Evening star., 1952-05-04
WE have made every mistake in
w the book, but we will get out

w the book, but we will get out
Of it."
Thus, one hectic day last week,
Nathan P. Feirlsinger summed up
the steel situation. Mr. Feinsinger,
as head of the Wage Sterilization
Board, knew whereof he spoke-at
least about events of the past. In
1853 years of American government,
1t was hard to remember such q
melancholy botch-up.
Looking back. 1t was hard to real
ize that so much had happened in
the brief span Of 100 hours. In that
time, the Government had lost con-
troll of the mills it had seized to
avert strike, recaptured them only
to find them strike-bound, arranged
for the strikers to return to their
jobs, fought three court battles
without really winning or losing
any. promised the union q pay raise
and had the promise thrown back
by the highest court in the land.
Meanwhile, the steelworkers had
deSpaired at loss Of Government
control, exulted at q reversal of this
decision, rejoiced at the promise Of
more money, and moaned again at
the Supreme Courts freeze on
wages. And the steel companies, for
their part, had chortled as they re-
gained their seized properties, wept
as the mills were returned to the
Government, reeled back at the
threat of higher wages for the
workers and grinned broadly at
what the High Court had done.
A Populoce BefuddIed
The other 15o-odd million people
OF the country merely waited, con-
fusion giving way to bafflement
to see what would happen next.
The unfunny comedy of errors
came to a climax yesterday. A stern
Harry Truman walked into the
White House cabinet room at 10
o'clock and tolc seven men that
he had called them together for
an agreement in the steel dispute.
Six of the seven we're heads of the
big steel companies; the seventh
was Philip Murray, president of the
CIO and its steelworker subsidiary
days and weeks have already
been spent in negotiations" the
President said. "You know which
points are the crucial ones. You
know this matter can be settled
In a few hours
He minced no words. He told the
companies that If they did not set
tie their dispute with the union,
he would raise the workers wages
tomorrow, or as soon afterward as
possible.
II didn't send for you just to
make ~ Speech" he said. I sent
for you for action and. gentlemen,
I want It,"
Then the President turned and
walked from the room.
A Court at Work
A mile away, closeted in equally
august session, sat nine men, the
justices of the Supreme Court. They
were Studying-from another angle
the same problem that perplexed
the men in the White House. AS
the business and union leaders de-
liberated-aS Mr.. Truman played
the piano for so million televiewers
being treated to personally con-
Quoted tour of the Executive Man
sion-the jurists came to their de-
ciSion.
The Government, the justices
agreed, was boss of the steel indus
try. But-unlike most bosSes-the
Government could not raise the pay
of its steel-making employees unless
the steel companies agreed to the
terms.
The threat of Harry Truman, so
portentous at 10 o'clock in the
morning, was as empty as toy
balloon by o'clock in the after
noon.
Not q word came out of the cabi-
net room all afternoon, before or
after the Supreme Court decision.
Nor did a word fall from the lips
of any conferee as they adjourned
for dinner.
At $50 pm, the conferees re-
sembled. The doors were closed.
AS the moments licked by, reporters
slouched in the corridors waiting
for the word The betting was that
industry was hardly likely to rush
into a wage agreement in view Of
the Supreme Court ruling. There
were tempting odds on a renewal
of the Strike-but the takers were
few and far between.
IL @ha (nuw4e