Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 July 1944 — Page 16

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The Indianapolis Times

~ PAGE "16 Thursday, July 13, 1944

ROY W. HOWARD President

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FERREE

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Give Light end the People Will Find Their Own Wey

A MINIMUM RIGHT FOR EMPLOYERS THE national labor relations board has had under consideration for several months a procedural change designed to help cope with wartime labor disputes by giving

the employer certain minimum rights.

Briefly, the employer would have a right to petition |

the NLRB for a collective-bargaining election when he had reasonable doubt that one union represented a majority of his employees—but he could do so only within five days of notice that his labor dispute was going before the war labor

board.

As matters stand now the employer is powerless to demand an election when he is dealing with only one union— and the course of the Montgomery Ward case shows to what absurd lengths such a situation can go with a stub-

born employer and an adamant union.

Labor unions fear a flood of employer petitions if employers have a right to apply for an election where only one union is involved. They believe the procedure might be used to obstruct, to delay, and to undo their work of

organizing. Experience doesn’t bear out this fear.

Employers

have had a right, since 1939, to petition for an election where two or more unions are vying for status as collectivebargaining agent, and that right has been used sparingly,

producing some 75 to 80 cases.

Under Pennsylvania state law, employers have had unlimited right of petition since 1939, and about 22 per cent of the elections conducted by the state labor relations board

have been on employer petitions.

In New York and Wis-

. consin, where employers have similar rights, the procedure

is almost unused.

. ” ” 0» » » THE PROPOSED regulation before the NLRB seems about the least that should be allowed employers in the administration of an act frankly designed to protect employee rights. The board could go much further without

taking away any of labor's proper privileges.

In justice to the employer, the union, and the employees who vote, it seems elementary that the fundamental question of whether a union holds a majority should be answered wherever a reasonable doubt exists in-time of war

or peace.

TEACHER SHORTAGE

THE National Education association has reported a teacher shortage of 70,000, the greatest in our history, and has also revealed that 170,000 teachers were new to the job last year, many of them with insufficient training. This situation is serious, but certainly not surprising. It was to be expected that the armed forces would take many teachers, and it has—to the number of 100,000 in the. past two years. But in the same period about twice that number have left teaching for better paying jobs. Unless something is done, our education system will get only a fraction of

them back. The remedy is apparent.

The average teacher's pay

has always been such that those who entered the profession had to possess a large share of selflessness and idealism. Today, with taxes and living costs zooming, teachers have been among the most unfortunate of the wage-frozen white

collar workers.

High taxes and high living costs are likely to continue for some time.. So will the teacher shortage, unless salaries, retirement pay and job security are generally improved. Once teachers have tasted of the fruits of a decent living wage, it’s going to take more than a red apple to lure them

back to the classroom.

SELF-INSPECTION BY CONGRESS

HE proposal to modernize congressional procedure has taken a step forward with approval by the senate rules committee of a resolution for study of the organization and

operation of the house and senate.

Passage of the resolution, sponsored by Senator Maloney (D. Conn.) and Rep. Monroney (D. Okla.), wold make possible a bipartisan study, by members of both houses, of the antiquated machinery through which con-

gress now exercises its authority.

Members have become increasingly aware, in dealing with war legislation, that the machinery of congress frequently clanks and sputters. Much of the authority of congress has gone to the executive branch under necessary wartime delegations of power, and with it has gone some of the ability of congress to act as a check on the executive's

use of delegated powers. :

Congress has enough committees—as many as half a dozen may be studying the samé subject, and some senators have to rush from one committee to another in order to attend a part of each meeting. Keorganization and coordination are needed—and adequate committee staffs. The national legislature is limping, and knows it. A first step to correct that limp would be an overhauling of its

basic machinery.

LET THE ARMY READ

THE army's troubles with the new ban on political literature provide a striking example of the unwisdom of

curbs on public information.

Congress, in a Hatch act amendment written by Senator Taft (R. 0.), forbade issuance of “political or by Re or political propaganda of any kind designed or calculated to affect the result of any election for President,” etc. So, the army, to avoid drawing fines of $1000 and oneyear jail terms for its personnel, banished a list of distinguished books from its education courses and fired the

Algiers editor of its “Stars and Stripes.”

