Evening star., 1947-12-27
EIGHT Million Fund Raised
Beut uft-HortIey Act
Drive Aimed at Congress Members
Who Voted for Labor Curbs
The Political Mill
Bv Gould Lincoln


More than two-thirds of the members of Con-
gress, Republicans and Democrats alike next
year will face a tremendous campaign,
financed to the tune of an 100000 fund.
to defeat them for denomination and re-elec.
ton. These are the members who voted for
the Taft-Hartley Labor Act. 1t matters not to
the union labor leaders whether these Repre-
sentatives and Senators may be right In their
stand on other problems, domestic and inter.
national and of vital importance to the Ameri.
can people. Such minor things, in the union
leader mind, as national defense. foreign policy.
and sound Government finances are not to be-
the yardsticks by which these members of Con-
gress are to be measured. The sole yardstick is
the Taft-Hartley Act.
II the union leaders were successful in this
campaign, the result would be Congress en-.
tirely subservient to organized labor. 1t would
be special interest" Congress Although labor.
dominated the Roosevelt administration
throughout its course, it was able to dominate
the Congress only up to point-and in the
last two Roosevelt terms its influence with Con-
greSs sagged tremendously. The first duty Of
the Congress, if the labor leaders win in the,
coming primaries and general election, will be.
to repeal the Taft-Hartley Act, restoring labor
unions to their former intolerable lopsided, and
unlimited power.
Would Jump Through Hoop. %
But that would not be all. Members of the
new Congress, realizing that they had been
placed in Office by special-interest group
would jump through the hoop whenever they
heard the voice of their boss. 81,
The American Federation of Labor, the
CIO, the Railroad Brotherhoods and other
lob ro,,iu iss
the realm of political action" in recent weeks.
Their slogan is exemplifed in a cartoon pub-s
lished in Labor, organ of the Railroad Brother.
hoods, bearing the inscription: Resolved, that
in 1948 at the primary and general election,
we will remember our friends and we will not
forget our enemies" .
1t Is incredible that the American people,
including the rank and file members of labor
unions, will ever do the thing that these labor
leaders are now demanding. As matter
of fact and entirely beyond the danger to-
the republic which the election of special-s
interest Congress would constitute, there ares
provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act which
find much favor with the ordinary members,
of labor unions Among them is the prohi-
bition of the closed-shop contract. This pro-
vision has been attacked strongly by the typo
graphical union. 1t falls foul of the maritime
unions WIN LQclr nlTlQg QdllS buC IL Is
going to stand-unless, indeed, the labor lead,
ers should be able through their present cam
paign and millions of slush funds to elect the
Congress they desire.
Means Of Union Security.
The union shop, meaning a shop in which
workers have to join a union within 80
days after their employment, is means OF
union security to which the typographical
union members could turn If they desired The
question here, however, is whether the typo
graphical union is interested in union security
or in monopoly.
Under the aft-Hartley Act a joint COM,
mittee of the two houses of Congress was
created to study the operation of the act and
to report on any changes in the act which are
advisable. Headed by Senator Ball of Minne-
sota Republican, this joint committee through
it's staff largely, has been canvassing the situ-
alton, keeping close tabs on decisions of the
National Labor Relations Board. 1t has also,
as directed, been studying the problem OF
industry wide strikes and the problem OF
welfare funds set up by employers in con-
junction with the employees. The committee
is directed to make its first report by March
Is. The probabilities are 1t will report prog
ress" in its studies-for the committee hasn't
enough facts yet to recommend new legislation.
None of the labor organizations has sub
mitted to the committee proposed amendments
to the law. 1t seems they are intent, not on
better law, but on getting rid Of all law
except that which caters to their own interest.