Evening star., 1954-05-05
Plan 10 Expand Right,
OF States in Labor
Field Appears Lost
By james Y. Newton

An amendment to the Taft
Hartley Act that would give the
States broad powers over labor
management relations and union
activities apparently was headed
for defeat in the Senate today.
The amendment would give
State law wide precedence over
the Federal law-Taft- Hartley.
Just how wide" that authority
might be was unclear from the
explanation of its author. Sena-
tor Goldwater. Republican. of
Arizona.
But the amendment was hold
ing the attention of the Senate,
in the early stages of debate on
the bill to revise Taft-Hartley
along lines suggested by Presi-
dent Eisenhower.
President Gives Views.
At his news conference today,
Gen. Eisenhower refused direct
comment on the Goldwater
amendment, but said he thought
the States should have more ju-
riSdiction over labor or-manage-
ment disputes so long as the
safeguards of the Taft Hartley
Act for the rights of workers are
protected.
He said, for example, the
States should have the full right
and power to protect the health
and well-being of its citizens and
to keep the peace in labor dis
putes.
The Presidents remarks were
In line with the White House
policy statement on the States
right question forwarded recently
to Congress. 1t was a general
statement and did not specify
how far he thought Congress
should go in giving more au-
thority to the States.
4 Democratic move to recon-
NIT the administration bill was
headed for a vote, probably to-
morrow or Friday. This was
based on the argument that the
Republican majority on the Sem
ate Labor Committee voted down
consideration of any possible
Taft-Hartley changes except
those suggested by the White
House. Republican leaders be-
lieve they have the vote to de-
feat recommital, but some of
them say it may be close for
this reason:
If the Democrats are defeated
on the move. they will call up
for action civil rights amend
ments to the labor law which
already have been introduced.
This threat will cause an unde-
termined number of Southern
Democrats. who are inclined to
vote otherwise. to favor recon-
mital-which would kill any
possibility of labor legislation
In this session. t"4G
Pre- Strike Vote PIan.I saif
Senator Purtell, Republican,
OF Connecticut. introduced an
amendment designed to carry
out Gen. EiSenhower's recon-
mendations for Government
conducted. pre-Strike votes in
labor disputes. A strike would
be illegal. under the amendment,
unless a majority of the en-
ployes in a particular bargain
Ing unit voting approved of it by
secret ballot conducted by the
National Labor Relations Board.
The controversial Goldwater
amendment seemed doomed to
defeat or radical modification
because it apparently was opposed
by number of Republicans
from large industrial Safes. It
would give the States the right:
"D To exercise it's police pow
ers. and to deal with labor dis
putes causing. or likely to cause,
emergencies affecting the health
or safety of such State or terri
tory; or
"(2) In any other case, to give
effect to its law: Provided, that
no such law may be applied so
as to permit employers or labor
organizations to interfere with,
restrain. or coerce employees in
the exercise of the rights guar
anteed to employees by this act"
1t is the latter paragraph
which opponents claim would
give States authority to prohibit
collective bargaining. invoke
compulsory arbitration of dis
putes. prohibit strikes and other
wise curtail union activity.