Evening star., 1947-06-29
RESISTING the Low

The repetitious character of history Is
being demonstrated again by labor's re-
action to the new Taft-Hartley law. The
reaction, though differing in detail and
potential force is much like that dis
played in the early days of the Wagner
Act by the bulk of the Nations employers
In that time as noW-except that 1t came
from the opposite side-there was an
organized drive against the new legislation
with the main battlefield mapped out in
the courts.
President Roosevelt signed the Wagner
Act in July, 1885, and the fight against 1t
continued until the Supreme Court upheld
it in April two years later. The United
States Chamber of Commerce, the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers, 1nd1-
vidual businessmen, sympathetic commen-
tators, and numerous other persons and
groups all joined in energetic opposition to
the law Hardly had it gone into effect
when a well-known columniSt declared
that "a more preposterous piece of legisla-
ton was never written" and that 1t was
"palpably unconstitutional" meat
packing company Immediately challenged
it by refusing to abide by one of its key
provisions. 1t was still only months old
when a court in Kansas ruled against it.
Industry as whole-With complete frank
ness-made clear its determination to
battle it to the death with every legal
weapon available
The Wagner Act, having survived this
assault, now has what is designed to be
balancing counterpart in the Taft-Hart-
ley law. Now, too, the forces of resistance
are organizing, this time on the other side.
The best legal minds of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, the Congress of Indus
trial Organizations, and the United Mine
Workers are being marshalled for the
attack. The new legislation has been con-
demned as slave" legislation whose "un
constitutionality" every union leader can
plainly see Test cases are foregone con-
cluSion. The battle may last for two or
more years. Then, if the patterns and ira
ditionS of the past are followed the issue
finally will be settled in the courts-one
way or the other-and everything will grow
relatively quiet until Congress passes an
other measure of similar sort.
Resisting the law in this sense is an old
American custom. It does no harm, but
on the contrary can do much good, if it is
carried out in an orderly, democratic and
legal manner. William Green of the AFL,
ruling out protest strikes, favors court
action and a drive at the polls to defeat
supporters of the new legislation Philip
Murray of the CIO apparently feels the
same way The wildcat" walkouts among
the mine workers suggest that John L.
Lewis may think differently, but if he does,
labor as a whole should sit on him. The
people of this Nation-through an over
whelming vote in CongreSS-are behind the
Taft-Hartley Act They expect union
leaders to follow the American way and
resist, If they must, only through the courts
and legitimate political measureS-not by
reSorting to the strike weapon.
President Truman has offered wise coun-
sci to labor and management on this score.
Declaring that the new act will be well
and faithfully administered" and that all
parties must respect it, he has warned
against arbitrary attitudes" and called for
moderation and patience" to guard
against industrial strife that could en-
danger our whole economy and the peace
of the world. These are words to be
weighed with particular care by any ele-
ment in labor inclined to fight the law
laWleSSly