Evening star., 1935-02-06
WILLIAMS GIVEN
0.K.BYPRES|DENT
Recovery Chairman In.
d0rsed After Labor De-
mands Resignation.
Continued From First Pa2e)

affected and on the basis of my per-
sonal knowledge of his qualifications.
"Since his appointment he has rem
dered a devoted, impartial service,
which has fully justified his selection.
I think that as time goes on the fed
Grafton will agree with me on all OF
this"
Just last night the White House
made public without comment a letter
by the President taking sharp issue
with Charlton Ogburn, counsel of the
A. F. of L., for its position against
the Automobile Labor Board, headed
by DR.. Leo Wolman.
The letter was reply to one by
Ogburn, who said tension in the auto
mobile industry was extremely grave"
and contended auto workers had the
right to submit disputes to the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board, headed
by Francis Biddle.
"The automobile labor problem Is
today by far the most serious labor
problem in America" he said.
Text of Presidents Letter.
''Mr. Dear Mr.. Ogburn:
"Your letter of January % and
communications along the same line.
to which you refer. place construc-
ton upon the creation, powers and
functioning of the Automobile Labor
Board, with which I cannot agree.
The board was established by the
Government and not as board OF
arbitration, created by the parties
to an agreement.
There was in March. 1884, the
possibility of a strike in this in
dustry, arising out of controversies
particularly concerning the right of
employees to organize freely for COL
lective bargaining. The principles
of settlement at that time recognized,
not only the possibility. but the prob
ability, that groups Of employees in
this industry might choose different
representatives or organizations to
act in their behalf. Provision was
made for the N. R. A. to set up a
board responsible to the President
of the United States and in the
principles of settlement it was stated
that the Government makes it clear
that it favors no particular union or
particular form of employe organiza-
ton or representation
For Equal Benefit.
1.-The board established by the Gov
ernment was, therefore created for
the benefit of all employers and en-
ployes in the industry and to prevent
discrimination against any employe
who exercised his right freely to
designate his representatives for COL
lective bargaining.
The board so esta blished is re-
sponsible to the President and it is
for the President to determine
whether the board is fulfilling its
duties and how long the existence
Of the board should be continued.
The board was not established in
the code, but it will be noted that
the authority under which the board
and the code were both stablished
expires June 16. 1885.
In the original creation of the
board there was no provision for the
nomination of members of the board
by any one, and in accepting advice
or giving to persons an opportunity
to suggest selections the Government
did not give to any one a right to
name members or otherwise to de-
termine the membership of the board.
AT the present time the board is
not only functioning to prevent dis
elimination against employees and
otherwise to carry out the purposes
OF its creation, but it is engaged also
in the very important work of hold
ing elections, whereby through secret
ballot. under Government super
vision, all employees are being given
a full and fair opportunity to desig-
nate their representatives, choosing
them either as individuals. or as rep
resentativeS of labor organization.
The result of these elections must be
to provide for the first time con-
elusive evidence of how and by whom
the employees desire to be repre-
Sented.
when these elections are COM
pleted. the freely chosen representa-
tives Of the employees will be able to
associate themselves together to bar
gain collectively. or otherwise to rep
resent the interests of their conStitu-
ents. Thereby both the employers and
the Government will be able to deter
mine the wishes of the employees and
will be assured that those who claim
to represent the employees and their
wishes are, in fact. their duly desig-
mated and authorized representatives.
Under these circumstances, it
WOllld Seem that anV organization of
employees in this industry, or any or
ganization claiming to represent such
employees, would avail itself fully of
the opportunity to establish the au-
thentic character of its representa-
ton.
From the reports of recent ballot
ing in the elections now being held. 1t
annears clearly that all hlIt a very