Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-05
Politics, Presidential
And Union, al Bottom
OF Rail Controversy
Crisis Would Not Be Faced
If Industry or Lobor
Followed Spirit of Law
BY David Laurence

Presidential politics and union
politics are at the bottom of the
controversy that may bring a
Nationwide railroad strike next
week.
If the spirit and the letter Of the
Railway Labor Act had been fol-
lowed in recent years, there would
be no crisis today. But as long as
either management or labor dis
regards the specific procedure of
the law and thinks 1t can get bet
ter deal by the use of political
pull" there will be little progress
made toward the orderly settlement
of labor disputes.
For many years the railroad in
dustry has settled its controversies
peaceably. The Railway Labor Act
has been pointed to as q model in
labor-management relations. But,
unfortunately, the late President
Roosevelt weakened once when he
allowed labor unions to reject a
presidential fact-flnding boards
recommendations and then yielded
to the demands of the unions. Once
1t Is apparent that more is to be
gained than lost by disregarding a
presidential boards recommended
tons and that the President him.
self, for political reasons, can be
counted on to make concessions, the
way is opened to confusion and
strikes.
Power Under 1916 Law.
The present situation is that
eighteen of the railroad unions have
agreed to the proposals OF a presi-
Dental fact-flnding board ap-
pointed in accordance with the law.
Three unions are baking. If Presi-
dent Truman yields and grants de-
mands Of the unions representing 10
per cent of the rail workers, it will
Immediately affect agreements al
ready reached between the railroads
and the other 30 per cent Of the
railroad workers.
Will Mr.. Truman stand his
ground7 The first step, of course, is
seizure Of the railroads. Under the
1915 law, the President is empow-
cred to take over the railroads. Will
the recalcitrant unions work under
those conditions if their demands
aren't met? Fortunately, Congress
Is in session and law STIMULATING
compulsory arbitration may be the
next move. The coal strike cost the
Nation such heavy loss recently
that the next piece of labor legisla-
ton confidently expected to be
passed will be law to protect the
national safety and public health
against injury through strikes in
basic industries. Failure to supply
fuel or transportation would be
spelled out in such law.
Up to now. the railroad brother
hood unions have managed to keep
themselves free from the provisions
OF the Smith onnally law Of war
time and the Wagner Act and Taft
Hartley law. But rail strike will
precipitate overnight action, and
the railroad unions may no longer
have command of their own affairs
through laws specifically related to
their industry.
Union Record Outstanding.
The railroad brotherhood unions
have been outstanding for years as
being led, In the main, by respon-
sible officials. Except for vicious
propaganda agencies which some of
them maintain to excoriate or
question the motives Of any persons
who disagree with them, the record
OF the railroad brotherhoodS is
without blemish of communism
or radicaliSm.
It would be a disappointment to
the Nation and reflection on the
trade unionism of the rail workers
II they forfeited the Railway Labor
Act and caused Congress to remove
the special protection afforded their
processes of collective bargaining
and settlement.
The brotherhoodS, however, have
rival unions within their ranks and
it isn't always possible for pressure
from one union to influence the
other. Thus today 1t is reported
that Of the three baking unions
engineers, f1remen and Switchmen-
the engineers fatty are opposed to
\ strike but their leaders fear pos
sible inroads by the firemen's union
II the engineers don't 60 along
with the revolt against the fact
finding boards recommendations.
The Nation cannot afford a rail
strike Of even one day. President
Truman may find it necessary to 60
to Congress or to seize the railroads
in advance OF May 1.-THE strike
date.