Evening star., 1947-06-21
Text of Truman Veto Talk

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gress, even If it were not in session.
Postponing a strike in the coal in
dustry until the approach OF winter,
when our need for coal is acute, Is
certainly not the way to protect the
Nation against the dangers of q
shortage of coal
The bill would not aid fair and
early settlements OF disputes in vital
industries.
We have been told,, by the sup
porters of the Taft-Hartley bill,
that it would reduce industrial
strife.
Would Increase Strife
On the contrary, am convinced
that it would increase industrial
strife.
The bill would soon upset secur-
|ity clauses in thousands Of existing
agreements between labor and man.
agement. These agreements were
mutually arrived at and furnish a
satisfactory basis for relations be-
tween worker and employer. They
provide stability in industry. With
their present types Of agreements
outlawed by this bill. the parties
would have to afind q new basis for
agreement. The restrictions In this
bill would make the process Of
reaching new agreements . long
and bitter one.
The bill would increase indus
trial strife because a number of its
provisions deprive workers Of legal
protection of fundamental rights.
They would then have no means Of
protecting these rights except by
striking.
The bill would open up oppor-
tunities for endless law suits by
employers against unions and by
unions against employers. For ex-
ample, it would make employers
Vulnerable to an immense number,
of law suits, since grievances, how
ever minor, could be taken into
court by dissatisfied workers.
Insofar as employers are con-
cerned, I predict that II this bill
should become law they would re-
gret the day that it was conceived.
Tt Is loaded with provisions that
would plague and hamper manage
ment. 1t is filled with hidden legal
traps that would take labor rela-
tions cut of the plant, where they
belong, and place them in the courts.
Another defect is that In trying to
correct labor abuses the Taft-Hart-
ley bill goes so far that 1t would
threaten fundamental democratic
freedoms. One provision undertakes
to prevent political contributions
and expenditures by labor organi-
cations and corporations. This pro-
vision would forbid a union news
paper from commenting on candi-
dates in national elections. 1t might
well prevent an incorporated radio
network from spending any money
in connection with the national
convention of political party. 1t
might even prevent the League of
Women Voters-which is incorpo-
rated-using its funds to inform its
members about the record of .
political candidate.
Challenge to Free Press.
I regard this provision Of the
Taft Hartley bill as dangerous
challenge to free speech and our
free press.
One of the basic errors of this bill
is that it ignores the fact that over
the years we have been making real
progress in labor management re-
lations. We have been achieving
slow but steady improvement in CO.
operation between employers and
workers. ts@ss tS go
We must always remember that
under our free economic system,
management and labor are asso-
ciates. They work together for their
own benefit and for the benefit of
the public.
The Hartley bill fails to rec
ognize these fundamental facts.
Many provisions of the bill would
have the result of changing employ
ers and workers from members of
the same team to opponents on con-
tending teams.
I feel deep concern about what
this would do to the steady prog
ress we have made through the
years.
I fear that this type of legisla-
ton would cause the people of our
country to divide into opposing
groups. If conflict is created, as
this bill would create it-if seeds
of discord are sown, as this bill
would SOW them-our unity will
suffer and our strength will be i'm
paired.
This bill does not resemble the
labor legislation which I have
recommended to the Congress. The
whole purpose of this bill Is con-
trary to the sound growth of our
national labor policy.
Still Time for Legislation.
There Is still time to enact pro-
gressive, constructive legislation
during the present session. We
need such legislation to correct
abuses ana to further our advance
in labor management relations.
We seek in this country today a
formula which will treat all men
fairly and justly. and which will
give our people security in the
necessities of life.
AS our generous American spirit
prompts us to aid the world to re-
build, we must. at the same time.
construct a better America in
which all can share equitably In
the blessings of democracy.
The Taft Hartley Bill threatens
the attainment of this goal.
For the sake of the future of this
Nation, hope that this bill will not
become law.
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