Evening star. [volume], May 24, 1940, Page A-11, Image 11

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Wagner Act
Vote to Make
History
Stand on Changes
Seen Tied Up With
Morals of Democracy
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Within a few days the House will
be asked to record itself on what
may prove a historic vote because
It is directly related to national
unity and effi
ciency and pro- \
duction.
For several:
months, the *
House has had
before it certain
proposals to
amend the Na
tional Labor Re
lations Act.
These amend
ments do not in
any way weaken
collective bar
gaining or the I
rights of labor 1
to organize, but
David Lawrence.
they decidedly weaken the power
of an arbitrary-minded tribunal to
write into the law things that were
never put there in the first instance
by Congress. Likewise, the amend
ments seek to give employers—who,
too, have civil rights and are sup
posed to be treated fairly, even
though they are in the minority—a
chance to conduct their labor rela
tions without being harassed by
misuse or abuse of the words of
the statute.
, The labor union politicians, work
ing in close co-operation with the
National Labor Relations Board,
have been conducting a lobby to
persuade members of the House to
leave the law unchanged. Threats
of reprisals at the polls are in the
background of the controversy. Re
publicans and Democrats alike have
been asked to vote against the
amendments on the ground that the
labor unions did not want changes.
The position of the C. I. O. has
been to oppose all amendments. The
A. F. of L. started out with amend
ments of its own and thought it
had Administration support, but it
turns out that the A. F. of L. has
been left isolated. Lately there have
been signs that the A. F. of L.
leaders will return to the position
they originally took, namely that a
hew labor board must be created.
Better Relations Needed.
The need for a more satisfactory
relationship between management
and labor than exists in America
today is conceded on all sides. In
England, it is admitted that be
cause labor refused to co-operate
voluntarily, measures of emergency
had to be adopted by Parliament
conscripting labor and capital. But
in the end it is labor that has to
surrender most. So in America, if
voluntary co-operation breaks down
and America is forced into the war
some day, labor will bear the brunt
of the struggle. Can America fore
stall such a development by setting
up now a better relationship be
tween management and labor? The
House will have to answer that ques
tion and take full responsibility for
the decision next week.
It is not a difficult controversy to
appraise. When, after a searching
investigation by a special House
committee, abuses are revealed, it
is certainly not constructive for the
big powerful labor politicians to ig
nore the abuses and endeavor to
whitewash completely those who
have been guilty of wrong-doing and
of openly violating the Federal
statutes. Members of the board
have boldly confessed to violation
of anti-lobbying laws, and yet have
never been prosecuted.
Public Morality Under Cloud.
The spectacle of an administra
tion which vigorously enforces the
laws against employers and deliber
ately refrains from enforcing the
statutes against its own employes
when they violate Federal law is
an example of the decay of demo
cratic government and public moral
ity. When political expediency
supersedes honest enforcement of
the law, the foundation of democ
racy itself is made insecure.
The campaign against amending
the National Labor Relations Law
has in itself revealed that arbitrarily
interpreted statutes can be kept in
force if the political lobbies are
strong enough. The administration
by its position thus far has com
mitted itself to the side of unquali
fied endorsement of the mismanage
ment by the board. All the revela
tions of the Smith committee have
been brushed to one side and ad
ministration leaders are fighting
against amendments.
How can industry ever have con
fidence in any administration which
so far forgets the rules of fair play
In a democracy that when unfair
ness is clearly proved, no redress is
obtainable? How much enthusiasm
can industry put into the production
machine when it feels that at Wash
ington is a group of overzealous poli
ticians interested primarily in their
own ambitions and their own main
tenance of political power?
Voters Final Arbiters.
The average citizen often asks
himself what he can do about it.
The coming vote in the House will
give him much food for thought and
a stimulus to action. Every vote
for unqualified retention of the Na
tional Labor Relations Act, every
vote made at the behest of pressure
groups, can be repudiated at the
polls by larger groups of the elec
torate who want to see a fair deal
for employers as well as employes.
