Evening star., 1947-08-31

ship. This Labor Day of 1947, two
years after we defeated our enemies
in battle, Is an appropriate moment
for us to evaluate our accomplish
ments during war and reconversion,
and to plan for the peace we still
must win. Labor Day, therefore,
should be holiday not alone for
celebration Of past accomplish
ments, but for dedication to the
future, and to the hope which that
future holds for mankind.
The organized labor movement
of America has rewarded working
men and women with higher wages,
shorter hours and improved work.
ing and living conditions. But these
rewards have been possible only
because, as unions grew stronger,
they developed increasing respon-
sibility for helping the wheels of
industry to turn. Wherever re-
sponsible labor movement f1ourishes,
there industry prospers, production
increases, and the living standards
of the community, State or region
improve.
Must Safeguard Bargaining.
The right to join a union of ones
own choice is unquestioned today,
and is sanctioned and protected by
law. The bargaining table at
which labor and management sit to
work out their common problems
is indispensable to our democracy,
and must be safeguarded against
any attempts by misguided or ILL
intentioned groups or individuals to
weaken or replace it.
Good labor relations, however,
cannot be brought about by legisla-
ton. They are created by the men
and women concerned, cooperating
back of the clock on. management
labor relations.
Demands Repeal Of New Law.
"The blows which have been dealt
organized labor will be felt sharply
by the farmer, the merchant and
the professional man." Mr.. Murray
said.
He demanded repeal of the new
labor relations law, saying I'VE must
lay the foundation for new legisla-
tion that will help-not harm-the
people"
George Meany, AFL secretary
treasurer, declared that a number
of members of Congress from farm
districts who voted for the Taft
Hartley law did their constituents
"a grave disservice."
"Antilabor propaganda dissent
mated among the farmers by big
business during the past few years
has played an important part in
this picture" Mr. Meany said Now
it is up to labor to get busy and
bring the truth to the farmers"
Jack Kroll, chairman Of the CIO
Political Action Committee, struck
out at Congress and said the PAC
is soliciting contributions for its
Campaign to return the Congress
of the United States to the people
Of the United States"
4Alt anu DCWCy ShAshSAASNs
Mr.. Kroll also blasted away at
Senator Taft of Ohio, chairman of
the Republican Policy Committee,
and Gov. Dewey of New York. Re-
ferring to the Republican sponsor
ship of the Taft-Hartley Act, the
PAC director charged that Gov.
Dewey sat smugly silent while the
hand that held the knife plunged
it into the peoples back
1t. Gen. Hoyt s. Vandenberg. act
ing deputy commander of the Army
Air Forces, paid the following trib-
ute to labor:
producing the sinews Of Amer
icas air power was labor's i'm
measurable contribution to victory
in the war. Labor is making a
similarly vital contribution in pro-
ducing the aircraft which give mean
ing to the phrase that air power
is peace power"
Frieda S. Miller, director Of the
Labor Department Womens Bureau,
recounted the Importance of women
in the labor force.
Without women, our schools,
hospitals and medical laboratories
would be greatly understaffed If not
actually incapacitated," she said.
Without a labor force Of women to
draw on, the business life OF Amer
ica< also would be in pitiable con-
fusion"
Reuther Urges Conference.
Walter P. Reuther, president OF
the CLIO United Auto Workers,
called for the immediate convening
Of a national labor conference COM
posed of delegates from the C1O,
AFL, Railroad and independent
unions to map joint action in po-
litical and other fields. The confer
ence would plan tests of every
phase" of the Taft-Hartley Act,
mobilize the workers for the 194S
elections, work out ways Of settling
union jurisdictional disputes and
plan joint economic action In time
of strikes.
Labor united Is essential II we
are to get on rapidly enough with
our work of rallying the Nation to
meet the threat of depression and
atomic war" Mr.. Reuther stated.
"A united labor movement cannot
await the perfection of organic
unity Emerging of the CIO and
AFL). Practical working united must
be achieved now; out of the prac-
tical working unity, implemented by
joint action and joint struggle on
the economic and political fronts,
organic unity will be forged"
johannesburg, South Africa, has
a plan to teach politeness to traffic
inspectors.