NATIONAL PRESS BLDG Washington.—It is undoubtedly one of the fundamental foundation stones of demo- The People cratic government Lose that where a civic right or privilege is accorded, the persons who are granted those rights necessarily have some duty to perform under those rights. It is well established, for example, that workers may or- ganize into unions; that those unions have the right to bargain collectively which means that a committee representing the mem- bers of that union may speak for it in dealing with the employers, and it is a right undoubtedly of unions to call its members away from work on strike. I think there can be no debate concerning these three premises. 3ut since these rights have been granted to workers and accepted by them on the same in- alienable basis as the right to vote, the obligations that go with these rights necessarily have been accept- ed by the workers. We have just seen a settlement of one of the great strikes of this decade and the return of more than one hundred thousand workers to the plants of the General Motors corporation. Immediately after Governor Murphy of Michigan, had announced that General Motors and John L. Lewis and his Committee for Industrial Organization had reached an agreement, efforts surged and swelled in a movement on the part of each side to claim victory in the settlement. From all sources I have been able to tap, from every trustworthy observer of national affairs, I have obtained vir- eral Motors—C. I. O. strike settle- ment. As far as I can see after digesting all of the opinions within my reach, it seems to me that neither General Motors nor John L. Lewis won. What is much more im- portant is that the American people lost by that strike and they are in a fair way to lose much more. The General Motors strike was one of the costliest in history. I am told that the workers alone lost something like one hundred million dollars in wages, and, of course, likewise lost because di ring those days, forty-four of them the plants were closed, no new moved into trade. all the thousands of mobiles earned no income. * * ® The truth about the settlement ing near the nd Truth About accept Gover- Settlement nor proposition settlement as a face posal. It is undoubtedly true John L. Lewis would have been ment to break up the Federation of Labor trol of labor for himself wou been some concessions by the Gen ral Motors officials, He apparent attempted to break up the A. F. of L. before he men weaned away from the parent organization and that is the reason why his position in the General Motors strike was so precarious from his personal standpoint. On the other hand, it is quite evi- dent as well that General Motors was forced into a position where it had to make concessions or be charged by the federal government with responsibility for bloodshed and destruction of property in riots. Governor Murphy acted throughout the strike negotiations under the flag of President Roose- velt, saying his movements were at the wish of the President. Gen- eral Motors did not dare attempt to run counter to the President's commands because it could not withstand public sentiment that could and probably would be built up against it should it be publicly criticized by the President. And to support my statement that the settlement is a face saving agreement and that neither side won in it, it is necessary only to consider that this agreement will run just six months. It contains no elements of permanency nor does it show any signs of a basic understanding which will swing pub- lic sentiment to the Lewis faction. Thus, there are many observers who feel that another crisis will arise along about Another the first of July Crisis and that in the meantime Wwil- liam Green, President of the Amer- jcan Federation of Labor, will have built up a considerable amount of strength on his zide of the factional fight. What the future holds, there- fore, is difficult to guess. It can be said only that in the recent strike and in the controversy that seems pri fn to lie ahead, General Mo- tors again will be the goat and the public will pay. I have been wondering whether many people recognize how they are going to pay for the cost of this strike. I have mentioned ways in which they have lost by it and it seems equally clear that when the Lewis unions get through with the use of force, it is likely to bring about an increase in the cost of the automobiles they produce. It is like- ly to go further than just automo- biles. There is a move on now to attempt something of the same sort of labor attack on the steel manu- facturers. If that materializes, it is easy to see how widespread the increased costs will be and how consumers will pay in the end. This may seem to be an argu- ment against increased wages. It may seem to be a defense of steel boots that used to be worn by in- dustrialists and with which they trod upon defenseless labor. But it resolves itself into a question of justice and a consideration of the problem as it concerns consumers as well as