The question of what the Senate
does about it is secondary. For the
House must go on record first. If
the House does not see the implica
tions to national defense and effi
cient production in failure to cor
rect the mistakes in the Wagner
law, then America must look to the
voters at the polls to express in un
mistakable terms this autumn the
national desire for fairness and
voluntary co-operation in govern
ment. It’s another episode in the
era of selfishness that has made
democracy so weak to cope with
totalitarian states.
(Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
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The Capital Parade
British Navy May Go to Canada if Nazis Win,
Putting Important Question Up to U. S.
By JOSEPH ALSOP and ROBERT KltfTNER.
If the allied armies are defeated and the British isles overwhelmed by
the terror from the air, every high official of the State, War and Navy
Departments fervently prays that the British fleet will take refuge on
this side of the Atlantic. There is no solid reason to suppose that this
universal prayer will be granted. . Yet the fact that every one is praying
casts the most striking light on the true position of this country in this
crisis of world affairs
The truth is, if the Germans win a decisive victory, it will be the
best we can hope for the British fleet to re-base Itself in Canada. But
the presence of the British war vessels in Canadian ports will, of course,
call for decisions by us which are sure to be disagreeable to the muddle
minded and ostrich-headed.
Canada lacks both the facilities and resources to maintain a great
fleet for any space of time. The expense alone would be far beyond the
powers of Canada, and, indeed, be
yond the combined powers of all
the British dominions. The United
States, therefore, would have to
choose between fueling, supplying
and maintaining the British ships,
or losing this great potential source
of sea power.
Canada is a belligerent. The
British fleet is part of the war estab
lishment of one of the leading
belligerents. If we should choose to m
Mr WORD.' HOW CAN
i ever feed them?
/ —
iff
H<irCANH>i
mane uie iieeaea conrriouuons to the fleet s support, we would be guilty
of an unneutral act; in fact we would be ourselves forced to accept a
technically belligerent role, provided the German government wished to
press matters to their ultimate conclusion.
Nose Thumbing at Berlin
It is the best proof of the mythical quality of the isolationist theory
that there is small doubt we would maintain the fleet and let technical
neutrality and belligerency go to the devil We could not afford to miss
such an immense opportunity, and no one in the country would advocate
letting it slip.
For with the British fleet acting in concert with the American Navy,
we should be in the happy position of being able to defy Berlin with
impunity. The strategic position of the United States is vastly extended,
running from Alaska to Cape Horn, and from the trade route to the
Malay States in the Pacific to such Atlantic islands as the Cape Verdes
which we would not wish to see in hostile hands. But as yet it is not a
position very vulnerable to air power. So long as there is the naval power
to prevent powerful and unfriendly nations from obtaining bases of
attack against us, we are safe. The British and American fleets combined
would certainly constitute such naval power.
Possibly, in the end, the British fleet might transfer ta the Pacific
assuming the task of guarding Australia, New Zealand, the western coast
of Canada and the remaining British colonies in the Far East, as well as
Alaska, our own Western coast and Pacific trade routes, and Hawaii and
our other Pacific island possessions. Meanwhile, our fleet in the Atlantic
could defend the Caribbean and the coasts of the two Americas, and keep
Greenland, Iceland, the Cape Verdes, the Azores and other strategic
positions from becoming potential enemy bases. Whatever the final
disposition of the two fleets, the advantages of union would be vast and
mutual.
Gloomy Pictures
The immediate gain would be security, for the Hemisphere and for
our own rearmament. The penalty of this security, of course, would be
strained relations with Germany that might some day lead to a real
war. But the darkness of the alternatives, in the event of decisive German
victory, will be quite enough to persuade the country to take the risk of
penalty in harboring the British fleet.
Yesterday, in this space, there was presented an expert forecast of
what would probably happen if the British fleet should fall into German
Pbetty Soft.
EH, BENNYp/
nan as tvery outlying defense post
would fall. Every sphere of Interest
would be invaded. The North
American continent itself could be
defended only with considerable
luck. Such was the gloomy picture.
