Show ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS National and International Problems Problems Problems lems inseparable from local wel wel- wel- wel fare Irrespective Irrespective- of what steps are arc taken to curb strikes in defense in industries ing in- industries it seems a virtual certain certain- certainty certain certain- certainty ty that it will be along time be be- before before before fore the labor problem is solved There is too much at stake too much to be gained Rained to make a quick and easy settlement possible The big biff bi labor leaders arc driving for power pow power r now and their then opposition is digging di Etin in for a long campaign The obvious ious goal of labor is the per cent cwt closed shop Industry o in generals generalis is absolutely opposed to that and io so to recent Presidential 1 statements is the gov gov- go v- v So far as the public is concerned a ia late Gallup poll indi indi- indicated indicated that the closed shop is favor favor- favored favored ed d by one citizen out of si six sit A great reat many people think that the he wisest present strategy stra e y would be to to delay matters until me the emer- emer gency is over That for instance is the point of view of Wendell rendell Will Will- kic kie who said that thit no effort to af affect af- af affect affect either the open shop or the close dose shop should be taken now now now- that instead an attempt should be made to freeze matters as they 0 stand at present One pending one I gressional bill has that as its ob ob- object ob- ob c But there is room for doubt that such a policy of relative inaction inaction inac inac- tion is today The temper tem tem- temper temper per of Congress of f the people and of the leaders may make a areal areal areal real showdown inevitable before long lon In the meantime there is a grow growing growing I ing feeling that the stand taken by byor labor or is s rapidly becoming be oming untenable The ine l tie closed shop idea earned carried to its conclusion means a labor la labor la- la labor bor monopoly A handful of labor leaders could stop the production of the entire nation on a moments moment's notice They The would for example be immensely more powerful than th n the President The head of the govern govern- government government ment even in these days of crisis can beb checked by Congress and the courts and the Constitution it itself it- it itself itself self places definite limits upon his freedom of to no one save their members And in actual practice the members of major union often have absolutely noth noth- nothing nothing ing in to say about policy and union management en t. t Many friends of as a re result re- re result result sult are arc beginning to have qualms In f a recent column Dorothy t who has always been pro labor said The closed shop gives es the union organization an immense club over the workers for they cannot express their opposition opposition opposition tion to union policy or either cither by resigning from the union or withholding their dues They can cannot cannot cannot not strike against the thc union And once the thc closed shop is instituted it is almost impossible imp to revoke There can be no groups in this country that are above aboe the law and above the community The very fact of the growing power of unions demands that they accept social disciplines Social discipline of course is simply one way of saying sayin govern govern- government government ment regulation of the thc unions That is very likely to come in the long run The government in that case I would be the dominant factor in all industrial relations It would protect the workers against exploit I by his employer on the one hand and it would protect the employer em em- employer against union racketeering on the other But it is obvious that I any duy a moon must pass before his goal can beb reached And the im im- im- im immediate mediate question is what can be done to keep production going The President perhaps has the J formula There is no doubt doub that he forced Mr Lewis to accept ac ept arbitration and call caU off the captive coal mine strike because it was clear that public opinion was over over- overwhelmingly behind him At a press conference he said that public ion ion would opinion opinion prove the deciding factor Unless T we throw T the Constitution institution overboard K abolish the thc courts and adopt a like Hitler Hit forced labor stem we cant can't make a man work if he doesn't want to and by the same token a man should not be i prevented from working if he wish wish- wishes wishes wish wish- es to Troops can be ordered to break strikes strikes but but troops can cant can't t run the and get the products out Public opinion on the other hand can certainly make labor lead leaders ers think twice before f defying the th government ng the findings the findings of unprejudiced boards of media media- mediation mediation mediation tion and calling callin strikes that imperil defenses There is much criticism of ol the failure of the government Exec government Executive tive and Congress alike alike to to take o a really definite stand The signs o indicate that the executive and con con- congress congress congress gress are now taking heed of that criticism Congress knows that de de- defense defense de- de defense strikes must be stopped And the people with this country facing out all war on two want wa-nt planes and ships and tanks and guns The labor leaders may Illa have at last bitten bi ten off more they can calf chew che o Oo- Oo This country is is' winning success in its efforts to persuade Latin Am An 0 erica to follow our foreign policy Mexico Brazil and lesser states south of the border have said they will go to war if we go Most of the Latin American republics arc are at last fighting Nazi influences in their midst There Th re arc are a few places where pro-axis pro sympathizers still have positions of power but they arc growing fewer |