WISCONSIN IN THE CAPITAL
Mobely, Radford E.
Wisconsin in the Capital By RADFORD E. MOBLEY WASHINGTON, D. C—Sen. Bob La Folletls made his fight this week to pass his bill outlawing labor espionage and strong arm squads hired by industrial...
...Sen La Follette explained repeatedly that his measure did nr.t deprive the industrialist of any rights he has at present, and did not prevent the examination of a worker's record to find if he has committed crime or engaged in subversive activity The La Follette bill simply would stop armed company police from interfering with unionization...
...Black River Falls Progressive, whose efforts assured $75,000 to continue the anti-trust investigation of the cheese industry' next year, is especially concerned about the processed cheese industry...
...V • * The department of justice anti-trust division, making a thorough investigation into the cheese industry, conferred at length this week with William Kirsch...
...Bitter against the "dairy monopoly...
...Farley gives Broughton credit for the party's successful campaigns in Wisconsin in 1932 and 1936...
...So did officials of the federal trade commission, gathering information for their action against certain cheese concerns el hearings to be held probably in Madison during the summer...
...Taft of Ohio was the most outspoken against it> but most of them kept quiet...
...Conservative members of the senate disliked the La Follette bill (Sen...
...The administration gave halfhearted support to the measure, prompted by the white house, which is ready to sign It...
...Taft argued the bill should be put aside for defense legislation...
...Democratic leaders from the midwest in the capital now expect generally that the president will seek re-election for another term, and believe his election is in the bag...
...Taft had just returned from a mid-west campaign tour on which he said domestic not foreign issues should be emphasized...
...Charlie just can't resign at this time...
...Mayor Law of Madison was here (this week to discuss the pilot training program...
...chief statistician of the Wisconsin department of agriculture...
...Kirsch supplied the federal officials with results of the investigation being made independently by the state department...
...The press editorialised not as to the merits of the bill but as to whether the time to pass it is now...
...we need him too much," Farley told friends here...
...He is asking lor immediate certification of additional projects in his district, says local relief rolls are ready to certify needy workers at once...
...The war is an excuse for virtually everything at present...
...the Progressive member wants to "clean house" in the industry...
...Take dangerous weapons away from plant police with criminal records and the chance for industrial peace is greater...
...He has reports that Peter Van Nostrand, former secretary, is campaigning energetically and seeking to draw Gehrmann support to himself in the Republican primary...
...Surprising was the opposition of the army and the navy to the bill...
...has been absent but will return next week to join the Badger member in the struggle to gain consideration for the measure this year...
...Rep...
...It is amusing to note that Sen...
...Gehrmann says "false stories" are being circulated about him...
...Some weeks ago they were indirectly informed that Broughton was on the point of resigning to give more attention to his personal affairs...
...northern Wisconsin, "which is not at all affected by any war boom for business...
...Mellen Progressive, told WPA officials this week that relief layoffs ip...
...Hull says congress should remain to see what the president does with the tremendous sums being voted for executive use...
...According to the story here, Farley and other leaders at natioanl headquarters got busy on the telephone...
...He is not surprised at reports the industry may oppose his re-election with money, he says...
...are "terrible.'' He flooded WPA headquarters with letters from constituents to show "real suffering," and demanded that rolls be curtailed no further...
...La Follette, in his workman-like way, knocked this argument into a cocked hat...
...Tfhere is an excellent chance a part of the army program may go into Wisconsin...
...Wiley, gratified that the chief, executive has approved the $8,600,000 airplane engine laboratory, now urges NAAC to locate the station in Wisconsin...
...The white house and Postmaster General James A. Farley believe now they have persuaded Na-tional Committeeman Charles E. Broughton to retain his place as Democratic leader in Wisconsin...
...Bankhead, Ala., co-author of the measure with La Follette...
...It was believed they would hesitate to take a stand about a matter of vital importance to labor's protection...
...Crowley was expected to resign this spring to take a private position in industry, but now says he is "enlisted at least until after the convention...
...Merlin Hull...
...Another Badger who will remain on the job is Leo Crowley, head of FDIC, and shrewd political adviser to Farley...
...La Follette sought this week to get action on his farm debt adjustment bill after the house agriculture committee reported a measure which wag so amended it scarcely resembled the original bill...
...The president will not approve money at present to construct new plane manufacturing plants, but Wjiii rather enlarge those now operating...
...He is preparing information for the record to show the amount of poor quality cheese which is mixed in certain products, and will explain his reasons for saying certain advertised commodities cannot be called "finished" cheese...
...Bob La Folletls made his fight this week to pass his bill outlawing labor espionage and strong arm squads hired by industrial plants to fight the unioas Opposed to him was his colleague, Sen...
...Gehrmann sent his secretary, Robert North, home to place petitions pcrsonaly in the hands of friends to have signed for his re-election...
...Among other things, the house group removed the possibility of reappraisal in determining the fair farm debt...
...A11 Badger congressmen are anxious to get home and start fence-building for various reasons, but loday the majority would probably vote to remam in session during the summer if the situation in Europe remains critical...
...They op-poscsed on the ground labor trouble might be caused to delay the preparedness program...
...Alexander Wiley who said he felt the bill would made it difficult to search out "fifth column" activities...
...B. J. Gehrmann...
...Many Badger cities are anxious to fit themselves into the preparedness picture...
Vol. 10 • June 1940 • No. 22