. Nor is the picture muoh more
cheerful of what would probably
happen if the British fleet should
be destroyed or scuttled. Even with
their present navies, Germany and
Italy acting together could easily
establish Atlantic bases. Prom the Atlantic bases they could penetrate
lower South America without much trouble Thus that part of the Hemi
sphere below the South'American bulge would have to be resigned to its
fate. Greenland we might be able to defend, but the other Atlantic islands
we could not And in the Pacific, meanwhile, the Japanese would be able
to work their will with New Zealand and Australia, cut our vital trade
routes to Asia, and seize the Philippines and the Pacific islands up to
Hawaii.
If these considerations sound alarmist, it will be well to remember
that they are now being carefully pondered by the men in the Govern
ment who are responsible for our defense. If* that is so, we had best
ponder them ourselves.
(Released by the North American Newspaper Alliance. Inc.)
Hearings Set on Plan
For II. S. Agency Reforms
Public hearings on the proposal
to reform procedure in the admin
istrative agencies of the Govern
ment will be held June 26, 27 and
28 and July 10, 11 and 12, it was
announced yesterday by Dean Ache
son, head of the Attorney Gen
eral's Committee on Administra
tive Procedure.
The committee was appointed last
year at the direction of the Presi
dent and since then members of
the staff have been studying the
machinery of the various agencies.
Monographs have been completed
on a number of these studies and
will be taken up for discussion at
the June meeting, which will be
held at District Court. The others
are expected to be ready for the
July meeting.
Announcing the public hearings,
the committee said “all persons and
organizations” are invited to ex
press their opinion on administra
tive procedure and may also submit
written statements.
The question of reform in admin
istrative agencies has been the
subject of controversy for months
because of the growing power ex
ercised by these groups. The House
at the present session passed the
Logan-Walter bill. The measure,
which is vigorously opposed by the
administration, is awaiting action
by the Senate.
Mrs. Stovel Again Heads
Hard of Hearing Society
Mrs. Laura Stovel has been re
elected president of the Washington
Society for the Hard of Hearing, it
was announced today. The slate
elected with her included Mrs. Eliz
abeth Owen, first vice president;
Miss Lena L. Burgdorf, second vice
president; Miss Alice Alexander,
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Proceeds will help send hard of
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CTHS opinions of the writers on this page are ■their own, not
necessarily The Star’s. Such opinions are presented in The
Star’s effort to give all sides of questions of interest to its
readers, although such opinions may be contradictory among
themselves and directly opposed to The Star’s.
Von Schlieffen Plan at Work
Maj. Eliot Sees Cold Brilliance of Gen. Beck
Behind Execution of Nazi Strategy
By MAJ. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.
The real weight of the German
drive appears to be gathering in
Belgium—the “strong right wing,”
of which old Count Von Schlleffen
spoke with his
dying breath—
expressed in its
simplest terms,
the German
plan seems now
to work out as
follows: Break
through the
allied center,
then turn right
and destroy any
allied left wing,
opening the way
to the Channel
and direct at
tack on Great —”—
Britain by alrGe«rIe Fieidin* Eliot,
and by blockade, while fatally re
ducing the power of the allied
armies.
The breaking of the center was
accomplished first, by surprise (no
one expected an advance through
the difficult Ardennes*, next, by the
terriflic power of the German
officers’ tactics in the air, plus
tanks, followed by motorized in
fantry and artillery, and striking
at a spot already the weakest in
the frontier defenses and quickly
weakened further by the operations
of the German air force and
mechanized units fanning out in
the rear.
With the break through effected,
it was next necessary to widen the
breach, of course, to the westward,
where the main objective lay, and
to thrust into the gap as many
motorized holding troops as pos
sible, thus pushing forward a deep
bulge into French territory, within
which German consolidation could
be effected. The outer limits of
this bulge seem now to have
reached the Maubeuge-Cambarl
St 3uenten-Laon - Rethel - Mont
medy Line.
Mechanized Units Reorganized.
The next step was to thrust for
ward mechanized units again (now
refueled and reorganized) along the
Somme Valley toward the vital rail
Junction of Amiens, and on to the
coast, cutting for the moment all
communication between the allied
left wing and main body.
All this had to be accomplished
with the greatest speed, with a con
tinuity of action which gave the
allies no time to gather force for a
counter blow. Meanwhile, gather
ing ominous weight in the north,
the German right wing was batter
ing at the allied covering force along
the Scheldt, while the Belgian roads
were choked with the slow moving
columns of infantry and artillery
coming up to drive the allied left
into the Channel.
