We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
CRISIS IN COAL
members of the United Mine Workers Union or whether they are not; and it is equally apparent that the forces of law and order, so-called, in Kentucky are rather determined that they shall not.
Stone. — It seems to me rather interesting that the C.I.O. is not willing to trust the National Labor Relations Board to protect the right of workers to join or not join a union as they see fit; that here, even though we have had 50 years of experience, is the first time that the United Mine Workers has raised that issue of a tuiion shop or closed shop, whichever you may call it.
Spencer. — The governor spoke of the selfish interest of the organizers, commenting on the fact that there was no demand for wages or other changes in working conditions. Now, Justice Holmes once said that a closed shop was justified, even though there was no dispute as to wages, as a defensive measure for the final skirmish with respect to the fundamental wages and conditions. I could not agree with the governor that, after all, a fight for this defensive position of the union is a perfectly selfish measure.
Krueger. — Don’t you think, Spencer, that the demand for the union shop in this case, after 50 years of not asking for it, as Stone has pointed out, is strictly a defensive measure ? I think probably the United Mine Workers and the whole C.I.O. realize that they are up against the reaction against the organizing drive of recent years. We have seen it in legislation in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and attempted legislation in a number of other places.
We have seen some A. F. of L. unions willing to step in and act as operators’ pawns in situations of that sort. I think they have a real problem of defense.
Spencer. — Well, I agree with you on that, Krueger. It seems to me that the position which the American Federation of Labor has taken has forced the C.I.O. into this as a defensive measure, too.
Stone. — It does not seem to me that the American Federation of Labor, with its Progressive Miners in competition with the United Mine Workers, is particularly important. I agree with EZrueger that there is a “grass roots’’ movement, as I caU it, a fundamental change in the attitude on
i6g