The other group consists of those manufacturers who saw hope of beating the unions under the "divide and rule" principle of dual unionism. These, in many cases, are the ones whose plants are not completely organized, or at least not by one union. But now, with the added strength and prestige of the C. I. O., the industry feels they will be the target of a concentrated organizing drive which may lead to some bitter moments before they are through.
"The election will give the C. I. O. boys more money, more political influence," one authority on the industry declared, On the other hand, he stated, the membership drive that now is imminent may mean further loss of production, the bugbear of industry. The big plants have been through this and so will suffer less than the small fellow, but it follows that if enough of the small fellows, the parts and equipment suppliers are tied up, the big manufacturer will also be affected.
The union membership drive may also have repercussions. Many workers now pay no dues and the question they are apt to ask is "What can the union give us?" These men will have to be handled with kid gloves for the reason that the C. I. O. has felt and will continue to feel the need for careful tactics in order to gain and keep public good-will, With the question of a divided house largely settled, the C. I. O. faction is now in a position to start on a campaign toward a cherished goal, which is to extend their influence into the Ford Motor Ca, the largest unit in the industry where the unions have not obtained a foothold. It is freely predicted that this drive will start before the summer is over.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.