Evening star., 1946-08-02

related to merit Nothing in the
world save public inertia enables
the demagogues to flourish and the
sinister influences to make head
way. No better illustration Of this
could be had than is afforded by
the appalling labor crises through
which we recently passed and the
extraordinary failure of Congress
to do anything about them.
Less than two months ago after
q series of strikes in various cities
and fields which crippled produc-
ton and imposed great discomfort
on thousands, the Nation found its
entire economic life and the well
fare of the whole people threatened
by strikes in the coal and railroad
industries. In the latter the Situa-
ton became so critical that the
President, denouncing the strike
leaders as arrogant and greedy
men," appealed to Congress to give
him power to draft workers into
the Army in order to avert COM
plete collapse of the Nations trans
portatlon system.
Angered by Coal Crisis.
In the coal case, after the coun-
try had been brought to the verge
of disaster. settlement was made
by which practically every union
demand was granted. These threats
came so close to economic strangu-
lation that the Nation really was
aroused. Practically all the people
then got mad about the same thing
at the same time All over the coun-
try they responded to the presi-
dental words.
Rejecting popular Indignation,
the House promptly passed the leg
iSlation for which Mr.. Truman
asked. But the Senate held it up
the strikes were settled the imme-
date crisis passed and almost al
once the public cooled off. The
people were mad at the start; the
trouble was they did not stay mad
Quick to take advantage of the
change in temperature, the scared
labor politicians and their legisla-
tive stooges rallied and went to
work. The result is that the chance
to correct the manifest inequities
of existing labor laws and establish
a firm national labor policy, which
not only would be fair to the en-
ployer as well as to the unions, but
put the public interests f1rst-Where
there is no denial they should be
has passed SO far as this session is
concerned. This Congress is about
to adjourn without enacting any
labor legislation at all.
Labor Lobby Triumphs.
The Case bill was killed by Mr..
Truman's veto; the Ball-Burton-
Hatch bill and the Byrd bills have
been shelved. The only thing that
got through at all is the Hobbs anti
racketeering bill, and all that does
is again make applicable to unions
certain criminal laws from which
they had been exempted by an ab-
surd Supreme Court decision. Thus.
because the people cooled, the labor
lobby has again triumphed and the
labor professionals for another year
at least will continue unchecked i'll
a power, the danger of which has
been amply demonstrated.
1t is difficult to see how any de-
tached citizen can view these facts
with equanimity. The iniustices
and abnormalities of the labor stat
utes are acknowledged by all save
those to whom they give advantage
The situation cries for action. The
country wants action. But instead
Of action, this session winds up with
complete inaction.
Among recent labor development.
worth noting have been-frst the
fulsome eulogies of the late Sidney
Hlllman by newspapers and poll.
ticians who eXtraVagantly praised
him as labor statesman" ignoring
altogether the fact that he created
and directed one of the most ruth
less, reckless and vicious politica
machines that ever existed, the chic.
function of which is to spread un.
precedentedly defamatory publicity
against public men 1t cannot control
Quietude Deceptive.
And, while there is now relative
quiet on the labor, front it is a de.
ceptive quiet. Little secret is made
that in many fields hundreds O,
strikes are scheduled for the neXt
u months. Threats are again heinz
voiced by the labor bosses through
the late MIR. Hillmans PAC pub.
licity instruments.
A second development was the
open avowal of Senator of tn,
United States-Glenn Taylor, O.
1daho-that he is a member of {
labor union which claims it ha
the right to strike against the Gov
ernment. AS a member of thi