Senator Taft said hejdidn’t mean it that way, but the army says it has nothing to go hy but the language of the law, and assumes that congress knew what it was saying. It would be laughable but for the fact that millions of our men who have the best right to read about the issues

ng Sapa Wil have to yély- ou legally,

Managet

| charges which entitle’ them to absolute preference in

G. |. Joe's Job

By Fred W. Perkins

WASHINGTON, July 13.—Some spokesmen for organized labor are beginning to express doubts as to _the wisdom of congress in writing

to the civilian jobs they gave when they enlisted. This presents a preview of a post-war problem. Even now, about 50,000 men are being dismissed every month from the armed forces, the great majority with honorable dis-

reinstatement to their old jobs, or something equal from their former employers. i The national C. I. O. war relief committee of which Irving Abramson is chairman at 1776 Broadway, New York, centers its criticism on Col. Paul H. Griffith, chief of the veterans’ personnel division of the selective service system.

Attacks Reinstatement Ruling

THE C. 1. 0. COMMITTEE says that Col. Griffith (identified as a former executive of the American Legion and a businessman of Fayette county, Pennsylvania) 1s responsible for a ruling under which: “A returning veteran is entitled to reinstatement in his former position or one of like seniority, status and pay, even though such reinstatement necessitates the discharge of a non-veteran with greater seniority.” In its publication, The New Veterans, the C. I. O. committee said the ruling “sets up an artificial conflict between veteran and worker.” The article said: “Representatives .of the C. I. O. have pointed out

0’ PUTTIN’ IN A LINE

that this (the ruling) will mean the dismissal of world war I veterans and thousands of women workers who | are in war jobs to support their children. All these people have accumulated union priority. , . . “Col, Griffith's viewpoint means no break for world war II veterans, C. I. O. officials have emphasized. To accept an economy of few jobs, to concentrate only upon distributing those few jobs means instead just one step-down on the economic level. This can only backfire upon the veterans of world war II. ‘These will have to struggle among themselves in the end for the fewer and fewer jobs that remain.” o

Griffith Says Law Will Be Followed

COL. GRIFFITH, interviewed, cited the selective service law, which provides that an employer must restore a regular employee to the same position, with like seniority status and pay, unless the employer's circumstances have so changed that it would be impossible or unreasonable for him to make the restoration. He said he was going to follow the law. Col. Griffith also said he was quoted correctly by the C. IL O. committee in remarking that: “The civilian worker who is eliminated from employment because of industry's ‘return to peacetime production will get just as hungry as a soldier after gomon uation from the armed forces. But I believe e have a greater obligation to our returning servicemen, to say nothing of the problem they might present if 10 or 15 million of them-——who have been trained in the art of killing, disciplined and taught to follow a leader without question—found themselves disillusioned and unemployed. The wrong type of leader might come along and find these men willing to follow.”

Law Supersedes Union Contracts

THE C. I O. publication headed its article: “Veteran Chief Visualizes Civillan Hunger as Post-War

| Alternative to Veteran Fascism.”

Col. Griffith said he hoped it wouldn't be as serious as that, but that if the law is carried out there will not be any apple-selling by G. I. Joes. One ruling of concern to organized labor is that rio union contract, made before or after enactment of the selecting service law in September, 1940, can

makes the returning veteran able to enter any kind of a closed shop or union shop, or to join a union or not to join a union, as he wishes.

(Westbrook Pegler did not write a column today.)

We The People

By Ruth Millett

IT IS no crime for a woman to vote the way her husband does —if she does her own political thinking. But'it is a crime against democracy for a woman to vote the way her husband does just be- " cause she is too lazy or too unsure of her own judgment to make her own political decisions, or because 4 she is afraid her husband will call her a nitwit if she dares to disagree with him politically. Yet plenty of women still leave the family’s political thinking to their husbands, as though it ‘were ‘as much a masculine matter ag baby tending is feminine. They seem to think that John is infallible when it comes to picking political candidates, for the simple reason that he is a man,

Wife Should Not Shirk Duty

YET JOHN may vote the same ticket year after year for no better reason than that his father voted it. Or he may be totally uninformed on the issues of the day, Even if he is himself an intelligent voter, his wife shouldn't skirk her duty as a citizen to become an intelligent voter herself. And a woman can’t become an intelligent voter if she hands her vote over to another person, to do with as he pleases—which is what the women who voie as their husbands say are actually doing. There is no reason for a husband and wife tQ fight over politics. duty to vofe as her husband would like to have her vote, just to keep peace in the family. Incidentally, why should a woman tell her husband how she votes? That is strictly her own affair,

So They*Say—

rise to constantly higher levels. —Dr, ray Butler, president Columbia U,

» . .

for debt retirement, will run $20,000.000,000. This will be true wheth¢r we have & Democratic or Republican administration.—Ralph E. Flanders, president Federal Reserve bank of Boston. .

