The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-07-03
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For the first time in United
States history the steady, although
at times slow, trend Of progress in
the field of labor has been revers-
ed.
Until now there has been a
steady chipping away of the bull
warks of reaction-a steady climb
toward freedom, security and add
ed democratic practice.
1t seems amazing, and it is, that
in 1947, after a great and almost
catastrophe war for freedom, the
United States Congress should
stop the trend and turn face about
to march backward.
Perhaps the best hope is in the
narrow margin by which the Sen
ate overthrew the Presidents veto
and thus made Robert Taft's as
founding views the law of the land.
Mr.. Taft's idea is that to cure a
pimple you use meat axe. The
meat axe has swung and it will hit
more necks than even it was meant
to hit.
One thing sure about the bill,
parts of which became law immedi-
ately upon completion Of the vote
to override the veto, is that labor
relations now become more than
ever a lawyers job!
Time was, back in the days of
Samuel Gompers, when labor, in
it's contract negotiations, kept as
far from lawyers as possible.
With NRA, lawyers began to get
a real foot hold in labor relations.
Now the lawyers are in up to their
necks, for the simple reason that
the law now is so complicated that
neither the unions nor the employ
ers can be sure of what they may
and may not do, without advice of
lawyers. And even the lawyers can
be wrong-and often they will be
wrong-so that the courts enter
the picture more and more.
And this, both unions and en-
ployers will regret more and more
as time passes!
AS a nation we have taken a
great step backward, mostly be-
cause men couldn't use their heads
coolly in reasoning things out. Also
because some men think they need
an issue and think this is it. 1t
may well be!
To some extent labor itself is
responsible for this great reversal
of trend.
But to larger extent, misrepre-
sentation of labor and magnifying
of some of it's ills is responsible.
The American Federation of
Labor cannot discipline it's autono-
nous affiliates.
But it could have pointed the
finger of scorn at moral turpitude.
With much profit that could have
been done. Standards could have
been set, even at the cost of the
loss of some affiliates. Some could
have been lost, counting the net
result all to the good.
But it is too late for that now.
The Taft-Hartley bill is on the
books, parts of it, including suabil-
ity, already the law of the land.
The American Federation of
Labor conducted, in these latter
weeks, what was in the main
magnificent propaganda campaign
against the measure, but it could
not beat down the heat and pre-
judice that had been built up. The
campaign did show what labor can
do in the propaganda field and
what labor should keep right on
doing, as far as it can do it under
the new law.
That industrial peace will follow
is only dream, probably not even
believed by the most ardent friends
of the law. That both labor and
management will wonder for a
long time just what are their
rights is sure. Lawyers will
squibble and squabble and courts
will rule--a lot of legalistic gentle
men marching and counter-march-
ing over the rights and duties of
workers and management.
1t will be well for those who be-
iieve all now will be sweetness and
light to remember that it is mighty
difficult to compel workers to give
service when they are profoundly
convinced that they have just
grievances. This law deals with |
human beings, not sacks of pota-
toes. The human will is involved.
Well, we shall see what confus-
ion can be created just because Mr.. |
Taft and his friends though. |
"there ought to be law!"
He and all others can be sure
that confusion is what we shall |
have much of and out of that con-
fusion may come results to astound
Mr.. Taft and his friends.
1t is pretty hard to lock up
Rights and Liberties in America