Evening star., 1947-06-27
Clio Heads Meet
To Draft Policy
On Labor Law
Trumon Asks Unions
And Management to
Exercise Patience

Leaders of the CIO met here
today to draft policy toward the
new Taft Hartley Act, which it
was believed will call for court
battles all along the line. follow
| ing President Truman's appeal
to management and labor to
exercise patience and modera-
ton" in adjusting themselves to
the law.
CIO President Philip Murray
gathered the 81 members of the
organizations Executive Board to
hear complete analysis of the labor
relations law compiled by the legal
staff. Attorneys for each of the 40
CIO unions worked up the detailed
study in a meeting here yesterday
with Lee Pressman, CIO general
counsel.
Meanwhile nearly two-thirds Of
the Nations coal miners already
were out in the stoppage in protest
against the new law. It was expected
that few miners would report for
work today since their Today vaca-
ton period begins at midnight. The
pinch of the fuel shortage resulting
from the four-day partial walkout
already was cutting sharply into
steel production.
Vacation Ends July s.
John l.. Lewis miners are not
scheduled to return from vacation
until July 8. The Government,
which has operated the mines since
May, 1916, must relinquish possess
sion at midnight Monday. Mr.. Lewis
and the mine owners have been ur1-
able to agree on a contract to work
the mines, but it will probably not
be known until the vacation is over
whether there is to be a full-scale,
costly and possibly long strike.
Mr.. Truman, in formal state
ment asking industry cooperation
with the Taft-Hartley Act, pledged
himself, despite his veto and bitter
denunciation of the legislation, to
do all in his power to make sure
the act "is we'll and faithfully ad-
ministered."
TN accordance with the constitu-
tional processes of our Government"
Mr.. Truman said, I'VE must all re-
spect its (the acts) provisions.
go Insofar as management
and labor are concerned" he con-
tinued, there is a vital responsible
ity upon them to comply with the
law in spirit of tolerance and fair
play. Neither management nor Ia
Dor will achieve any long-range
benefits by seeking to use the provis-
ions of this act to gain unfair ad-
vantage or to sustain arbitrary
attitudes"
| Strike Until Repeal" Urged.
Both the CIO and AFL have re-
jected the idea of general strikes in
protest against the new law, al
though AFL President William
Green told reportrs that unions
throughout the Nation are urging
him to call strike to last until the
act is repealed"
Mr.. Murray was expected to sug-
gest to his 49 union leaders that
they set up immediate conferences
with employer representatives in
their industries to discuss problems
imposed by the Taft-Hartley law.
1t was also expected that the CIO
will plot program of court tests
of many of the laws numerous re-
strictive provisions.
In his statement, Mr.. Truman
warned:
Industrial strife at this critical
time can only result in economic
dislocation injurious to all of us. If
it. should reach serious proportions
it would threaten the stability of our
economy and endanger the peace of
the world
Assurances from NLRB.
The President said the three pres
ent members of the National Labor
Relations Board, which will have
the chief job of administering the
act, had assured him they would
give the law "the fairest and most
efficient administration within their
power"
He added that the two new mem
bers of the NLRB and the general
counsel provided for by the act
would be selected with the same
objective he said he had no
one under immediate consideration.
Later one of the Presidents close
advisers told a reporter privately
that he will suggest to Mr.. Truman
that the Chief Executive invite Re-
| (See LABOR, Page A-5D