Evening star., 1953-05-17
New Labor Leaders
Threaten Strikes
Writer Sees Further Rise
Of Prices in c Consequence
By Fronk R. Kent

BY Fronk z. Kent
Recent words Of Secretary Of the
Treasury George Humphrey concern
ing threatened depression are sound
and heartening. So, too, is the attitude
Of businessmen like Benjamin Fairless
Of United States Steel. who. in express
ing qualification at the administration
move to reverse the trend toward Gov
ernment ownership and control, had
this to say of the duty imposed upon
industrialists: "I believe the American
people expect us to maintain at all
times a prosperous and sound steel
industry. And in keeping that indus
try prosperous I believe they expect
us to act, with full regard for the
public interest-with restraint on one
hand and courage on the other. They
will not tolerate reckless greed: nor
will they applaud reckless timidity. 1t
is up to us to deliver the goods"
This is all very reassuring. but
neither Mr.. Humphrey nor Mr. Fair
less mention the labor strike clouds
already well above the horizon and
which again threaten not only the
solvency of the Nation but its security.
In brief. we are threatened with a
repetition Of what happened a year
ago when the prolonged steel strike
not only delayed delivery of needed
ammunition in Korea but added 20
per cent to the cost Of the defense
effort, thus increasing a dangerous in
flating and doing no one, including the
strikers, any good.
Since then two new labor leaders
have arisen. Walter Reuther, who sue
ceeded the late Philip Murray as head
OF the CIO, and George Meany, who
succeeded the late William Green of
the AFL. Both of these new lead
ers are young and ambitious. Each is
eager to make a record for himself.
Each wants to prove his ability to
force concessions from industry. Not
to prove this is to give other leader
ship aspirants a chance to stir up dis
content in the rank and file and charge
lack OF aggressiveneSS. The only
way for these new labor bosses to make
good-at least the only way they see
is to make demands backed by strike
threats.
AAOASA VAACAA ~ ACuCCCSSOIS have UCcn
dead only few months and there has
been no evidence of worker discomfort.
this the new leaders already have done.
The belligerent Mr.. Reuther already is
out with list of demands on the auto
mobile industry not only for an in
crease in wages but for q guaranteed
annual wage for all workers. I'VE
already have served notice on the en-
ployers and they will either come across
or we will get it the hard way" That
is the Reuther spirit as exhibited many
times in the past. It seems emulated
by David Mcdonald, new chief of the
C1O SteelWorkerS, who gives warning
to employers that $2.06 an hour for
steel workers is not enough and sub
Stantial increase" is justified, despite
the fact that very substantial increases
were obtained after a long and costly
strike a year ago.
And, Of course, Mr.. Meany has his
demands for higher wages and better
working conditions" though, as Mr..
Fairless. speaking for steel, said, the
recent increases and production costs
have left no fat on our financial
bones" From Mr.. Meany's perform
ance before several committees, in the
matter of turbulence, he is not going
to be outdone by Mr.. Reuther. At
the suggestion of Senator Tobey that
the AFL might move a little faster
to clean out the racketeers in
its International Longshoremens As
sociation in effect he told the elderly
Senator to mind his own business. Like
Mr.. Reuther, Mr.. Meany will swing
his weight against the Taft-Hartley
Act at this session but will find him.
self futile either to repeal or emas-
culate. In the meantime. he is for a
guaranteed annual wage and a general
increase.
Despite the fact that the sixth gen.
eral raise in as many years is still fresh
in mind, MesSrs. Reuther and Meany
feel impelled to have another showdown
with industry very shortly AS matter
of political labor strategy they have got
to make demands and obtain some
thing. There is no nouriShment for
them in a static position. However,
truculent as is their talk, their demands
this time are not likely to be as extrav-
agant as in the past nor their attitude
as arrogant. There are reasons for this.
One is that this time they will not have
active White House support nor Pres
ident who promises not to evoke the
law in event of a strike.
Another is that they have lost the
club with which they were accustomed
to dominate politicians and parties.
Twice in the last three years they COM
bined against a candidate - once in
1850 against Senator Taft in Ohio and
last year against President Eisenhower
in the Nation. In both instances they
were overwhelmingly defeated. Presi-
dent Eisenhower is under no political
obligation to any labor leader. This
time when and if they attempt show
down" they will not have behind them
the weight of the White House. There
will be no cabinet members mouthing
their propaganda. This time their case
will be judged on its merits. This Presi-
dent Is not hostile to union labor. On
the contrary, he is friendly. But he
isn't any labor leaders tool.
selves thev are int0xicofed TI,e1 +bnn