workers. If there is anything in the theory that labor is entitled to a fair wage, there must be likewise some merit in the contention that the public which consumes the product of labor is entitled to an equal amount of con- sideration. * * » Political leaders have been quick at all times in recent years to sit astride the neck Federal of business, es- Charters pecially big busi- ness. Corporations were held up as something to be especially if they were large corporations. Lately there has been quite a definite movement for legislation in congress that would force corporations to have federal charters; that is, charters issued by the government at Washington which, therefore, could control such corporations with whatever regula- tions were deemed necessary. This legislation, it is true, has not ap- proached the stage where a pre- diction of its passage can be made. The point is, however, that it rep- resents the thoughts of a certain percentage of the people. The ques- of legality of such a statute usly remains to be determined is to be noted that this prop- ion is simply another step in the yvement to cast a stigma upon a move to make business appear immoral or criminal or gen- erally infamous. Jusiness has found it advan- tageous to incorporate. It removes dividuals joining us in a corporation and commitments at Here again are the 8 and counter obligations aris- ing with those rights and I think no one can dis pute the fact that our nation has ved forward more rapidly He of the use of the corporation as a business entity. 3ut I have been unable to find an answer to the question why the federal government should take control by law of business corpora- tions without at the same time tak- ing control of labor organizations. Now, it is to be noted that labor unions have steadfastly avoided taking the step of incorporation. It is not true abroad where many la- bor organizations hold corporate charters just as would a business enterprise. The fact that labor unions have not incorporated leads one to the presumption that the unions have felt such a step would hamper their activities. And, indeed, it might. For example, there have been scores of instances where labor unions, through their authorized offi- cials or bargaining committees, have signed wage contracts with adds certain same time. right contract subsequently without re- gard for its binding force. As labor unions are now or- ganized, they are very loosely knit associations and there is nothing by bound except their own will to per- form. In the case of a business corporation, for example, the stock- holders have invested money and obviously when the corporation is sued in court or accumulates any kind of liability the stockholders’ money in the corporation is avail- able to pay whatever obligations develop. Hence, the lack of a cor- porate organization on the part of a union removes all responsibility insofar as law is concerned from the unit into which the workers have organized themselves, The point is, after all, that the General Motors strike has demon- strated beyond the peradventure of a doubt that the national labor pol- icies are utterly ineffectual and con- tain no consideration for the con- suming public. Labor, as represent- ed by the John L. Lewis faction, has shown its willingness to back its demands with force in disregard of law and it has failed to answer the responsibilities which it seems to me accomplish the rights and priv- ileges the nation accords da it © Western Newspaper Union, RAR i A A RRA STAR DUST Movie « Radio %%% By VIRGINIA VALE #rk% ESULTS of the annual elec- tion of radio favorites, with two hundred and fifty-two ra- dio-column editors casting the votes, brought joy to the hearts of Hollywood studios, for film favorites proved to be the out- standing radio favorites too. Paramount is leading the cheer- ing for their Jack Benny, for the fourth consecutive year, won the vote for best comedian and best pro- gram on the air. Bing Crosby was elected best singer of popular songs. Bob Burns ran third among comedi- ans, and that was no small achieve- ment. Benny and Fred Allen had the first two places, and there were no less than ten or twelve famous stage comedians competing for third. M-G-M's Nelson Eddy was ranked first among classical sing- and Universal's Deanna Dur- bin best of all the newcomers to radio. Twentieth Century's Tony Martin made a good showing, get- ting third place among singers of popular songs. And RKO's Lily Pons took second place among sing- ers of classical music. eri 32 2 20 20 20 20 2 2 2 2 0 2 20 20 20 0 2 2 2 2 26 2 Interview etiquette is next in im- portance to romance manners in Hollywood. When- ever asked their opinion on the great- est actor on the screen, players are supposed to mention someone under con- tract to their own studio. Pat O'Brien just won't play ac- cording to that rule. He thinks Spencer Tracy is by all odds the best actor on the screen and in- sists on saying so. That delights M-G-M, but it is not so pleasant for Warner Brothers to