This is an adaptation to modern
conditions of Count von Schlieffen s
famous plan. In conception and so
far in execution, it can only be de
scribed as well worthy of the great
strategist who inspired it. Needless
to say, it can hardly have been
worked out by any inexperienced or
amateur soldier. One might con
jecture that the cold brilliance of
Gen. Beck lies behind it.
The Present Situation.
The present situation seems about
as follows: On the Scheldt, the
allied rear guards are giving way.
The Germans appear to have
reached some part on the Belgian
•
coast, possibly through or passing
north of Ghent, where the situation
is uncertain. It is probable that
some of the allied forces along the
Scheldt have been cut off but how
many cannot now be estimated.
Meanwhile, the bulk of the British,
Belgium, French left wing appeals
to be trying to stabilize on a line
Dunkerque, Lille, Cambrai, Saint
Quentin, Laon, barring the way to
the French Channel ports at least.
If too much <Jf this force has shifted
east against Cambrai it may find
Itself outflanked by the seep of the
heavy German right wing, unless
this can be stopped and held at
the frontier defenses.
The German mechanized forces
at Abbeville, meanwhile, seem to be
pushing up forward to Boulogne
while from the south a French
counterattack is reported striking
toward Saint Quentin. If the allies
are to effect stabilization on or near
the line named, they must very soon
mop up those armored Units in their
rear. If they accomplish this and
can hold the new line, they have at
least saved the bulk of their armies
and the French Channel ports, and
the war moves into a new phrase
But, last night at least there was no
assurance whatever that even so
much can be accomplished. We can
only point out objectives and wait.
(Copyright, 1940, by New York Tribune,
Inc.)
Membership in Fort Davis
Association Is Sought
Requests from a number of resi
dents of the area north' of Port
Davis Park above Pennsylvania and
Alabama avenues S.E. for member
ship in the Port Davis Citizens’
Association were made last night at
the meeting of the Fort Davis group.
The section was described as a
“no man’s land” between Hillcrest,
Summit Park, Bradbury Heights
and Port Davis Citizens’ Associa
tions, not specifically claimed by
any group. No definite action was
taken, but it was announced that
the problem would be again con
sidered in the fall.
On a motion of T. J. Lynch the
regular June meeting was post
poned until September. The Pres
byterian Church at the intersection
of Branch avenue, S street and
Pennsylvania avenue SE. was ap
proved for future meetings.
It was announced that a fire box
requested for Texas avenue and S
street S£. some time ago had been
installed.
The meeting, presided over by
the president, William A. Duvall,
was held in the Southeast Branch
Public Library.
Memorial Rites Planned
For Nuns in Civil War
Memorial services for nuns of the
battlefield of the Civil War will be
held at 6:30 pm. tomorrow at the
statue erected to their memory at
Rhode Island avenue and M streets
N.W.
Organizations participating will
include the Woman’s Relief Corps,
the Grand Army of the Republic,
the Daughters of Union Veterans of
the Civil War, the Ladies of the
G. A. R., the auxiliary to the Cath
olic War Veterans, the Junior Cath
olic Daughters of America and the
Navy School Band.
This Changing World
Germans' Ruthless Tactics Likened to Attila's;
Hitler Knows Terrorism .Undermines Morale
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.
It was not Napoleon, Clausewitz or Moltke that inspired Hitler’s
strategy, but a study of Attila’s campaigns in Europe.
Observers reporting from the French and Belgian fronts say the
tactics of total destruction of everything in front of the German Armies
resemble those of the Hun leader more than any military man regardless
of how much he believed in totalitarian warfare.
The French have found on captured officers orders instructing the
German troops to destroy everything in their path. After a town or village
has been captured, special squads of torchbearers have instructions to set
houses on fire and prevent the population from putting them out.
The reason for this ruthless war is two-fold: First, Hitler believes
in terrorism. A terrorized population which believes it will'lose every
thing if it stands in the way of the invader is likely to be driven to force
its government to sue for peace more quickly.
Secondly, Hitler wants to destroy France’s northern industries.
