Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-01-03
I1x:y51!S{:}50Nl1 Dice:
Labor Disputants Must
Heed Public's Interests
By BAUKHAGE
Ne1Us analyst and Commentator.
WNU Service, 1916 Eye Street, NV,
Washington, d. C.

WNU Service, 1916 Eye Street, NV,
Washington, D. c.
WASHINGTON. - Regardless of
the bitterness engendered by the
coal strike many real friends of
labor in Washington watched the
preliminaries to the opening of con-
gress with far less apprehension
than might have been supposed.
But that wasn't true of some of
the labor leaders.
There were several reasons for
the fears of the latter. In the first
place, it was no secret that a great
many union members were getting
decidedly fed up with the autocratic
methods of some of the top dogs.
Part of this may have been the
general feeling that it was time for
change, which the voters regis
tered so emphatically. Many of
these voters were, of course, union
men. Without labor's support the
Republicans would not have made
such great gains in many of the
cities.
talked to one union man who
expressed this skeptical attitude to-
ward the top leadership. He said
there was discomfort because of
'too many strikes" He didn't mean
strikes in his own group, neces-
sarily. He was referring to the fact
that when other unions walked out
it affected him too. He didn't like
the idleness that he had expert
enced. He resented the raising of
his dues. He felt the pressure from
the higher cost Of living, which he
did not blame entirely on big
profits. He was not immune to the
argument that lack of production
due to strikes for which he was not
responsible was also partly to
blame.
His inability to control the strikes
in other unions was not the only
cause of his resentment. He felt
that his vote in itself had very lit
tie effect; that policy was ham,
mered out by the big fellows"
Then, too, the stories of the fine
homes and the big cars of some of
the high officers didn't help. found
his attitude reflected in similar re-
ports from other sources.
Most of these conditions to which
my informant objected, of course,
stood out at the very beginning of
the coal strike with it's powerful
one-man-domination and its Grip
pling effect on other industries.
Another feeling registered by
many workers was fear of a de-
preston. They know that that would
weaken the unions because many
men would do as my friend said
he would have to do-forget the
union and take any job he could get
if work grew scarce.
Predict Curbs on
Autocratic Leaders
Since many of the men who fol-
lowed this line of reasoning helped
make the Republican victory pos
sible, astute political leaders, with
their eyes on 1913, are preparing to
stop the "smash-the-union" talk and
substitute for it the slogan "smash
the autocratic leaders and keep
them from smashing the union"
The friends of labor" that I men,
toned realize this. They are freely
predicting that this congress will
not produce obstructive labor
legislation.
They feel that such radical moves
as compulsory arbitration or rigid
government control will not sue
coed. They do admit they expect
many of the advantages labor has
enjoyed under the Wagner act will
be- pared down.
When the President said at a
White House press and radio con-
ference that he intended to write as
strong a message as possible to the
congress, it was not interpreted as
meaning that any anti-labor
shackles would rise. Harry Tru-
mans whole record in congress is
distinctly conservative but not re-
dictionary. On the other hand, he
doesn't intend to approach the SUBJ
ject from the New Deal point of
view. AS I pointed out previously
Al tAAAo SolSAilLlp lie
self a "free man," bound by no
previous obligations, acting under
no restraint. He could not escape
the tenor of the vote in November
nor could he ignore the gauntlet
which John Lewis threw down.
Looking around in the senate, the
friends of labor feel they see evil
dence of enough wisdom and dis
erection to prevent any labor-bait-
ing orgy even if some of the men,
bers of the house may lean to ex-
tremes. After all, most legislation
is written in conference.
Although there was considerable
concern expressed by their respec-
tive opponents, both Senators Taft
and Ball, who naturally would be