregory v. Stadnik and A. D..
Voina, used to purchase their fruit with
cIOcklike regularity turned out to be
drop box" This expression is used
for places such as stores, restaurants or
hamburger and hot dog stands where
certain agents drop their messages to
their associates or pick them up in
casual manner Sometimes the owners
or managers are partners in these ac-
tivities; at other times they know noth-
ing about 1t.
There are hundreds Of such places
In New York and other cities in the
United States. Most Of them are listed
by the FBI. But it Is doubtful that
this particular delicatessen was q
marked place before the diplomatic
incident" occurred. 1t apparently had
not been placed under any special sur
yeillance. The two minor Ukrainian
representatives were regular patrons.
The holdup men just happened to
be operating during the customary
hour Of the delegates visit. The
Ukrainians speak some English, but
Evening star., 1946-11-27
For Economic Stability

from the Toronto Telegram
AS it seems unlikely that there can
be any reduction In wage levels, the
only possible compensation for them Is
greater productivity In the work for
which the wage is paid When the value
of the article produced is brought into
proper relationship with the compensa-
tion to the workman the country can
again expect economic stability.