Evening star., 1949-11-06
Naturalization Threat
Seen in Strike Problem
Compromise Settlements Feared Lead.
ing to Wide Government Controls

SSSb .H AssNS sSDISsh
Compromise Settlements Feared Lead.
ing to Wide Government Controls
By Frank r. Kent
Reflection upon the cause, conduct and
results of the great strikes-in STEEL coal and
aluminum-which have decreased industrial
production by an estimated 20 per cent,
caused widespread unemployment and gen.
orally mensced the economic welfare OF the
Nation, ought to make several basic things
about the labor management situation clearer
than before.
One is that no matter how right 1t may
be, industry no longer can hope to win in
any controversy with the big unions. The
merits are immaterial so far as the outcome
is concerned They may all be on the side
of industry. but the best industry can ex-
pect is compromise by which most OF the
union demands are conceded. That has been
demonstrated so often that there seems no
room for argument.
There is one overwhelming reason for this
state of affairs 1t can be summed UP briefly
in every big strike the Government Is
found on the union side. This has been true
since 1896, when the late Mr.. Roosevelt made
his political alliance with the newly formed
CIO and lent his name, weight and White
House prestige to its membership drives.
Under Mr. Truman the political ties between
his administration and the labor bosses
particularly the CIO-have been extended
until any pretense Of presidential neutrality
is ridiculous.
The CIO bosses were frequently at the
White House before the current strike started
and CIO publications hailed the appointment
of Mr. Truman's Finding Board as
due to such conferences. The attitude OF
the Truman cabinet members and political
aides was openly pro-union from the start.
With the steel strike In progress, Mr. Tru-
man a number of times denounced "the self.
ish interests" which is one Of Mr.. MurrayS
milder names for the steel companies. The
Presidents final use of this phrase was in
his eulogistic message to the CLOS conyen-
ton the day before the Bethlehem capitula-
ton. Also. he and Mr.. Murray publicly
joined hands in support Of Governor Lehman
for Senator and Mrs. ODwyer for Mayor in
New York. Their personal and political in
timacy could hardly have been more con-
vincingly attested.
There is nothing new about this. Ever
since the New Deal political strategy was
made clear IL years ago, the Democratic
leadership has been operating along those
lines. Today the White House more strongly
than ever supports the labor bosses In their
fight to prevent any legislation designed to
diminish their power to strangle the Nation.
In return, the labor bosses support both the
Presidents foreign and domestic program.
If there Is a single issue upon which they
diverge. 1t has not been presented. ...
Few detached persons will deny that this
combination damages the national interests.
With such combination the cards are
definitely stacked against industry. When
the labor unions strike they are certain to
get at least half what they demand. The
best industry possibly can do is to cornpro.
mise. The alternative is Government seiz-
ure adverse public sentiment and eventual
settlement favorable to the unions Natu.
rally, they compromise. What else Is there
for them to do? You can't combat the
United States Government. What then Is
the situation? The compromise having add.
ed to the cost Of production, the industry,
In order to stay in business must increase
the price Of its product. Just as inevitably
the labor bosses come back next year or the
year after with more, demands for more
money. The whole performance is repeated.
Labor indicts the Selfish interests, ~ the
White House supports the labor bosses; the
strike is called; the. country Is flooded with
propaganda; the White House throws, It's
weight on the labor side. the companies COM
promise. r. 1-@ @ -.
Who is the gamer? Clearly. the companies
cant gain because the cost Of production
forced on them always Offsets the increased
price Of the product. Clearly. the net gain
to the workers Is Offset by the loss Of wages
during the strike and by the increased cost
Of living resulting from the compromise"
This is infationary in its direction. increas.
ing the cost Of living to the people generally.
Such q situation constitutes an irresistible
temptation to the labor bosses (whose sala-
i,3ns A~,A aks - AAA
by the strikes to strike at almost regular
intervals.
When the current strikes are all settled
and the rise In prices absorbed by the public,
inevitably we must look forward to another
in which again Mr.. Murray, as unctuous q
labor demagogue as we have. will rail against
the selfish interests and call the employers
"fiatulent blatherskites" and "sanctimonious
hypocrites." Government spokesmen again
will tune themselves to these refined epithets.
The merits involved. Il any. will be obscured
and the price level to the public once more
raised.
What is the end Of all this? Unquestion.
ably, the trend is toward naturalization
Of industry along British lines. So long as
the administration remains wholly suhservi-
ent to the labor unions and continues q
political alliance that prevents enactment Of
|. any law which will protect the national In
terests. this trend will be accelerated. The
ablest economists are in agreement about
that. Unless the White House can be freed
from its shameful servility, some form of
naturalization with the Government con.
trolling both wages and prices seems sure.
That would mark the end Of the private
enterprise system and make the much
talked-of American way Of life" look sick
indeed .Ee<<S
soudan principally, Che tricolor nag Is soiled
every day by filthy crime" Mistreatlnerit
Of soldiers likewise was charged, especially
mistreatment Of native allies. y
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The Star Of November s. 1889. fe4tlued
dispatch from San Francisco reading In part: