tonnage is the equivalent of the quantity of steel required for the building  
 of 72 cargo ships, or of 216 destroyers, or of 30 light cruisers, or of 181  
 submarines, or of 5,188 medium tanks. The estimated amount of steel   
production lost by United States Steel Corporation for a similar reason   
between April l, 1941, and October 15, 1941, amounts to 193,199 tons,   
which is the equivalent of the quantity of steel required for the   
construction of substantially more of the above-mentioned articles, which   
      are so vitally needed for our national defense.       
 
                                                            
 
 
It seems clear that the present labor situation and the drive now under   
way to impose the closed shop upon American industry call for a long-range   
view of the problems involved and of their effect not only upon the   
national defense effort, but upon the future of the country. The closed   
shop, if created on-a nationwide basis, controlled by a few individuals,   
with the vast amount of money regularly flowing in as dues, may Become so   
powerful as a national instrument, political, economic and social, as to   
have a tremendous influence upon the whole future economy of the nation.   
There are some who advance the argument that eventual Union domination of   
the Government. is the real objective of the closed shop moverment.   
Whatever may be the ultmite objective, the national emergency in the light   
of existing labor conditions seems to call for an intelligent and   
constructive labor policy, with such safe regulatory rules as may be  
necessary, in the interest of both the Government and the public.   
Unquestionably, the unions should be under the same degree of   
responsibility as is true of employer groups. In this emergency, there   
should be no violations by the Union of their written contracts, such as   
have repeatedly occurred during recent months within the Steel Corpo-  
ration. The enactment of legislation providing for some fair and proper   
form of regulation of union activities, such as the calling of strikes   
in defense plants, etc., may be necessary to prevent irresponsible labor   
leaders from interfering with the sucess of the great national effort   
which Your Excellency is so vigorously making in the interest of all of   
                       our citizens.