Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-12-20
Mr.. Murroy's Threat

The feeling in Washington seems to be that
Philip Murrays threatened steel strike will not
come to pass. There may be no substantial basis
for this optimism Certainly the threat is clear
and unambiguous, Still, the belief persists that
way will be found to juggle the wage and price
controls so that Mr.. Murray get the substance
OF what he wants without strike or at least
without more than token strike.
This, to repeat, may be sheer wishful think
ing In the first place no one here knows
precisely what Mr. Murray will insist upon by
way of settlement. Secondly. sterilization
officials have said fatty that the steel companies
will not get price increase to cover wage
hike-that any concessions must come out Of
company pockets. And the companies Say
although there are those who dispute i-that
they cannot grant wage boost without advance
assurance of compromising price increases
On its face this indicates-despite the feeling
to the contrary-that New Years Day will see
this country plunged into a disastrous steel
strike. And If that should happen, Mr.. Murrays
position will not be an especially happy one.
He will, of course have arguments with
which he will attempt to justify his unions
action. One will be, and it is plausible, that
the United Steel Workers asked for tight
sterilization law, but did not get it. In con-
sequence, he will argue, the steel workers have
suffered economically from the rise in living
costs
He will also say as he has already said.
that the steel workers hate" imitation. OF
course, steel wage increase, especially If
accompanied by any kind OF price increase, will
intensity imitation, but the chances are that
Mr.. Murray will not dwell on that point. AS
head of his union, his primary job, unfortunately
for the country is to get what he can for the
members, and union politics being what they are
H. would not he realistic tn eYnect him tn neglect
that job
Mr.. Murray listed some of his demands on
the steel industry during a press conference
Monday, which he said had already been
accepted by the automobile, rubber, electrical
and other key industries. The steel workers.
he said, are simply trying to catch up on over
due Improvements. He also knows that before long
John L. Lewis will be coming along with new
demands for the coal miners, and that Mr.. Lewis
will not be at all averse to improving his own
stature with the rank and file of labor at
Mr.. Murrays expense.
This is not intended as any plea in justifica-
ton of Mr.. Murray or of steel strike If one is
called 1t serves, however, to reinforce the view
that unionism has become highly competitive
form of big business from the consequences OF
which the public, meaning the country as
whole, has little or no effective protection.
Mr.. Murray can hardly want steel strike
with all Of the damage such a strike would do
to the military effort the defense effort, to the
domestic economy, and, indirectly at least, to
his union. But he will give the signal for a
strike unless he gets what he wants, or what he
thinks he has to have Neither can Mr.. Murray
want more imitation. The steel worker can with
stand imitation better than some others, and in
particular those living on fixed incomes, who
are being cruelty ground down by the wage
I'D.
not stopped, will be disastrous for every one,
including the steel worker. Mr.. Murray knows
this. But he will not be found in the position
of foregoing wage increase If that means
another price increase, and as simple matter
of union politics he cannot afford to be found
in that position even though the result will be
more Of the hated imitation.