IT IS imperative that we should ,make no foreign commitments concerning the disposition of post-war use of American vessels until we know what our own requirements will be.~Almon.E. Roth, president Na~tional, Federation of American Shipping, : . . . .

STRANGELY ENOUGH we have reason to fear for our technology. An Old World virus is in our blood and public opinion today is inimical to teche nological progress, The old incentive, onee 80 potent, Is now’ anepic.—Eugene E. Wilson, chairman, Aeronautical C. of C. of America. Fan : » .. . » 5 1 BELIEVE that at avar’s end America will bé able to maintain and even raise the standard of Hv

| [By John W. Hillman

Reflections

There Are Other Big ‘Ifs' Too IN BOTH cases, that “extra something” would ‘have changed the course; and quite possibly : the eventual outcome, of the-war. And there are other big “ifs,» too. : Following the surrender of the Italian fleet, Adm.

The Hoosier Forum

1 wholly disagree with what you say, but will detend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

have been a Bn have been a different story. And after the Italian landings, an American gene eral stated, “One more attack at Salerno and the Germans would have pushed into the sea.” One

“MOTHER FEELS INJUSTICE DONE” Mrs. Elsie Purman, Indianapolis I want to ask the public, is it right ‘and does a mother of a boy in prison on a robbery charge have to take insults from others more fortunate with their children? Some seven or eight years ago a routine investigation was made at the prison. The police or F. B. L called on some of the neighbors and friends of this mother. Someone

out false information and told untruths. This mother has never been connected with narcotic users or

shoplifters or ever had anything to

do with anybody doing the same, but she has taken insults from the clerks in. department stores, gro-

cery stores and especially the mar-

ket house where she has traded for

of ‘these would-be “friends” gave}

take precedence over that statute. The public law wipes out all private contracts that may conflict—

But it certainly isn’t a woman's

THE TASK of a representative of the people in 8 | democracy is not to bow down to the lower and more | selfish forms of what is called public opinion but to] | guide and inspire that public opinion so that it may Nicholas Mur-

THE, POST-WAR budget, even without provisions somewhere around |

30 years or more. Neither has she been connected with liquor or any degrading occupation of any sort in her lifetime. She has always maintained the highest ideals and concepts of what is true and right, notwithstanding the sorrow and misfortune of this only son. This mother feels the injustice done, especially from the church people, and feels that this is why the churches fail in bringing others into the fold. . ” =» “INDIANAPOLIS 1S THE FILTHIEST TOWN” By M. P., Indianapolis This may be the $64 question. Who is responsible for the cleanliness of ‘the city of Indianapolis? Let us lay aside politics and reproach the ones that need it, the public. In the last three years I have been from coast to coast of the U. 8, and Indianapolis is the filthiest town I saw. I was born and raised within 35 miles of this city and I have owned my home here for 22 years. It isn't funny when you proudly say “from Indian? apolis,” and the retort comes back, “Oh, that largest, dirtiest inland city, the crossroads of America, where the tall weeds grow!” So from now on, I am just from Indiana, not Indianapolis I have left my car parked in the street since my return, as many more do, and I have a good garage but must go through an alley that is so full of nails, wire, broken glass and bottle necks, an accumulation of last winters’ ashes and garbage,

(Times readers are invited fo express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Because of the volume received, letters should be limited to 250 words. Letters must be signed. Opinions set forth here are those of the writers, and publication in no way implies agreement with those opinions by The Times. The Times assumes no responsi bility for the return of manu. scripts and cannot enter correspondence regarding them.)

EE ——— that the alley isn’t safe for tires to roll through. That is why you see so many cars parked in the streets of Indianapolis. I refer to the alley in the 500 block of 8S. Keystone and the 2300 blocks of English and Spann, but you see it all over town. Take a ride on the Speedway bus and you will see trash piled up in back yards and sometimes the front yards. Boys in their teens break bottles in N. Alabama st. People burn trash in alleys and lehve the remains lay. Ruth Millett in The Indianapolis Times “We, the People” a few days back gave a good lesson on property destruction. It is other people's until you destroy or damage it, then it is yours when you have to replace or repair it. Jouldn't it be better to teach the chiidren to clean up and preserve rather than to dirty up and destroy? Why not place more waste containers in downtown areas and compel people to use them? Too much waste paper blows around town, I think this neighborhood is too thickly populated to raise chickens in the backyards. There must be a dead one from the odor we get from the alley way. I wonder why Indianapolis is so filthy? It isn't the town, it is the people. If the Chamber of Commerce or City Council have any compulsory rules for cleanliness, it wouldn't be a bad idea to print them in all Indianapolis newspapers; and if there aren’t any, it is high time some were made to compel people to abide by them under a penalty. A lot of

