Evening star., 1934-12-05
GUILD DQU|TSPRESS
HEARING Of n. R. A.
Recovery Act and National
Labor Relations Board Hit
by Representatives.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
Charging that N. R. A. has been
terrified by the publishers, spokeS-
men for the American Newspaper
Guild withdrew in a body today from
an N. R. A. hearing on proposed edi-
torial wages and hours.
The guild representatives also crit
icized the National Labor Relations
Board for reopening the case OF Dean
S. Jennings, whom the board previ-
ously had ordered reinstated to- job
as re-write man on the San Francisco
Call-Bulletin. The board explained it
had ordered the reopening at the re-
quest of Blackwell Smith, acting gen.
eral counsel for N. R. A.
Statement Made by Broun.
Haywood Broun. president of the
guild, made the terrified by publish
ers" statement when the hearing
opened today on wage and hour
schedules proposed for the newspaper
code.
Broun said that behind Smith I'VE
see the figure of Donald Richberg."
We know that he conferred long
and earnestly with the National Labor
Relations Board yesterday afternoon
Broun said. We know. because We
saw him AS long as the corridors of
Mr.. Richberg are filled with mysteri-
Gus, high-pressure representatives Of
the publishers. We feel that we be-
long elsewhere.
When and if N. r. A. purges itself
We will return. We charge definitely
that on this occasion and on several
former ones, N. R. A. has allowed it
self to be terrified by the publishers. "
Broun referred to Elisha Hanson,
counsel for the Daily Newspaper Code
Authority and also for the American
Newspaper Publishers Association, as
that fast running back" who was
thrown for a loss" by the first Labor
Board ruling on the Jennings case.
1T was the N R A. itself which
sent a substitute to take his place"
Eroun said.
Hanson taking the floor after Broun
and his associates had Withdrawn. said
that had not N. R. A. taken the action
it did in the Jennings case. it would
have violated the code and preached
a solemn obligation entered into be-
tween the newspaper publishing busi-
ness and the President OF the United
States"
Hanson contended that at no time
had the Call-Bulletin refused to go
before the Newspaper Industrial Board
with the Jennings case. and he said
this body was the one having Jurls-
diction.
Jennings had sought a re-employ-
ment order, claiming he was forced 10
resign for guild activities. Hanson
argued that Jennings had no right to
base a claim on code privileges and
then not follow the procedure pre-
scribed.
Amazed at Action.
Referring to controversy over free
dom of the press during writing of the
newspaper CODE, Hanson said L am
amazed that newspaper writers appear
before you and attack that great
heritage coming down from their fore
fathers" He said the newspaper code
specifically provided that no publisher
must accept its provisions unless he
wanted
"In my opinion" Hanson said. "the
Labor Board decision was a violent.
absolutely deliberate disrespect of that
sacred provision in this code"
Hanson asserted that the reason the
wage and hour controversy had not
been disposed of sooner was due to the
representation and sabotage" by
leaders of the guild, who repeatedly ap-
peared without any program. He said
also that the guild leaders were
thoroughly disloyal" both to their own
membership and to employers.
At the direction of Jack Tate,
N. R. A. presiding official, Hanson's
latter remark was stricken from the
record.
After Broun read his statement.
Morris Watson, chairman of the Press
Association Committee of the guild,
said he had intended to present evi-
dence and argument Ito show that
the employees of this industry have
been .rea ted as outCaStS and left with
out protection because no Govern
ment agency had the courage to bring
them INTO any kind of a code"
The national committee which
represent" Watson said, has come
to the conclusion over night. however,
that in view of N. r. AS surprising
action toward the Labor Boards de-
cision in the Jennings case, coupled
with the fact that the newspaper
code is apparently a sham to cover
special privilege for publishers. there
is nothing to pe gained for press as
sociation employees in such codiflca-
ton.
Il withdraw rly appearance there
fore, to hold for a better time pro-
posal that press associations be
brought into a genuine code that
does not accord them the special
privilege which is now being given
to publishers
Labor Adviser Leaves.
Also Withdrawing with the Guild
group was Paul FrederiX of New York,
who was the special labor adviser on
the hearing He said he would with
draw until IN. R. AS impartiality is
established"
Tate told Broun he did not con-
slider his statement pertinent to the
wage and hour schedule for which the
hearing was called and that he was
ready to go on until the hearing was
ended.
Then we will adjourn for two
weeks" Tate said. During that time,
the Guild may file such information
as it desires"
For the present, we will stand on
our statement" Broun replied as he
led his group from the hearing room.
Broun opened his remarks with this
statement:
Il wish to withdraw my appearance
from this hearing and the appearance
of all other representatives of the
American Newspaper Guild. We had
come preferred to show you that on
the average an American newspaper
man must work for 20 years before he
achieves salary of $40 a week, and
the fictitious quality of the publishers
proposal, which, when translated into
dollars, means no contribution to re-