Evening star., 1949-02-07
Letters to The Star

Letters tC
Labor Bill Held Factional
TO the Editor Of The Star:
In the opinion Of the writer's, one of the
more alarming portents in the bill offered by
Secretary Of Labor Tobin to suprlant the
Taft-Hartley Act is the factional character
of the proposal, which bears all the earmarks
Of being designed as quid pro quo for
political assistance given by labor leaders
during the recent Presidential campaign.
Despite Mr.. Tobin's assurance to the
Senate Labor Committee that he considers
it his duty Ito represent the more than
l40 900 900 American people and every seq
ment of our economy" the provisions of
the bill submitted by him. which he de-
scribed as, the administration proposal.
clearly evidence acceptance OF the PROPOSE
ton that national labor law should be
dictated by the interests OF one faction.
the leaders Of the powerful labor unions.
The extent to which the measure repre-
sents a capitulation to factionalism IS
graphically illustrated by the provisions
purporting to deal with the secondary boy
colt problem.
According to the sponsors. these provi-
sions were drafted to effectuate President
Truman's thesis that the propriety OF a
secondary boycott should be determined by
examination of the objective it is conducted
to attain. In so far as the statute sug-
gested by Secretary Tobin represents an ap-
plication of that theory. it appears that in
the eyes of its sponsors any objective is
justifiable so long as the secondary boycott
is not aimed at destruction of powers or
privileges enjoyed by rival labor crsaniza-
ton.
Second BoycOtts Protected.
Under the administration proposal no
secondary boycott. regardless Of the means
used to effectuate 1t, would be restrained
unless it's objective were to impinge upon
bargaining privileges enjoyed by another
union or the usurpation Of work tasks as
signed to members Of another labor organi-
cation.
The bill. for example indorses secondary
boycotts and strikes conducted to prevent
the use of materials or equipment not ap-
proved by the union, an activity which has
plagued the construction industry to the
obvious detriment of the public; 1t permits
use of the secondary boycott to force en-
ployers to submit to costly and unWarranted
feather bedding and make-work rules; and
it sanctions secondary boycotts and strikes
to compel employer recognition Of unions.
even though they refuse to establish their
qualifications by means Of the procedure es-
tablished by the National Labor Relations
Act.
1t is significant to note that while the
administration bill generally indorses such
objectives, 1t does not hold them justif1able
when the prerogatives Of labor organizations
are impaired. Thus while secondary boy
colt to compel recognition OF the boycotting
union Is permitted where the employer is
not organized. 1t is expressly prohlblted
where another union enjoys bargaining
status. Similarly, the bill allows use OF the
device to force the transfer OF work from
nonunion employees to union mel1Eers. but
makes elaborate provision to prevent Sec
ondary boycotts conducted to take jobs from
the members of other unions
In short, the union interest affected is
the sole standard by which the proposed
statute measures the propriety Of second
ary boycott or strike. The authors have
disregarded the, interests OF employers and
employees. and the public welfare, and have
assured union leaders a free hand to use
every economic weapon at their disposal.
Acceptance of the bill as bona flde at
tempt by its sponsors to represent the
more than l40.000,000 American people and
every segment of our economy" would re-
quire the conclusion that they are COM
pletely unaware of the actualities OF the
secondary boycott problem. for on its face
the proposal is studied effort to safe
guard the interests of one faction without
regard to the legitimate interests of any
other group.
Groups Adverse to Others.
Factionalism, it may be noted. is not one
of The newer "isms" Writing in the Fed
elalist papers, in 1887. James Madison en-
phaszed the necessity for creating and
maintaining a system Of government which
would minimize the influence OF factions
IN the enactment of federal legislation.
by faction" he explained. Il understand
a number of citizens. whether amounting to
q majority or minority of the whole, who
are united and actuated by some common
impulse of passion. or Of interest adverse
to the rights Of other citizens, or to the
permanent and aggregate interests OF the
community"
The statute suggested by the Secretary
Of Labor provides no foundation for a
national labor law which will adequately
safeguard "the permanent and aggregate
interests of the community" The chance
for such a national labor law lies in the
hope that both parties in Congress cate
gorically will reject the factional approach
of the administration bill.
WILLIAM F. HOWE.
WILEY MARION.
Presidents Advisers Criticized
To the Editor OF The Star:
On January 20. President Truman took
the oath of Office solemnly kissed the Bible,