Evening star., 1951-03-04

proQuctlon IN ernclenC working orc
If the terms of settlement. VIII
accepted with reservations and an
undlercurrent of resentment by
one or both sides, there is danger
that the defense program will still
be hampered by the lack of whole
hearted cooperation.
Meanwhile, there is a DISPOSE
ton to mark time briefly, let tenn
pers cool, the situation crystalize,
and watch the Nations reaction
to labor's boycott of the defense
agencies. AS much as in any elec-
ton are the returns from the
country being examined to see
which answer is given to these
questions.
Do the people regard labor's ac-
ton as a walkout on the American
Government in time of emer-
gency?
Will they be sufficiently i'm
pressed by the charge that the
mobilization effort has been turned
over to big business and sufficient
ly impatient with high prices to
regard labor's action as a justi-
fed protest?
While the United Labor Policy
Commission would like nothing SC
much as the official head OF
Charles e. Wilson. director of the
Office of Defense Mobilization
significantly the committee die
not ask for 1t. It asked instead
for a reorganization Of the mobili.
zation setup and it stated it stood
ready to meet with responsible
representatives" of the Govern.
ment to resolve the dispute.
This last, obviously, was bic
to President Truman to step ir
and make adjustments, but it met
with an initial rebuff in Mr.. Tru-
mans statement of full confidence
in Mr.. Wilson and in his refusa,
to regard the blowup as more than
| just a disagreement.
Truman Hard to Move
Mr.. Truman's disposition to gel
his back up and stand behind
his people when they are attacked
obviously was compelling reason
for the Labor Committee not te
ask for Mr.. Wilson's scalp, much
as it would like to have it.
Also there existed a precedent
from World War II War Produc-
ton Board days which, if invoked
| might yield the desired results.
Mr.. Wilson resigned from the
executive vice Craftsmanship ol
the WPB in August, 1914, with s
statement that he felt his useful
ness had been ended. He sale
the partisans of Donald M. Nelson
board chairman, had spread th'
impression he was acting a.
spokesman for big business in th'
reconversion Of industry. Mr.
Wilson said that this meant tha'
every action he took in the WIPE
would be scrutinized in the future
for evidence Of favoritism to bis
business.
At that time Mr.. Wilson was or
leave of absence from the Gen.
eral Electric Co., and returned
to it. This time Mr.. Wilson has
resigned from the presidency o.
General Electric to give his full
efforts to his Government job.
Not only has Mr.. Truman stood
behind Mr.. Wilson, but Mr.. Wilson
himself has done no yielding. He
is portrayed by his associates as
doubling that the rank and file OF
labor will approve the action Ct
the united committee and as
standing ready to appoint a labor
man to top rank in his Office.
But there Is no doubt the action
of labor is regarded as serious In
ODM. That was made clear by
the study given to a statement
which Mr.. Wilson planned to issue
Friday and then decided other
wise. Instead, it was said, he
probably will hold a press confer
ence this week.
Meanwhile Mr.. Wilson had con
ferred with Economic Stabilizel
Eric Johnston and Price Stabilizel
Michael v. Disable in his office
It was shortly after this confer
ence that Mr.. Johnston issued
approval of the "escalator" wage
increases written into wage con.
tracts prior to the Januray Is wage
freeze.
1t was conciliatory step anC
one which labor had urged Mr.
Johnston to take instead of his
action in asking the Wage
Sterilization Board to add the
"escalator" provision to its order
permitting catch-up wage in
creases not exceeding 10 per cent
iohor,o fIo Ion1,orxy < 1OSn =, G.