Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-14
Mitchell Is Shaping Up
AS Al Labor Secretary

cerned with labor"
But Mr.. Mitchell adds that he
has nothing to do with setting
policy" for such independent labor
agencies as the National Labor Re-
lations Board, the Federal Medi-
alton and Cancellation Service or
the National railway Mediation
Board, NOR do l attempt to direct
the operations OF the other agen-
cies."
Appointment Power
Although Mr.. Eisenhower makes
the final decisions. Mr.. Mitchell also
recommends appointments to top
positions in the independent labor
agencies. AS an example, Joseph
Finnegan. the new director of the
Federal Mediation and Cancellation
Service, a longtime friend, was
recommended for the job by Mr.
Mitchell.
The Labor Secretary also ad-
vises the President of developments
IN major strikes and other matters
concerning labor.
Mr.. Mitchell, who before coming
to Washington was labor relations
director of a large New York de-
partment store. is an ardent advo-
cate of trade unionism and he pro-
notes the interests of unions at
every opportunity. For example, he
is an outspoken opponent Of State
so called right to work" laws
which prohibit the union shop and
place other restrictions on the &C
tivities Of labor unions.
However, Mr.. Mitchell has diff
ferent concept of the job of the
Labor Department than did for
example. the last Truman Labor
Secretary. the late Maurice Tobin.
Mr.. Tobin agreed pretty much
with Samuel Gompers that Labor
Secretary should be the voice OF
organized labor in the councils of
the President.
Mr.. Mitchell. on the contrary,
holds that it is the legal duty of
foster and promote the welfare OF
all wage earners. whether or not
they belong to unions.
1t is difficult, Mr. Mitchell con-
cedes, to represent the unorganized
worker. But he points out that
many of the day-to-day things the
Labor Department does. as. for
example. the enforcement of mini
mum wage and safety measures.
are actually of more benefit to the
unorganized than to the union
worker.
While Mr.. Mitchell gets along
we'll with most union officials lat
the working level" he has had
differences with some top union
leaders. Some of these still regard
him with considerable suspicion be-
cause he is part of the Eisenhower
team" of business men.
Department Changes
Mr.. Mitchell has reorganized the
Labor Department from the top
down, and he has done it with a
minimum of new personnel. His
department has had fewer per-
sonnet changes than any other.
His first big step was to bring
in as Undersecretary the very
capable Arthur Larson. dean OF the
Pittsburgh University Law School.
Mr.. Larson became a sort Of de-
partment general manager. Mr..
Mitchell delegated to him all of
the administrative activities.
Committees made up of repre-
sentatives of the various bureaus
in the department were established
to channel bureau work into one
stream,
I'VE now use everything we've got
in developing specific program.
instead of letting each bureau go
off on its own" Mr.. Larson says.
AS examples, experts from the
Women's Bureau and Bureau of
Labor Statistics worked with the
Department of Health, Education
and Welfare in studying the causes
Of nurses; the minimum wage pro-
gram was developed by three bu-
Women's, Labor Standards
and Wage Hour-Working together.
Mr.. Mitchell recently got money
from Congress to try to solve two
problems which have been of in
creasing concern TO him.
One is helping workers over As
get jobs-to combat 1.-The growing
prejudice against hiring older
people"
Our program is designed to
bring home to industry" Mr..
Mitchell says, these facts; that
older workers are more dependable,
just as fast and will perform with
lower absentee rate than younger
workers.
The other new program has to
do with an acute shortage Of
skilled workers, both in general in
dustry and the military. There are
not nearly enough electronic main
tenance people and technicians to
meet demands. The department,
among other things, will work with
industry to promote expanded
training programs.
I'VE have a shortage of scien-
lists" Mr.. Mitchell says. But more
acute is the shortage Of skilled
workers to back up the scientists.
We don't have the workers to put
the inventions Of the scientists into
reality"