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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (April 21, 1952)
TImi Statesman SaSaa (3 ZA DuQ o ? ? n PDOCa DO GLI DuQ Mow j Government Seizure of the Steel Mills Affects You Every man atid woman who works, every citizen in Am erica, has a stake in the great issues growing out of the seiz ure of the steel mills If the President has the right to seize private property to enforce union I demands, as has been done in steel, then both the right of property and the continuation of collect ive bargaining are in serious danger. Even the independence of unions, themselves, will be in jeopardy. In looking to the Administration to enforce its demands, the union confesses lack of faith in true collective bargain ing. It trades political support for Government favors. How has the Administration sought to pav its debts to the union? The first fateful step in the chain of events leading up to the unlawful seizure of the steel industry was taken early in 1951. Then President Truman knuckled under to the pressure of union leaders. He gave them the kind of Wage Stabilization Board they wanted. The second step was the appointment of the Board itself. It was a "packed court" with 6 union and 6 so-called "pub lic" members on one side and 6 industry members on the other. It was clearly understood that the findings of the Board in the steel caselwould be "recommendations" only and not binding on either party. 1 These recommedations of the Board, whose first duty it was to provent further inflation, called for the highest wage Increase in the history of the Steelworkers' Union, and for the compulsory union shop. Steelworkersf wages have increased since Korea about in line with the four big industries electrical machinery, STEE automobiles, rubber, and meat-packing mentioned by President Truman. The Wage Board recommendation would put 8 teel worker wages far ahead of these others thus requiring another round of increases in tho indus tries to "catch up" with steel. Then came the next step. President Truman in a bitter speech, adopting the inflationary recommendations of the Wage Stabilization Board, announced the seizure of the steel mills. If the people of America through inertia permit this il legal action to pass without protest, they will be turning over to the political whim of any President more and more power over their private lives and property. That is the well-marked road toward dictatorship. It is the road traveled by every Fascist and Socialist state. If the Government can seize steel, it can seize any busi ness, large or small, any farm, cattle off the range, or any private property anywhere. These are the issues involved In the gravest Constitution al debate since the "court packing" plan of 1937. It Is Your Fight This fight does not concern the steel companies alone. It is the fight of every American citizen. If you are opposed to the illegal seizure of property by Government to enforce labor union demands, or for any other purpose, your only recourse is in Congress. It is your privilege as an American citizen to express your views -to your Congressman and Senators. Write for copies of Clarence B. Randall's stirring speech, "These Are the Facts, Mr. President" and booklet "Facts In the Steel Controversy." COMPANIES IN THE WAGE CASE Room 5401, 350 Fifth Avenue, New York 1, N. Y. 9TM it t -A
