Protest Wave Against War Agencies Spreads Through National Unions
LORING, EDWARD
Protest Wave Against War Agencies Spreads Through National Unions CIO, AFL Leaders Hint Readiness to Revoke No-Strike Pledge By EDWARD LORING Special Cerreependeme* WASHINGTON.—Relations...
...Washington today is the "show-window" of American democracy, if not, indeed, of the United Nations...
...Prominent AFL leaders tried to intervene with Bigelow and local officials to change their stand, but in vain...
...At a time when every man, women and child in the nation is being called upon to contribute to the struggle against aggression, is there any reason why we should play favorites...
...announced tUmusua.asne1 ring not as officials of the union but as "citizens of the United States and resident*, d Washington...
...Why has the Senate ordered hearings on "the Puerto Rico crisis...
...This is how the issues stand, and the forthcoming hearings will be dealing with these materials...
...Between 1988 aad June 22...
...Protest Wave Against War Agencies Spreads Through National Unions CIO, AFL Leaders Hint Readiness to Revoke No-Strike Pledge By EDWARD LORING Special Cerreependeme* WASHINGTON.—Relations between the gov-eminent and organised labor, whose no-strike pledge has pat America's war production into high gear, appeared this week to be destined for an overhauling as a result of growing restive-ness within influential AFL and CIO circles...
...At the outset of this war promises were heard on every side that no one would profit unduly from it...
...Workers want to feel that the tremendous financial burden the country has to bear is distributed equally and fairly...
...President Roosevelt announced there are 2% million government employees (60% of them engaged in actual production of munitions) the saint day West brook Pegler's column was beef -ing about 5 million government "bureaucrats" • . . which makes Pegler 100% wrong—and ,what's unusual about that...
...6—Though not known to the public, both the CIO Shipbuilding union and the AFL-1AM are quietly discussing strike action if either of them lose in the jurisdictional dispute over control of the key Kaiaed shipyards on the west coat...
...Within the past 10 days there have been several clear calls to violence in the controversy...
...Toledano, who has just left Bolivia for Mexico City, announced recently in Managua, Nicaragua, that he would soon fly to Washington "for the purpose of organising an Inter-American Labor meeting at which the position and plans of action of the workers of the American continent in face of the world situation will be fixed...
...How in the light of such a claim can we ask 82% of our people to make the major sacrifice in the war which is being fought for all of us...
...This sentiment has been intensified by political rivalries within the AFL and CIO and the competition of the two national federations, according to The New Leader's sources within both groups...
...attacked labor's relations with the government, charging that labor was not receiving a full share of its produce...
...During his trip, which was undertaken in an effort to win support for the creation of an intercontinental federation of labor, Toledano delivered hundreds of -speeches in bull rings, theatres, village squares, railway stations, and mining camps, according to the CIO News...
...The boys who are risking their lives for our protection are doing so in the belief that we will keep the faith at home—that no special interest are profiting from their sacrifices...
...plan to make the CTAL tbe basis for the new continental labor congress...
...Tugwell's idea, as disclosed in his report to Secretary Ickes, was to own the arable land publicly and take on life-time tenants, thus maintaining the agriculturally necessary large-scale farming pattern and giving the Jibaros, or landless peasants, small plots to till...
...It's publicists collaborated with all Latin American forces which were spreading "Yanqui Imperialism" type of propaganda...
...And "that's where the matter stands today on its official face...
...also noted that Bigelow and Darr ejfejl 4$ ¦ obligation in addition to the 659 Hegrodi...
...Washington Negro bon Threatens Violence By JONATHAN STOUT Washington Correspondent, The New Leader '¦ WASHINGTON, D. C-It is a painful but stern necessity to record the fact that the making "of a Race Riot is brewing in the capital of tbe embattled democracies of the world...
...through • prominent AFL leader contacted the International officials of the Amalgamated Association, whose constitution, forbids race discrimination...
...The bulldogs of great wealth, barking on flag-draped platforms or in the editorial columns of the press, are bitterly assailing a move by the commander-in-chief to limit the income of individuals to a paltry $25,000 a year after taxation...
...Litigation to chop up the landed estates was initiated first...
