Evening star., 1949-06-07
Split in Labor Ranks
May Block Passage
OF New Labor Bill
uneompromisine Group
Out to Bor Changes
In Trumon Measure
By Dntid Laurence

IN IFuWoH NeOSuTS
By David Laurence
Division in the ranks of labor
may prevent the enactment Of any
bill at this session Of Congress to
replace the Hartley Act.
When the United Mine Work
ers and their leader. John L.
Lewis, denounce both the CIO and
the AFL for agreeing to "compro-
mises" in pending legislation as
d substitute for the Taft-Hartley
Act, it means that an uncompro-
missing and intransigeant. group
will endeavor TO block any amend
ments to the administration bill.
The fact that some administra-
ton Democrats are ready with
what are called compromise
amendments doesn't mean that
President Truman will accept
them or that the entire vote Of
, the Democrats in the North will
be behind such proposals.
What the split-up means Is that
a small group will stick to the end
for the administration bill. which
Is virtually restored Wagner Act.
Another group will seek to have
some compromise amendments
adopted. believing that enough
Republicans and Southern Demo-
Gratis will be attracted by such q
plan to pass. 1t. Still q third
group will hold out for the amend
ments which Senator Taft him.
self. along with other Republican
Senators, has proposed.
Could Be Campaign Issue.
The truth is that at present If
each group votes down the amend
ments Of the other groups, no leg
islation at all will emerge. This
Is precisely. what President Tru-
man and John l.. Lewis presum-
ably expect to happen. The result
would be the making Of a political
campaign on the Hartley
Act in the 1850 congressional elec-
tions.
II this issue can be made con-
trolling or dominant. the strategy
would be O wise one. because union
labor is better organized politically
today than any other group and II.
after the 1850 elections, the labor
unions could point to increased
strength in Congress, they could
probably bring about q revival of
the Wagner Act without material
changes.
With the 1850 election pressure
as q threat. the administration
Democrats might again seek record
votes ut the January, 1850. session
Of Congress but would not support
amendments of a compromise
nature, fearing this might dilute
the strength Of the issue on the
political front.
The unwavering belief Of the
labor union strategists that time
is working In their favor is a bit
difficult to understand. Can the
Taft Hartley Act be made q domi-
nant issue in. the 1850 campaign? ?
IT, there, are serious strikes lin the
3, interim or II union labor blocks
economic reconstruction by hold
ing out tfor wage ,increasessa at a
time .of defiatiorf, the public may
develop an antagonism reminiscent
of what occurred In the 1916 con-
gressional elections when the Re-
publicans were surprised to cap
ture both houses. Resentment
over the coal strike and other
major stoppages had much to do
with that result.
Compromise Hindered.
The fact that two extreme
groups are eager to delay action
in the. hope that time will work
in their favor puts at serious
disadvantage those who are work
ing for compromise. Those ad-
ministration Democrats who, de-
spite the attitude Of the White
House. are seeking compromises
are far better strategists than
the union labor folks. This Ia
because any measure passed today
would clarity and in many respects
alter the Taft-Hartley Act, re-
moving features that have been
ambiguous and that have caused
uneasiness on the labor union
side.
What is to prevent labor from
asking for further revisions in
the January. 1850. session Of Con-
gress II q compromise bill Is
adopted at this session? Certainly
half loaf now and little more
in January. with O campaign In
November. 1850, to elect more
pro-union congressman. Is a logi-
cal strategy. In answer. to this
line Of reasoning, the belief Of
many union leaders is that, once
they concede q few points at this
session, the public may lose in
terest In any further changes.
The best that can be said OF
that argument is that it proves
at least the need for enactment
Of q compromise bill now and
then for a campaign which will
let the unamended or unchanged
features OF the ft-Hartley. Act
stand on their merits-if. indeed
the union leaders really want
anything tested on merit.
Reproduction RiEhts Reserved).
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