Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-09
Resentment at Lewis
Shown by Senators
Opposing Injunetions
by the Asseeioied Press

by the Asseeioied Press
Bitter resentment against John
L. Lewis seethed today among
Senators trying to get rid Of the
Taft-Hartley laws emergency in
junction provision.
Those lawmakers claimed
privately that the United Mine
Workers chief, in ordering a
weeks shutdown of the coal pits.
probably killed any chance for
scrapping the section which calls
for court orders to halt strikes
threatening the national welfare.
Some Senators who favor the
TaftsHartley law figured Mr..
Lewis action strengthened their
position all along the line.
No Injunction Provision.
Word that Mr.. Lewis had
ordered the miners out Of the pits
. for q week starting Monday
reached the Capitol yesterday
while the Senate was debating
the administration bill to repeal
the Taft-Hartley act.
Neither that bill as drafted nor
q compromise version backed by
the Senate's Democratic leadership
contains any Injunction provision.
The Taft-Hartley law does. OF
course, and the Government has
used the provision in the past to
halt o Lewis-ordered shutdown.
MIR. Lewis himself has demanded
repeal of the Taft Hartley law and
has bitterly denounced the injunc-
ton section.
Those circumstances increased
the amazement of Senators who
are plugging for elimination Of the
Taft Hartley injunction section.
Their comments for publication
are mild compared to their private
remarks about the Mr.. Lewis move.
One Senator told a reporter
Tim really bitter about this-it
couldn't have happened at worse
time"
Hard to Believe"
Another said: II find 1t hard
10 believe. I thought he wanted
to get rid Of this law"
Still another wondered whether
the Lewis action was prompted by
his bitter clash with Presidents
Philip Murray Of the CLIO and
William Green of the AFL over
strategy in the Senate labor fight.
Mr.. Lewis said the two other
labor leaders repeatedly had made
"secret" deals to accept the COM
promise bill instead Of the fat
repeater. They both fired back
heatedly. Mr.. Murray accused
Mr.. Lewis Of malicious libels";;
Mr.. Green said the UNIV leader
had put himself In class with
senator Ia1t.
Senator Taft, the Republican Of
Ohio. helped write Taft Hartley,
and Is lighting to keep most Of
its provisions. He grinned when
asked whether Mr.. Lewis strike
call improved chances for keep
ing the Injunction. and replied: !.
"Oh. ! think so--slightly."
a'WiM Kill Amendments" 7
Senator Ellender, Democrat, Of
Louisiana, one Of those who would
like to keep even more OF the
Taft-Hartley law than Senator
Taft wants to retain, commented
that the Lewis edict probably will
kill all moves" to amend the pres
ent law.
1T has been my contention all
along" he said, that men Of the
caliber of Lewis have caused Con-
sress to enact such legislation"
Among administration Sena-
tors, on-the-record comment was
restrained. but critical.
Senator Thomas. Democrat, of
Utah, chairman Of the Senate
Labor Committee and sponsor Of
the administration bill, remarked
wryly:
"a strike now won't help U.s."
Senator Sparkman. Democrat,
Of Alabama. who Is supporting the
compromise version Of the admin
istration measure. said:
There is no question but that q
strike at this time will lend an
incentive to harsher legislation
than otherwise might be forth
coming"
Senator Humphrey, Democrat,
Of Minnesota also for the compro-
mise bill, declared:
ut is unfortunate that Congress
should not be permitted to legis-
late In an atmosphere Of normal
and reasonable labor management
relations"
NEW ELucI$cuC1 u khus
Senator Ives, Republican. OF New
York yesterday introduced an
amendment which provides for a
new way Of handling emergency
strikes.
Under the Ives plan. the Presi-
dent would have to call on Con-
sress to deal with individual criti-
cal strikes which occurred after he
had issued q proclamation asking
the disputants to stay on the job.
The President would have to call
q special session. If necessary. so
he could make recommendations
10 Congress. If he recommended
seizure, the Government automa-
tically would take possession OF the
struck facilities at the end of 10