...Does that sound as though no one was profiting from the war...
...I feel fairly confident in saying that the 82% of our population who receive less than $3,000 a year believe that incomes over $25,000 a year are excessive...
...The issue, both sides admit, has never been put to the acid test...
...The unity of the nation, the effectiveness of the President's seven-point economic program and every principle of democratic sacrifice to win the war justify this $25,000 limitation...
...Merchants have had ceilings placed on the prices they receive for the goods they sell...
...two union officials, J. G. Bigelow, president of the Washington local of the Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway and Motor'Coach Employees of America, AFL, and the local's attorney, Sef ton Darr...
...Even if there were no other factors to justify this limitation, the effect on the morale of the country would be sufficient...
...The company's counter-move was to demand a time extension beyond the 15th, alleging that (1) Washington is a Southern city with Southern prejudices on the part of the public against riding in street cars or buses operated by Negro drivers (despite the fact that thoanaade mi Washingtonians daily ride in taxis driven by Negro cab drivers), and (2) the order might interfere with the smooth operation of public transportation in one of the most vital umVtoto areas in the country because its white drivers were resentful of the order and might refuse to work with Negroes...
...TVTJlfjA...
...This was followed by an incident in which one follower of Bigelow halted his crowd-el street car and delivered a three-minute harangue oft the imminent danger to "white toMnanhoesrif Negroes should be hired as HloMrl|toK TfrB bus drivers...
...A conference of Democratic legislators was arranged this week by Senator Guffey of Pennsylvania, an old Party wheelhorse...
...A call for the formation of a new political party also came this week from Harry Wood-ring, the former Roosevelt Secretary of War...
...Murray and the government, but decided to tour tbe Latin nations, it was reported...
...Lundeburg rushed to Washington uf protest against a ban which would have kept the SUP from manning newly produced Ubdtts/ ships...
...The limiting of salaries to $25,000 (or $79 a day) is certainly justifiable on a number of counts—all of them important to the war effort...
...And, mind you, there are about 21 million families in this country with incomes under $2,000...
...Atticus Mullin...
...At that time he sought support of the Latin American Federation of Labor (CTAL), of which he is the president, it is understood...
...no belong to the Washington local at prOSMt And a*re employed by Capital Transit in maintenance and custodial jobs...
...Recently the Capital Transit Company, focal traction monopoly, put in a request to the United States Employment Sendee for several hundred street-car and bus operators, specifying they wanted white workers only...
...Before he left for South America Toledano sought official U. S. support for his project, lie failed to obtain the backing of Green...
...Through passage of the Lantham Act, which permits the Insular Government to take over b>nd of property for defense building, he fans expropriated a hydro-electric plant of the Pne*tp Jtieo Power and Light Co., which carried tbe case to the First Circuit Court in Boston, where a final decision is still pending...
...the CTAL was bitterly anti-U.S...
...The UMW chief k now organizing railroad maintenance wocfcMs who are not yet members of any unions, it was said in UMW headquarters here...
...Most startling of the threatened break with the government is the upsurgence of rank and file sentiment for strike action within the United Automobile Workers...
...The inside from the State Department is "don't get excited about theTAjjstrian Legion being recruited by Otto of Hapsburg...
...The White ¦utouse has made no commitments to Otto for any services rendered...
...In other words," says a southern political writer, "these men feel that the South could trade .for big things instead of being considered a Democratic certainty and non-entity in their opinion...
...Tory Opposition Stalls Tugwell's New Deal Reforms By JACK MATCHA Special Correspondent SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico.—Americans must be asking themselves what the shooting here is all about...
...And* labor, particularly, simply must itot permit itself to bear even the smallest P«rt of responsibility for a situation which will have.the'.eyes bf the world upon it...
...As a resut, however, Bigelow and Darr when they appeared before the F.E.P.C...
...ansLjjhe bag-city poMtical machines...
...It is reminiscent of tile disgraceful race riots here in 19 lfl which resulted in injuries to scores and cost Abut 10 liVes...
