AMERICAN LABOUR MUST START AGAIN

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1947, Page 7

AMERICAN LABOUR MUST START AGAIN

COURT'S RULING MEANS

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, March 7.

THE Supreme Court’s judgment against J. L. Lewis and the United Mineworkers means that Labour must start its ”

heartbreaking struggle all over again to protect itself against the Government, says the New York newspaper P.M. in an editorial.

It adds: “History will show that in-smashing Lewis and the coalminers their blow reached beyond Lewis and the coalminers and landed at the heart of the American Labour movement and the American people.

“That makes it a decision that will cast its shadow over decades to come.” Lewis today told the Senate Labour Committee, of which Senator Taft is chairman, that his father, the late Chief Justice Taft, in one of his judgments held “strikes are lawful and necessary to win a share of the joint produce of labour and capital.”

could be settled if the Government would “cease using the blackjack.” Mr Lewis, asked by Senator Taft whether he had any . suggestions for preventing the miners’ strike, replied: “No, I have not. That is a matter of litigation before the court.”

Mr Lewis commented: “It would be hypocrisy to concede these rights to labour and then prohibit their effective exercise. America is the only great country in which economic freedom still exists.”

Mr Lewis was referring to action pending in the Federal Court to decide whether he possesses the right to terminate the union’s contract with the Government as an operator of mines.

Mr Lewis expressed the opinion that it was the first duty of Congress to conserve “this priceless heritage.” Attacking the proposed compulsory arbitration, Mr Lewis said this would be the first thrust of the knife of absolutism into the heart of free America. Mr Lewis told the committee that miners’ differences with operators

Mr Lewis added (hat he did not know whether the miners would strike when the Government relinquishes control of the mines on June 30. The effect of recent Government intrusion had been lo arrest collective bargaining. The Government was now acting as a “muscle man” for coal companies, which were making a clear profit of about 1,000.000 dollars each working day.