The section where tne fighting is taking place now is one of the
most important industrial parts of France.
Plants Restored After War
It had been devastated during the World War, but was restored
during the last 20 years. This means that the new plants—built with
German reparations money, according to Hitler—are the last word in
modernism and compare favorably with those of Germany and the
United States.
Of course, the Germans are convinced they will win this war. But
should they lose it, it will be many years before impoverished France
will be able to restore her industries for there will be no reparations
this time. Germany certainly won’t be able to pay for the damage done.
Similar total destruction occurred during the Thirty Years War.
But at that time, of course, Europe was not industrialized.
Hitler figures that if he wins the war Germany and her associates
will have their factories intact and will provide the world with industrial
products. If Germany loses the war, the destruction in Europe will be
absolute and complete. *
It is taken for granted in responsible quarters here that Italy will
attack the allies in Africa and in the Middle East as soon as Premier
Mussolini issues the command: ‘‘Avanti” (forward;.
According to information dating back several months, it appears
that Hitler, who has made careful plans for partition of the Old World,
has assigned to Italy the role of executioner of the allies in Africa and the
Middle East.
These reports coming from usually reliable sources state that Italy
will be entitled to Egypt, Tunisia, the French and British Somaliland,
Syria, Iraq and Palestine.
This seems to fit in with the political and economic aspirations of
II Duce.
Many Italians in Tunisia
Tunisia has a large Italian population and has been the bone of
contention between Italy and France for many years. Egypt controls
the Suez Canal and produces much needed cotton.
Iraq has vast oil territories, and Syria and Palestine are the terminals
of the pipe-line from Mosul to the Mediterranean ports.
From the military point of view, the conquest of these countries will
not be difficult. In Tunisia a strong French Army is stationed behind
modern fortifications, but the Middle East territories are hardly in posi
tion to offer stubborn resistance There is, of course, an allied army in
Egypt and in Syria, but the fighting qualities of the troops composing
that army (with the exception of the British and French units) is ques
tionable. Furthermore, their reserve of planes, tanks and ammunitions
is limited.
Of course, the Italians will have a stiff fight with the combined
British and French fleets, which are concentrated in the eastern and
central Mediterranean, It ir certain that the allied units will fight more
stubbornly than ever befoje because they know they have the tremendous
responsibility of saving what can be saved of the two empires in the event [
the German campaign in France is fully successful.
There have been many discussions and much speculation as to what
will happen to the allied fleet in the event France and Great Britain are
crushed in this war.
It seems that the bulk of the fleet is in the Mediterranean now. The
odds are in favor of the theory that if the worst were to happen, the
French and British seamen and officers will go down with flags flying after
having inflicted every loss possible on their enemy.
Exhibit to Demonstrate
W. P. A. Airways Work
The part played by the Work
Projects Administration In adding
nearly 5,000 miles of new airways to
the Nation’s flying facilities during
the last five years will be demon- j
strated in a series of exhibits going
on display Sunday at Bolling Field.
The exhibit has been arranged
as a feature of the National Aviation
Forum, which will be held at the
Army’s air base in Anacostia during
the week.
Col. Francis C. Harrington, com
missioner of the W. P. A., said yes
terday the importance of these air
way facilities can hardly be over
estimated at this time.
"From both a civil and a military
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standpoint there is the greatest ne
cessity for an integrated system of
airports and landing fields connect
ing our important centers of popu
lation,” he said. "Our present fa
cilities are still short of the mini
mum goal set by most authorities.
However, there has been great im
provement in recent years in which
the W. P. A. has had a leading
part.”
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Nonpartisan
Effort Vital,
Not Coalition
Danger So Far
Fails to Justify
Suspending Democracy
By CHARLES G. ROS8.
The silliest talk to which our pre
paredness program has given birth
is that we should have a coalition
government. It we had our backs
Charles G. Ross.
u> me wan, nice
England, the
desperate neces
sities of the case
would, of course,
put us under
that kind of gov
ernment. There
would be no al
ternative. And
the Government
In that event
would be far
more than a
coalition gov
ernment of the
sort that is be
ing talked about;
is wouiq oe a loiantanan govern
ment, like England’s now.
