LAWS DON'T STOP VOLCANOS!
An Editorial — Laws Don't Stop Volcanos! THERE is a good deal that is emotional and amateurish about the proposed labor laws that are being thrown into the hoppers of the Senate and House...
...They decided to vote for Thorex, despite the fact that '¦bat of their supporters had voted against Bolshevik fstalitai ianism...
...Everyone is talking of the depression in the offing...
...But they see prices going up and their standard ol living going down...
...Strikes against industries controlled by the Government may threaten national welfare— so forbid them...
...The public accustoms itself to the idea that France can get on perfertlv well without them-and in the end the Communists mav find the road lo power definitely barred to them...
...Nothing of the sort happened...
...bestowed this honor Upon the Socialist Party...
...If in 1936 Leon Blum was able to govern by virtue of the Power of his party, today his party is able to govern by virtue of the prestige of Leon Blum...
...They are fearful of the future...
...There is one truth about the present situation in France which cannot be too often §* repeated...
...This is one of the reasons whv it seems not unlikely that the Government of I .eon Blum will last longer than is generally expected...
...So thep want to get as much as they can now while the getting—more or less—seems to be good...
...let this deceptive strategy of the Socialist Party is tjaore and more alienating innumerable workers who •W devoted to democracy and who disown with horror # Socialism which falls in step with Moscow...
...Human nature just reaches the hieaking point and rises up - law or iro law...
...Closed-shop contracts lead to strikes—¦ so outlaw them...
...Tbe inauguration •f a cabinet devoid of Communists would, it was exported, be marked by strikes and riots...
...Basically, their jumpiness steins from lack of faith in our productive system as it is now Iteiiig conducted by management and government...
...If legislators reallv want to curb strikes, the thing foi them to do is to take measures to slop inflation and head off the next depression...
...Probably by very few...
...There is ¦4» difference between Socialism and Bolshevism...
...Unions cannot, of course, be legislated out of existence...
...Ih it necessary to record the fact that during the JjWialioaje preliminary to the formation of the IP*** Government, the Socialist Party took a po¦"W opposes) to the re-establishment of the freedom r "»» Brass...
...But will •hey be able lo mobilize the masses on the day when Maurice Thores makes up hi* mind to resume a Ministerial chair...
...They would have been •ble lo raise great masses of supporters if an effort had been made to throw them" out of power...
...Possibly they have been read by some legislators...
...The anti-French attitude of the Communist* with regard to the conflict In Indo Chin* does not mm lo mark their parly as the one which will be in a position to assume power tomorrow...
...The mailer i* at least doubtful...
...So it has been that the Communist Party has been Mable and unwilling to end the crisis caused by tihe dissolution of the Bidault cabinet...
...THERE is a good deal that is emotional and amateurish about the proposed labor laws that are being thrown into the hoppers of the Senate and House labor committees...
...The end of popular discontent would mark lie end of the party's popularity...
...It would be in the interest of France and of democracy that the Blum ministry continue aa long as possible...
...The results have been published in magazines of national circulation and in books which have attracted wide attention...
...The salient fact about this temporary government is that the Communists are not in it...
...Sociologists, economists and psychologists havn collaborated in order to get an all-round view of what is going on in the lives and minds of workeis...
...It presented the name of Maurice Thorex—most everywhere recogawed as ''the traitor"—although it was well-known in advance that a man of his reputation could not secure Sjority support...
...As long as it remains at the helm, the Communists ramain on the outside...
...The upshot of these studies ia that the discontent which leads to strike results from a sense of insecurity...
...If they had any assurance that their jobs would continue, or that they would he adequately protected by unemployment insurance, their attitude would be different...
...No law regulating unions would have any application to inch a rebellion...
...Something of the sort would havo taken place had an anti-Communist coalition taken power...
...Jurisdictional strikes make trouble—so pass a law against them...
...The -o.-.nation at the base of all this flood of legislation is that strikes result from *. -»rtivity...
...During the past year numerous studies of labor discontent have been made by recognized authorities in the field of social science...
...The chief causes of the postwar difficulties which the country has undergone during the fast two.years stem fr«m the policies of the powerful Communist Party...
...OVERSEAS DISPATCH By Louis Ramon Special New leader Correspondent in France...
...Here we have a group of men, exasperated by long delays on the part of government officials, striking against the authority of their union...
...Tbe Government of Leon Blum is a regime without Communists, not a regime against Communist...
...The same thing has happened here again and again during the past two years...
...l.«rr...
...The next best thing is to pas* measures to hold them down, prevent them from doing things^which sjnvolvt public discomfort...
...The present rebelliou of tUn-Kworkers in London is an example...
...It is taken for granted that if there were no unions, or if the unions were different, there would he no strikes—or, at elaat, no unpleasant bumptious, unmanageable ones...
...Measures to these rods would require thought, planning, brains...
...h of left-wing France with socialist Britain or democratic America...
...Legislators whose action is motivated by superslitions of this sort can do two things which will help them to overcome the lug in their thinking...
...This strategy was curiously dislajsaL...
...The Communists oppose the diploBull...
...Kegular surveys have been conducted into the conditions and states of mind of representative sectors of the wage-working population...
...They voted for Thorex, knowing that he could sof be elected, in order that they might say to the 'MMtimiinist workers: "Look, we are united...
...This development resulted from the failure to form a coalition cabinet...
...Other people are making money...
...More than two years after liberation, W* French press is still subject to a form of censorMPi and the Socialist Party, which formerly boasted ^1 Jean Jaurea, supports this abominable feature of IpHtarianisne...
...km.' • • • INr **• Cemmaassrs Atkhv Power...
...What are the posaibilities that the Communist* "ill come to power in France...
...To accomplish, their international purpose, the Communists pMist retain the influence in the Government and they jfejust, consequently, keen behind them important (actions of the people...
...day He tliall get a Congicos that will go at this business from the right end...
...Testimony scientifically gathered and evaluated is to the effect that workers hate strikes...
...It is mere chance which has, after it* recent driest...
...It might be more simple to conclude that human beings make trouble—so a law should be passed to change them...
...Another thing nhich It-gislalois might l ikr into account with l>enelicial results is ttw targe n<inil»ei of "wildcat" strikes...
...Some feeialist Deputies, among them Andre Philip, at jh**iiit Minister of Finance, had the courage to break Wlty discipline and refuse to give their votes to ^pwret...
...The myth that whatever is wrong can be set right by a law has a strong hold— especially among legislators from country districts...
...Swim...
...Therefore chaos and incoherence are a necessary basis of Communist policy...
...If France refuses openly to play along with Moscow, she also refuses to take any position directly opposed to the efforts ,>f Mololov, Yysbinski and their fellows...
...The majority of the Socialist Parly id to play big-time politics with little maneuvers...
...meat Important fact about the present pro PP|M Government is not that it is formed exclM lively of Socialists, though this is the first lime iliat suck a thing has occurred in France...
...But these groups would desert Aem if the economic situation and, especially, tha {pod supply, were to improve...
...PARIS...
Vol. 30 • January 1947 • No. 3
