Evening star., 1947-02-19
Morse Reveals Extent
OfLubor MONOPOLY
Figures on Closed Shop Con-
tracts Are Called Astonishing
By Dafd Laurence

ny D0pt0 Laurence
An astonishing statement has Just
been made by the Undersecretary of
Labor, David Morse, namely, that there
are CLOSED shop" provisions Of one kind
or another in n per cent of the $4,000
collective bargaining contracts with
unions.
This means that monopoly is far more
extensive than any previously available
information has even remotely sug-
gested.
Mr.. Morse was using the statistics to
argue that the CLOSED shop" must not be
disturbed by Congress. This is reminis-
cent of what the big businessmen used
to say-that monopolies and trusts
should not be disturbed by the courts
because 1t would upset established ar
rangements.s
It's the same kind of argument that
has been made again and again in de-
Tending monopoly, and it is an example
of how far gone the monopolistic system
on the labor side is when a Govern
ment official of so-called liberal" ad-
ministration is arguing for the status
quo'' in favor of labor union monopolies.
Expediency has never stayed the hand
of the Federal Government in matters
of court action where evil has been un-
covered. The antitrust laws weres en-
acted by Republican Congress in 1890
to save the Nation from exploitation.
1t could have been argued then that the
monopolies had built up the country and
developed its resources and that hence
they should have immunity.
Highest Court Yet to Act.
Today the labor union monopolies
have been established by economic pres
sure under which, in effect, gun has
been pointed at the head of the en-
ployer so that he must agree to the
closed shop" or suffer considerable
loss None of these CLOSED shop" agree,
ments has ever been passed on by the
Supreme Court of the United States. In
the Wagner law there is provision
which says the employer must not make
membership in union condition OF
work and yet in the same law there is
a provision which says that voluntary"
agreements between employers and
unions involving union membership as
condition of employment are not dis
criminatory. This conflict has never
been passed on either by the highest
court because no case involving that
specific issue has been brought Before
the court.
Incidentally, several States have
adopted amendments to their own con-
stitutions barring the CLOSED shop" and
the issue of whether these amendments
are valid has not yet been passed on by
the Supreme Court of the United States.
In one case recently the Supreme Court
by-passed the issue. Another test is ex-
pected shortly.
The problem is a simple one If civil
rights are to be considered. No union
has right to determine who shall or
shall not work. The right to work is one
of the rights reserved to the people
under the Constitution of the United
States, and not even the Federal Gov
ernment may say who shall or shall
not work in private industry or busi-
ness.
NRA Ruling Recalled.
If union has the constitutional right
to regulate employment and, by its own
rules, determine who shall or shall not
work, then the Supreme Court was
wrong in inyalidating the NRA in 1885
when it held that Congress could not
delegate the lawmaking authority to
any private organization. The labor
unions and the code authorities" which
emerged under NRA are on par when
it comes to units exercising powers OF
economic life or death over individuals
or their businesses
Because the CLOSED shop" has reached
so deeply into the economic system OF
this country, there are those who wish
to appease the unions by offering plans
to regulate" rather than abolish the
closed shop monopoly. This would be
more dangerous than outright abolition.
For it would mean that political gov
ernment would undertake to permit
certain monopolies to function, and this
would result in delegation by Congress
W dSCiSy, AAhC cAAS A@oSoA ~N"~A ~
of the task Of administering these rules.
1t would open the way to complete regu-
Iation CT labor unions by Government
a source of greater friction than the
closed shops"
There Is no justification in law or
equity for CLOSED shop" monopoly. No
individual or group Of individuals has
right to say IN America that man or
woman shall not be permitted to work
unless he or she pays tribute to a pri-
vate organization and agrees to abide
by union-made laws.
The right to work is impaired by the
CLOSED shop" and true liberals will not
accept it any more than they would the
impairment of any other civil right.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)
Mr.. Acheson Stoys On