Evening star., 1947-02-17
Congress Urged
ToBreak
BigLaborUnions
TwoWitnesses Favor
Same Given
To Big Business
BY the Associated Press

oJ IHe NssoS'oieo r'SSS
A representative of one of the
Nations largest coal operators
and a lawyer for several indus
trial firms joined today in urging
Congress to smash union mo-
nopoly" by breaking up big
unions into little ones.
Rolla D. Campbell of Huntington,
w. Va, hammered particularly at
John L. Lewis United Mine Work.
ers. He represents the Island Creek
Coal Co. and the Pond Creek Poca-
hontas Co.
George B. Christensen, member OF
the Chicago law firm of Winston,
Strawn and Shaw, which has several
industrial clients, singled out no
special unit.
But in statements prepared for
the House Labor Committees hear
ing on general labor legislation, the
two witnesses said it is up to Con-
gress to take the same steps against
union monopolies that were used
against business monopolies.
Mr.. Campbell said large unions
now are in a position to "paralyze
the Nation" make it impossible for
people to get basic necessities"
and destroy "our ability to make
war"
They have converted themselves"
he said, into private, irresponsible
super governments"
Norris-La Guardia Act Hit.
Mr.. Christensen assreted that:
During the last Is years this
country has turned its back, so far
as labor unions are concerned, on
the old and sound doctrine against
concentration of unrestrained eco
nomic power in the hands of any
group and has encouraged and fer
tilted labor monopolies.'
This has happened, largely, he
said, under the 1882 Norris-La
Guardia Act. That act was passed
to forbid employers to break strikes
by obtaining court injunctions and
to outlaw so-called yellow dog" con-
tracts by which workers agreed not
to join unions.
Mr.. Christensen took the position
that much of the existing labor
management troubles can be cor
rected by repeating some segments
of that act.
Mr.. Campbell argued for ban
on industry wide bargaining, but
Mr. Christensen said this would
treat the symptoms rather than
disease"
The demand for such bargaining,
Mr.. Christensen said, arises only
because unions have obtained a
virtual monopoly in some industry.
The proper way to remedy the evil,
he said, is to break up the labor
monopoly which is the source of
the industry wide demand"
Sees More Coal Strikes.
Like other coal Spokesmen, Mr..
Campbell said that if Congress
doesn't curb big unions ut is not
unreasonable to anticipate further
coal strikes" when the Government
returns the bituminous coal mines
to private ownership. Under pres
ent law, the Government must do
this before July l..
Mr. Campbell urged two things
especially;
/. In addition to prohibiting in
dustry-wide bargaining, break up
industry wide unions. except as ad-
visory groups with the same gen.
eral functions as trade associations.
2. Make it illegal for a union to
have any part in administering a
health and welfare fund to which
the employer contributes money.
(This would knock out the present
5-cent-a-ton royalty fund in the
coal Industry
Mr.. Campbell also asked the House
group to outlaw closed shop con-
tracts; to remove Federal recogni-
ton for any union which admits
foremen to membership or which
uses physical force against employ
ers or workers; to forbid secondary
boycotts; and to make many other
| ICoo ApOD Do0o e1