The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-06-30
Mixed Results In
State Legislature
Actions For Labor


and setbacks marked organized
labor's battles on state legislative
fronts during the past week.
In California, legislative commit
tees killed two bills to cripple
labor. One would have outlawed
"union shop" contracts on public
construction projects, and tn e
other, in the guise of a ban on fea
therbedding, would have shackled
many legitimate trade union acti-
vities.
In Colorado, labor won a ruling
from Attorney General John Metz
ger easing the curbs on the closed
shop contained in the states So
called Labor Peace Act" Metzger
ruled that a rs per cent majority
of employees voting, rather than of
all employees in a plant, was suf-
ficient to authorize the closed shop.
In Wisconsin, by the hairline
margin of az to Al, the state as
sembly refused to amend the Bad
ger utility anti-strike law along
lines sought by organized labor.
The amendment would have requir-
ed arbitrators named under the
law to take into account prevailing
local wage standards in any decis-
ions they make.
In New Jersey, the legislature
passed and Governor Alfred f.
Driscoll signed new utility anti.
strike act replacing one which the
state supreme court had thrown
out as unconstitutional. 1t was
changed to provide arbitration
standards missing from the old
law.
In two states-Ohio and New
Mexico-the labor movement play
ed a major role in blocking at
tempts to undermine long-establish-
ed direct primary laws. In both
states, political machines wanted
legal authority for pre-primary
conventions to pick candidates who
would go on the ballot as "endors-
ed" by their parties.
In New Mexico, a law to that
effect was put through the legisla
ture, but in whirlwind drive,
trade unions and allied forces OBJ
tanned $1,000 signatures-40 per
cent of the states voters-on peti-
tions which suspend the law until
it is submitted to the voters at the
next general election in 1850.
In Ohio, the state Senate put
through similar measure, but it
was. killed by the elections commit
tee in the House.
In Massachusetts,, trade unions
were locked in struggle with pri-
vate insurance lobby over the issue
of II cash sickness compensation
bill.
Under the measure, backed by
labor, workers forced to lay off be-
cause of illness would receive bene-
fits comparable to those paid under
the unemployment insurance sys-
tenn. An exclusive state fund would
handle the payments.
The Massachusetts State Feder
alton of Labor declared that pri
vate insurance firms and other bus
mess outfits have raised 100000
slush fund to finance lobbying and
propaganda against the fund. 1t
called upon all workers in the state
to reply with a shower of letters to
legislators favoring quick passage
of the bill.
Up in Maine, the State Union
Council at its annual convention
assailed the state Legislature for
failure to do something about un-
and other welfare mat
ters. 1t urged the governor to call
a special session for action on pub
lie works, extended unemployment
compensation, supplemental funds
for municipal relief, higher teach
ers' salaries and school construc-
tion. An income tax To finance
these programs was proposed, Also,
the council advocated establishment
of a Maine public power authority
to distribute electric power in areas
now getting poor service.