Evening star., 1947-04-14

combinations BY rendering labor
impotent." ."
1t forces the fair-ninded en-
ployer to cut his wages to the level
of his worst sWeat-shop competitor
the dissenters asserted.
The bin would outlaw such things
as the closed shop. most collective
bargaining on an industry-wide
basis, many types of specific strikes,
and mass picketing and violence on
picket lines.
1t sets up formula under which
the Government could cope with
strikes affecting the welfare of the
entire Nation.
1t also provides a @bill of rights
for workers intended to protect
t'7-m against various union prac-
CEo Opens Drive in Congress.
While the House made ready to
begin it's debate on the far-reaching
legislation, visiting CIO leaders be-
gan button -holing members of Con-
gress in an attempt to hold of
passage of the measures.
The union leaders heard CIO
President Philip Murray assert that
the measures are "the first real step
toward Fascism in the United
States"
Senator Aiken said he thinks
Saturdays 21-7 vote by Senate Re-
publicans-to keep Senate labor law
proposals in single all-or-nothing
bin-was IAN attempt to put the
President on the spot"
He said the decision was maneu-
vered by Senator Taft because the
chairman apparently feared he was
going to be licked" on the question
in the Labor Committee and there
fore went to the Republican mem
bership conference for advance sup
port before the committee could
decide anything.
Taft Unavailable for Comment.
Senator Aiken said: Il haven't
seen such high-handed political
bossism since I've been in Congress" :"
Senator Taft could not be reached
Immediately for comment.
Senator Aiken wants the measure
split into three separate bills, thus
giving the President a choice on
some of the provisions. He threat
ened to carry the fight to the Senate
floor, contending these other Re-
publicans favored the split Satur-
day:
Senators Smith of New Jersey
Saltonstall and Lodge of Massa-
chusetts, Flanders of Vermont
Morse of Oregon and Ives of New
York.
Measures Heading for Compromise.
The House and Senate will debate
and pass different bills. which will
be made into one compromise
measure before Congress finally
sends it to the White House.
In the Senate the stiff union
curbing measure supported by
Senator Taft, Senator Ball, Repub-
lican, of Minnesota and others is
being toned down by the Labor
Committee. But the Taft group
expects to restore some of the
lopped-off provisions during Senate
debate-Which may start next week
Yesterday the CIO opened its
drive against both the House and
Senate bills in which the CIO, with
its 100000 members, will fight the
measures by mass meetings, radio
broadcasts. newspaper advertise
Eaents, visits and kilograms to Con-
gress, leaflets, petitions, and other
means.
Mr.. Murray, addressing $50 CIC
leaders at an all-oay meeting, lashec
at the two measures as designed noi
only to cripple labor unions but alst
to create a system of totalitarian.
ism"
Charges Orgy of Labor Destruction
He said their sponsors are "in.
dulging themselves in a kind Of
drunken orgy of-not labor -batine
but actually labor destruction"
Mr.. Murray, who made three
separate speeches during the day
also hammered at industry.
He said:
l. American industrialists are hold
ing up desperately needed" wage
increases to see what Congress viii
do about labor legislation.
2. The delays are threatening tc
force strikes upon the people"
8. Such strikes would threaten
the economic stability of America
and many other countries, and
therefore this stability "lies in the
lap of American industrialists."
4. Net profits of corporations in
the first quarter of 1947 point to
an annual rate of $17,000,000, 900
compared with an annual average