whom Pat is under contract. nis When M-G-M cast Robert Taylor in “Camille,” it was with the hope that the incomparable Garbo would make him forget all others, but when the last scene was shot, young Taylor was still calling her “Miss Garbo.” Next he was cast opposite Jean Harlow, and studio folks slyly intimated that the huge boxes of flowers she received on the set ev- ery morning probably came from him. M-G-M even sent Taylor to Washington, D. C., to attend the President's birthday ball with Jean, And all to no avail. He still thinks Barbara Stanwyck is the grandest Pat O'Brien o_o. Hal Roach isn't content with keep- ing audiences giggling at his two- reel comedies. He has sent for dragging her back from her long vacation in New York, and started production on a big feature picture. It is to be a drawing-rcom comedy, very smart, swift, and swanky. It must be that he heard Constance in that broadcast of “Private Lives’ that flair for high comedy. ln When you see Eddie Robinson and Bette Davis in “Kid Galahad’ take a good look at the handsome giant who plays the heavyweight cham- pion. That is Bill Haade, one of most extraordinary characters Not so New York, and very proud of his wo Margot Grahame is proudly dis- these days. It is made up of linked hearts of sapphires and diamonds and was once the prop- erty of Sarah Bern- hardt. Bernhardt gave it to Ellen Ter- ry as a tribute to great lady's artistry on the stage. Ellen Terry left it to her daugh- Margot Grahame tress, Mary Glynne. passed it on to her protege-—who is Margot Grahame. wis ODDS AND ENDS . is the most envied man in fapid castslon in tures ay opposite via Sidney, Ginger HHL Insti Heine E ¥ i fr i what (ob? IL thinks about: Reducing Auto Fatalities, ANTA MONICA, CALIF. — Being revolted by our hide- ous record of mortality result- ing from mad automobiling— as what decent citizen is not? —a gentleman writes in some pertinent recommendations. He suggests laws providing, in ad- dition to such other penalties as may follow a con- viction for drunk driving or eriminal- ly reckless driving, ing, that the convict lose his license for five years and that his automobile be sold and the proceeds for the vic- tim’'s heirs, as the case may be. Whilst we're on the subject of the costs America month than the Span here's another That a chronic jail sentence, paying a fine, from jail bein ness to be ha before the pv period of hours or days at of the accident for was responsible. That ought to make some verts to the crusade for prudent driving, don't you think? * » 3 Irvin 8S. Cobb which every oyed In disgrace more lives are being des ish civil war in an little notic flagrant offender shall be withot offer ne de r or which he or sh COn- Windsor's Musical Proclivities. ATEST word is that the duke of Windsor has ACCOr- dion playing in after first toying with phone and then sive bagpis pe tood duke is in a fai iri those who, until faith fully supported him ugh his re- cent harrowing experiences. Even loyalty can be pushed just so far. Or maybe he has a lot of close friends who are deaf Or maybe Mrs. Simpson ticing wearing earmufls. Or maybe she can wean him on a mouth organ—a comparatively in- offensive instrument. Or he may just up of his own accord Or something. Let's not hasty in our judgments. * . . oh taken up a serious way the deadly is prac- and reform be too Jefferson and Ickes. ECRETARY ICKES is sort of op- posed to naming the projected great national auditorium in Wash- ington after Thomas Jefferson, be- cause it is proposed to hold sport- ing events there when the building is not being used for public gath- erings. He invites us to imagine the feelings of Jefferson upon look ing down on boxing matches or such-like goings-on under that roof. Well, let's carry the thing fur- ther: Can anybody imagine Jeffer- son imagining a Secretary Ickes? * . » Madame Perkins’ Ambitions. M AYBE it's not wise to add those * new departments to the Presi- dential cabinet right now. True, M: adam e Perkins shows a patriotic willingness—or sh all we say deter- mination?—not only to look after her own portfolio, but to snatch up such responsibilities as her fellow- secretaries are so careless as to leave out of nights. Still, it's expecting an awful lot of one weak woman that she should selieve two more members of their responsibilities, duties and author- ity when the task of trying to take \ her own already has taxed And besides, sides her strength severely. made practically the supreme pow- But she needn't worry about that, - - * The Flood's Aftermath. V ITH the slackening of the tor- rents, the peak of drama out of the scene, but the tragedy, less spectacular but nevertheless des- perate, lingers on—the tragedy of destitution and ruin and sickness. For the rebuilding of wrecked homes, the rehabilitation of morale, it is necessary that through the Red Cross we give and keep on giving— and I reckon we will. We always have. But there are certain things we need not give the victims, for these be things they never lose and never will—