But we haven’t got our backs to
the wall. We are not even in a war.
What we are now undertaking to
do is simply to spend money in
sufficient sums and with sufficient
expertness to insure our national
safety if we do get into a war. This
is a tremendously important effort;
it is something that needs to be car
ried through with all dispatch; but
it constitutes no crisis remotely war
ranting the hysterical cry that we
abandon our traditional two-party
system of government.
Casts Doubts on Democracy.
The preparedness program, over
shadowing though it is at the mo
ment and may be for a long time
to come, is still but one of the con
cerns of the national Government.
There are plenty of other grave con
cerns, and out of them grow issues
that provide proper fighting material
for the parties. To say that all
these other issues should be put
aside—which is to say. concretely,
that the opposition party should be
denied its right to do all it can
at the polls to enforce its own view
of these issues—is to say that democ
racy is unable to function even under
a faint threat of bad weather; it is
to urge a step toward the very
form of government that is causing
us, by its hateful aggressions, to
pour out our billions for the defense
of our democracy.
There could be no greater irony
than for the United States at this
time, to adopt the methods of the
dictators.
Conceivably, the time may come,
as it has tragically come to Eng
land, when we shall have to do
this. It is not here now, and to
suggest that it is here is to do
neither the cause of preparedness
nor the cause of representative gov
ernment any service. We fought
the last war without going under
a coalition; we can surely now,
when at peace, do whatever is nec
essary to be done without going
under a coalition.
Expert Board Advisable.
This is not to say that the ad
ministration would not be well ad
vised to set up a co-ordinating board
of industrial leaders and experts
to supervise the defense program.
The members of such a board
should be—to insure public confi
dence and maximum efficiency—
chosen with utter disregard to poli
tics. What we face is not only a
military problem; it is to a very
large extent a purely industrial
problem. There can be no ques
tion of the willingness of Repub
lican industrialists as well as Dem
ocratic to co-operate with the Pres
ident and the experts of the Army
and Navy in the great non-partisan
effort represented by the program
which is now going through Con
gress with the votes of Democrats
and Republicans alike. As to na
tional defense, politics is ad
journed.
To this extent there is coalition
—coalition that we like to think
is inevitable whenever the country
is faced with the threat of danger
from the outside. The President
could dramatize this unity we have
achieved in a special field, he could
make this unity count for efficiency
and speed in the execution of the
defense program, by summoning to
his aid the best qualified men in
the country regardless of their at
titude toward his domestic policies.
Alert Opposition Necessary.
But a non-partisan board, operat
ing outside the cabinet, with respect
to an issue on which there is na
titional unity, is a different thing
altogether from a coalition Govern
ment. A coalition Government un
der present conditions would give us
a cabinet with a confusion of voices
on all save the one issue of pre
paredness. Within the inner council
of the Government would be men
hostile to many of its purposes. The
whole conception of the cabinet as
the official family of the President,
selected by him because of their
essential agreement with his views,
would be violated. As for the out
siders drawn into the coalition, their
influence with the country in oppo
sition to the President would be
weakened or destroyed. The point
need not be labored: We need unified
responsibility at the head of the
Government; we need an alert op
position unhampered by ties with
the Government.
Former Gov. Landon made a good
point in his statement of Wednes
day, when he said that “it is to be
noted that even in the midst of
actual war the Labor and Liberal
parties in England refused to enter
the cabinet until there had been
substantial agreement on policies.’*
Coalition government in our, sys
tem is justifiable only under the
pressure of some transcendent issue
on which there is substantial agree
ment between the parties and be
side which the normal issues of the
day shrivel into insignificance. To
say that the present necessity of
building up our armament has put
us in this stage is to utter the
rankest nonsense.
Tablet to Be Dedicated
By Colonial Dames
The Southern Maryland Society
of Colonial Dames on Sunday will
dedicate a tablet to Maryland's
founders and hold a commemora
tive exercise on St. Clements Island.
Members will gather at 11 am. at
Coltons Point in St. Marys County.
Rear Admiral William R. Furlong,
U. S. N., will provide transporta
tion. Swepson Earle of the State
Conservation Commission will be
guest speaker.