...Southern Tories Move to Bolt FDR Jones, Dixon Talk Of NatiVe Party to Fight New Deal By DANIEL BELL Reactionary dementi in the Democratic Party are moving silently towards -the formation of a new bloc which will either seise the party controls or take the necessary steps towards the formation of a new party, The New Leader learned this week.' This move, starting in the South, has the active support of several Democratic governors of southern states, notably Governor Sam Jones of Louisiana and Governor Frank Dixon of Alabama, as well as the backing of leading political figures in "border states," notably Kansas, where former Secretary of War and former Governor Harry Wood-ring is powerful...
...S. Support' By T. R. GREENE Special to The New Leadek WASHINGTON.—In an effort to win support throughout the western hemisphere for the creation of an inter-American continental labor congress, Lombardo Toledano, who is recognized as Mexico's leading Communist labor chief, has been telling Latin-American officials that "The government of the United States has already granted its approval to the holding of this assembly," The New Leader learned this week...
...When the Maritime Commission agreed to SUP demands the men cancelled their strike vote...
...The workers of this country have gladly go—, along with the President in accepting stabilization of their wages...
...the Governor has begun certain irrigation projects on the island, in Hne with his contention that marginal Land could not be brought under cultivation by individual action...
...The attack was ma (to to an ad in the Detroit Free Press...
...However, the large sugar interests have vanished for the most part and can no longer be considered as important factors in the opposition line-up facing Tugwell...
...There are approximately 11,000 single persons and married couples in this country who will have incomes in excess of $25,000 and $50,000 respectively after paying taxes...
...I need not go into the dangerous effect on our participation in the war if the domestic economy is not held stable...
...Labor has been exceedingly glad to dig deep in its pockets to help finance the war...
...Rexford Guy Tugwell came down here early in 1941 at the express desire of Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes to examine the best means and angles of the 500-acre law...
...Woodring made his appeal on the basis of a "return to the Constitution" and an end to government paternalism...
...The workers of the twenty sister nations of Latin America and their elected leaders are the only ones who can speak of united action between the United States and the rest of the Americas without raising the suspicions of Yangui Imperialism," he said then...
...And the stabilisation program cannot accomplish the desired aims unless it is accepted as a whole...
...Those who talk of a Southern Bstno-cratic Party say that 110 or more southern electoral votes would be a prise worth working for by both the old Republican Party and the New Deal Democrats...
...As strange as it may seem, the resolution was a dead letter until 1941...
...This actffUy has stimulated fears of UAW chiefs that be may attempt to exploit the restiveaees among its members and attempt to raid the shuffil* industry, much of which is still unorganized...
...The war has interfered with any thorough prosecution of the land policy and, also, litigation is still pending in tbe courts...
...l^r'"'¦ 2—The AFL Sailor's Union of the *4hfjtfL|L< strike by this sattrtafit union, led by ¦Sr Lundeburg, would have tied up vital went OSsM shipping...
...The CTAL for the past seven years has been the Soviet government's trade union apparatus in Latin America...
...During the past week the following anions warned that they would seek strike action unlaw their demands were met: 1—The International Ass'n of Machinists...
...indoding the labor-hating Tories who are champing nt the bit for the new Congress to get into session...
...Why is Governor Seat Tugwell practically faced with impeachment ? Here are the issues, and the coming Bti'uggh* for power here in the Carribean is likely ee see-saw around them: } 1—Tugwell's New Deal agencies and their *!'4*'JWW{**•of «*ownntont'pbw»i...
...1941...
...raised...
...There have been threats to gang up on the first Negro who dares to take a job as a driver...
...One public indication of such a drive was a large front-page Intel view last week in the Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser with Governor Sam Jones, wherein Hue/ Long's successor talked of the ''uuwsmlj*' of a Southern Democratic Party...
...Today that vow is being ignored...
...This week the F.E.P.C...
...Jp2;.which forbids discrimination fat hiring on grounds of race, creed or cater, therefore, the War Manpower Commission's Fair Employment Practices Committee,- taking Capital Transit8* request for white workers only as a prima facie case of violation of the President's osde*: served notice on Capitol Transit It would have to hire Negro drivers as well as whites by Dec...
...Complicating the picture is the rauseusj ef John L. Lewis's activity...
