Evening star., 1948-11-07
Labor Hopes for End
OF Taft Act, But Sees
Some Union Curbs
BY Jones Y. Newton

Organized labor's hopes were high
last night for repeal of the Taft
Hartley Act by the new Democratic
Congress and its leaders were will
ing to concede that whatever sub
stitute legislation may be passed
hardly will be as favorable as the
old Wagner Labor Relations Act
which imposed no restrictions on
unions.
The administration, pledged to re-
peal of the labor law by the Demo-
cratic platform, already was laying
plans for labor legislation. Sec
retary of Labor Tobin, the "baby"
cabine member who took the stump
actively for President Truman, is
expected to lead the new investiga-
ton.
Mr.. Tobin stated the day after
the election that one of the first acts
of the victorious Democrats would
be to act on their Taft Hartley
pledge. He said they hoped to come
up with substitute that would be
fair to both labor and management.
NJ SVhSult Doth oluCSs
1t was understood that in the
drafting of new proposals to Con-
gress in January, Mr.. Tobin will
consult representatives of both labor
and management. 1t is the admin
istration's hope to work out some
compromise that would please both
sides, but the Democrats are de-
-cidedly more indebted to labor for
its unexpected triumph.
Officials indicated that probably
nothing definite will be decided in
the matter until President Truman
returns from his Florida vacation.
Expected to work with Secretary
Tobin in drafting proposals are Paul
M. Herzog, chairman of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board; Cyrus
S. Ching, head of the Federal Medi-
alton and Cancellation Service, and
John r. Steelman, special assistant
to the President.
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, said
in Wellesley, Mass, yesterday that
repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act
should be "the first order of business
for the new Congress"
Mr.. Green spoke at the 35th Ma
tional Business Conference spon-
sored by the Babson Institute. He
had been scheduled to debate the
labor law with Representative Hart
ley, Republican of New Jersey, CO.
author of the act, but Mr.. Hartley
was unable to attend because Of a
sore throat, the Associated Press
said
Industry Also Dissatisfied.
George Meany, secretary treasurer
of the AFL, has said labor would be
willing to take the old Wagner Act
and possibly some additional amend
mants that may be worked out in
conference with management repre-
sentatives. The Wagner Act simply
protected the right of workers to
join unions and to bargain collec-
lively with management for their
common wellbeing. Mr.. Meany re-
fused to say what concessions labor
would be willing to make.
Industry itself is far from pleased
with all sections of the Taft Hartley
Act, notably the parts providing for
voluntary pay-cheek deductions of
union dues and for plant elections.
before a union shop can be raised as
bargaining point with manage
ment The union shop is where a
non-union employe may be hired
but he must join the union within
a specified period. Unions have won
union shop elections overwhelmingly
and they are regarded as unneces-.
sary red tape. g@ .e9aass
What finally will be presented to
Congress in the way of suggestions
for substitute right now is any
body's guess.
Truman Offered Program.
Before the stricter labor law was
passed over his vote in June, 1941,
President Truman submitted labor
program to Congress. 1t called for
bans on jurisdictional strikes,
battles between unions as to which
should do certain work, and on
secondary boycotts, where employees
of one firm strike to prevent it from
doing business with another firm.
Mr.. Truman also suggested long
time study of labor management
problems by representatives of all
sides as the best way of approach
ing fairly the attainment of in
dustrial peace. But all of his sug-
sestions we're brushed aside by
Congress which went much fur
ther in enacting the Taft-Hartley
Act.
Aside from its campaign pledge,
the administration considers the
action OF voters in sweeping from
Office so many numbers of Congress
who supported Taft-Hartley as
mandate from the people to do
something quickly about repeal.
To Seek Southern Support.
A major problem will be the per-
suading of Southern Democrats, or
a good many of them, to go along
. with the repeal and substitute idea.
But administration officials are
hopeful of working out plan which
will command the support of all
sides.
FldnS TlgnL now call 1Of informal
conferences in the matter with labor
and management leaders, rather
than formal conference such as
was held right after the enc of
the war. That big conference,
called by Mr.. Truman, was virtu-
ally a complete failure.
Final administration ideas may
follow closely the Truman sugges-
tions of 1947. Among the problems
posed Is what to do to discourage
Communist influence in unions.
Labor generally is opposed to the
Taft Hartley affidavit requirement,
but Congress most likely will want
tO write in Sorne tyne of ToY1p,I,r,