Side Glances—By Galbraith

attention is given safety programs,

all its people if it works out. between dederal reg sou Silterent

/|that FDR is the most unpopular

tention to cleanliness? > On June 17, The Indianapolis Times printed “Danger Ahead,”

hospitality and how right he is. On June 21, John W. Hillman comes back in “Reflections” and I will have to agree with In all traveling I never was treated such “I don't care attitude” as am right here at home. Indianapolis are selfish ang impudent and they call it war nerves.

will feel better. 2 = = “SHOULD BRUSH UP ON THEIR DATES" ~~

New (now Olid) Dealers and the general WPA" “gimme” leech class never entertained a thought toward saving for the rainy days. But when they arrive, then the povertystrickenness and hungriness of the kids are blamed onto the mismanagement of the political party on the opposite side of the fence. Those of above-mentioned ilk should brush up on their political and informative bureaus of historical dates. The last war ended Nov. 11, 1918 and the Democratic Wilson was Presidefit until March 4, 1921. During that time nearly all those war veterans came home and were selling apples on the streets. The "history of the United States shows

Democratic rule, their pet way of making big paying jobs. And how it does pay! With the lives of millions of boys and squandering of untold billions of dollars, it pays!

clean up the miserable mess left by

Constitution and freedom their heels on our necks dictatorial fashion, ” - . “WELL, IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN”

By Ben F. Volles, Westport Well, it has happened again. When one writes an article that is

true, it always finds someone who is moved by a very patriotic feeling and must express it in some manner whether right or wrong. In my last article I praised FDR for what good he had done for us working people. I am a war worker ‘and have several nephews in service; and if we were like some people I've heard from, we would simply refuse to do anything that our President asks and let the boys over there die from want of supplies which our buying bonds and giving blood gives to thom, I received a letter from Mr. G. T Lee from Indianapolis who says

and hated President we ever had. If he will be patient until Nov., 1944, he will see for himself that FDR is the most respected and popular President we have ever had. ‘Mr. Lee says we all have a right to our own opinion, he’s right of course.

all wars have been started under|

‘Decided to Take a Closer Look’

‘REVIEWING THE decisive Battle of Midway, the: Life article says: “On the morning of June 3 a certain young Ensign Jewell Reid, pilot of a navy PBY patrol plane, finished the outward leg of his course and started to turn back. Before doing so, however, decided to take a closer look at a tiny speck on the

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something” — that extra bond, that extra overtime, duction, that extra day at work, when you'd rether go fishing, may mean more than you think.

Famous Faces By James Thrasher

WASHINGTON,

ele E £2 E JHE i espifnff

: give you & somewhat ation ahd documentation. Tn the first should be noted that Mr. Dewey's mustache is in the tradition of his party. For the first whiskers came fo the White House on the chin of first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln. Before that, the people of the United States had elected smooth-faced Presidents with monotonous regulari for 73 years, from Washington to Buchanan. (Side purns don’t count in our statistics.)

Smooth Faces in the Minority

SINCE LINCOLN there have been a dozen Ree publican Presidents, and three different Democratie incumbents. And a non-partisan ‘total. shows thas the smooth-faced chief execy tives. are inithe minority 7 to 8. RA ; “sf : In fact, until Woodrow Wilson ‘started the clean. shaven vogue in 1912, whiskers of assorted sizes and colors been a familiar sight at-1600 Pennsylvania ave. exfiept in the administrations of Andrew Johnson nd. Wilam MoRinley. “Ti a. a. There’s no dodging the fact that whiskers are pretty much of a Republican prerogative. Grover Cleveland was the first and only Democrat of the poste Lincoln period who didn't: give the barber carte blanche. He also was the first President to confine himself to a mustache. Of the 13 Republicans, eight

Hi SES:

Fanciest Spinach of Them All

Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison; mustaches, Cleveland, Theodare Roosevelt, Taft. The mustaches might

Taft; scraggly, Roosevelt. ieee That leaves Chester A. Arthur unaccounted for, He sported. the fanciest spinach of them all—the Emperor Franz Josef of Austiia, and the creator of

were either strangers tothe razor or had cnly » ,

AS TO STYLES, the presidential whiskers may be | .[ classified thus—chin whiskers, Lincoln: full beards, |

be subdivided as follows— handlebar, Cleveland and |

shaved-chin style also affected by Gen. Burnside,

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