...denied Capital Transit **totre*toww*i and p1erce*i the "private eiti-ssn* gag used by Bigelow and Darr by noting MiyntfM that tne two union officials "must aWrae'Tne' responsibility" of their positions and can not lloiigh'it off in such barefaced fashion...
...By using the older Water Resources Authority...
...It is known in labor circles here that Toledano and his supporters among left wing unionists in the U.S...
...Clamor for a national Conference of union representatives of aircraft and tank factories throughout the nation bag swept through the UAW membership...
...and devoted itself to considerable distribution of literature attacking Britain, France, and the United States for launching "an imperialist war...
...Resentment was voiced over the treatment of UAW resolutions and leaders at the CIO national convention held tn November in Boston...
...A national UAW conference can be called only if the proposed la approved in a referendum vote of the members...
...objected strongly to the current Ptrsewtion of Jan ValtinOjut was overruled by higherups . .. The re-election of Reid Robinson, darling of the Kremlin Krowd, to the presidency of the Mint* Mill and Smelter Workers is certain to be contested...
...Furthermore, 82% of all American families have incomes under $3,000...
...The Senators are incensed particularly at tile Henderson Office of Price Administration, where, they say, they have been ignored in the selection of local personnel, and that in some cases men hostile to them were appointed...
...a congressional investigating committee revealed to the people of this nation the dirty linen of world war one—a shocking spectacle of super-profits going into the pockets of a small group of the people...
...But—under that cover—a disturbing situation is growing up...
...Yielding to rank and file protests against the federal freezing of wages, high profits and the lack of labor representation in the highest councils of important war boards, national labor leaders this week warned publicly that they ware considering a reversion to the pre-war strike technique to win their demands...
...political writer for the Montgomery (Alabama> stsWuieer, says: "The Southern Democratic Party movement may fail, but right now it is growing up and becoming a big boy...
...4—Tugwell's recent fight with former Attor-ney-Geheral George Malcolm, who was recently removed by order of the President...
...The*ietrbpolitmi police here have been making fsftrish' preparations during the past week to handle a full-blown riot situation...
...A political writer of the Advertiser remarks that "a strong cabal . . . among southern governors...
...Farmers have had a ceiling placed on the income they receive from their produce...
...3. 4—The Newspapers and Mail Deliverers Union (independent) struck and tied up distribution N all important New York dailies in one uf Ok most effective walkouts in the history of New York journalism...
...h*vf3J...
...The campaign for a conference was initiated by the Flint Local of UAW...
...Woodring said that aa %sUeut Detoecrfct can no longer subscribe to use prlaeiptes of the New Deal" and described tunJM tW!¦ Party us "impotent...
...The war is costing our nation unbelievable sums of money...
...UAW leaders are conscious of this criticism and are anxious to meet it, according to reports...
...This week the MESA, over the signature of Matthew Smith, national secretary...
...The scheme of these people is to keep intact their political machines and their Democratic voting-line, but to form alliances with reactionary groups in other parts of the country, using their bloc strength in the states and in Congress as a bargaining weapon...
...Threats of use of pre-war strike action just when the OWI announced that the monthly average of man-days lost through walkouts has sunk to an all-time low, is also stimulated by the rise in independent union strength and the renewed organization drive John L. Lewis's District 50 has just launched in the railroad and farm fields...
...And—what is painful to add—in support of the company's position there appeared before the F.E.P.C...
...Toledano has just completed a four month tour of South and Central American capitals...
...This culminated recently in the posting of an jt1<hrnstotol> appeal on a company bulletin board U the ear barn demanding whether "the whits J*M in Washington have lost their manhood...
...The news story also quotes Toledano as stating that "the maximum attention and support has been promised by the government of the entire continent...
...How can we justify the fact that in the first year of the war executives' salaries rose 400%, while workers wages only rose 71...
...The independents' leaders aae telling aircraft workers that the UAW chiefs lack sufficient militancy to win higher wages, it was reported...
...3—The Chicago AFL street car and elevctus train employees persisted in their threat to strike next Sunday unless their wages wtM...
...Toledano Organizes New S. A. Labor Front, Claims 'U...
...And we all knew that we would have to tighten our belts and make sacrifices before it was over...
...The Board* pf Economic Warfare is planning to send Robert Brady to study the labor movement in South America . . . where Lomberdo Tolednjio probatory wiH toast him in imported Zubrovka...
...Why, then, should the comparatively small number of persons with huge salaries be allowed to escape from their share of the burden...
...Only after CIO president Philip Murray intervened did Reuther receive the chance to spank to the delegates...
...Upper Crust Leads Bitter Campaign On Ceiling of $25,000 (or $79 a Day) By JAMES B. CABBY Special to Tn New Leader Ten years ago...
...Aside from these indications, another revolt was brewing within the Democratic Party over the lack of party patronage...
...Before issuing the order, the F.E.P.C...
...This statement was part ef a speech reported on November 29, 1942, by El Populsr, of Mexico City, which arrived here this week...
...Toledano originally proposed a Continental Labor Congress to William Green and Philip Murray last March in the capital...
...u Tb4 Communist Party is making money on the war (and the government is paying it) *by fatting seamen among its party members to name the party A ifcneficiary of the $5,000 war risk insurance the government gives each man...
...is working towards the goal of a Southern Democratic Party...
...And at a part of that picture, organised Labor may get a black eye and labor unionism a setback because of the prejudice-blinded behavtor ef « local labor leader and a small group of misguided followers...
...No confirmation of this "approval" could be obtained by New Leader representatives in White House circles or in the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affair...
...Their decision followed an all-week seas ton on the UAW's policies...
...The argument is offered that a Southern Democratic Party is necessary because the New Dealers are abolishing "states' rights," and that the Democratic Party is dominated by "Roosevelt, union labor...
...Governor Dixon of Alabama was one of the southern governors who bad been giving deep thought to the feausatton of each a party (and) Governor Dixon has discussed it with a number of Alabama political leaders...
...Representatives of 11 lodges of this union held a conference in Los Angeles last ftliiwhn to discuss a possible strike in, the Pad** Com^'^|-crnft industry, foUewing reports that she War Production Board would refuse demand for a wage rise fox be^uwinj ¦ sibuis tram H •*¦*» an bow to 90 cents...
...Tugwell's opponents claimed that there was not enough arable land to go around jn an island with a density of 540 persons pex square mile, that such a policy, by destroying the Larger sugar interests, would also destroy the employment of a great number of Puerto Rieans, since after the hurricanes of 1928 and 1832, tie only important cash crop was sugar and its subsidiary product, rum...
...No one begrudges that—least of all labor, which has the greatest stake in the final outcome...
...2—The food shortages here and the govem3—The thick skerns^^Boiltical intrigue and counter-intrigue which are involved in the case both in the States and in Puerto Rico...
...There have been indignation meetings called by Bigelow and his followers...
...This was a limitation imposed on corporations by Congress in 1900 when the Organic Act, or constitution of the possession, was handed down^Lt remained up to the insular legislature to ratify means of enforcement of the Congressional resolution sponsored by Senator Foraker...
...At that time the left-wing unions fought against permitting UAW Vice-President Walter Reuther to speak critically of the administration and CIO policies...
...Toledano was placed at its head when in 19S9 the Russians hoped to use it as part of their world-wide network of control units in the transport and factory centers of the western hemisphere...
...Sentiment for revocation of the no-strike pledge was also strong among the UAW leadership which met in Los Angeles this week and announced that it would not be bound to Its promise if the new GOP-dominated Congress abrogated or increased the $26.000-a-year Income limitation imposed recently by President Roosevelt...
...We claim to be fighting a war for justice and equality...
...There can no longer be any question that the President's Economic Stabilization Program is necessary to the welfare of our country during this emergency...
...a Now, public transportation is a war industry snd as such comes under the President's Executive Order No...
...Tugwell recommended a system of collectivization...
...Then and there, in those depression years, we resolved to take the profits out of future war...
...The UAW is being attacked by the independent Mechanic's Educational Society of America, which during recent months has attempted to raid the CIO's jurisdiction in the aircraft and machine fields...
Vol. 25 • December 1942 • No. 51
