Evening star., 1935-02-04
U. NJ. W. Chief Accuses Him
of Trying to Deceive the
President.
ATTACKS ON SECTION IA
HELD SCUTTLING N. R. A.
Talk of Possible Auto Strike Is
Continued Here, but Goes
Unconfrmed.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, said in state
ment today that Donald Richberg
secretly conspired with leaders of the
automobile industry to deceive the
President and bludgeon labor"
Lewis statement was the latest blast
in the verbal duel between Richberg
and American Federation of Labor
chieftains over renewal of the auto
code last week.
Lewis Saturday told a Senate COM
mittee that Richberg, former labor
lawyer, was "a traitor to organized
labor" The federation is dissatisfied
with the renewed code and angry be-
cause no federation official was con-
suited during the negotiations toward
renewal.
Martyr Role Denied.
"Mr. Richberg cannot accept the
role of martyr by saying that he is
condemned for being loyal to the
President and supporting the Govern
ment," Lewis said today.
LAS matter Of fact, he has be-
trayed the President by his betrayal
of the National Recovery Administra-
ton. Gen. Hugh S. johnson handed
Mr. Richberg the N. r. A. as func-
tioning institution with a record Of
accomplishment. Mr.. Richberg has
Systematically scuttled it with his con-
slant attacks on Section IA and his
personal entente cordiale with the
leaders of the steel industry, the au-
tomobile industry and other powerful
interests.
His latest act in the automobile
industry represents his crowning
achievement in the interests of those
before whom he fawns. He has de-
stroyed the confidence of the workers
in the N. r. A. because his self-seek-
ing personality seems to dominate it."
Working for Public Interest.
Richberg, in a statement yesterday,
a public servant, not representative
of organized labor, and that he ,'as
working for the public interest as he
saw it. Lewis answer today added:
1T is not loyalty, either to the
Government or the President, for
trusted advisor to practice deceit, in
trigue, Misrepresentation and chican-
cry against a great mass of citizens
who are equal before the law.
Neither is it loyalty to the Presi-
dent to destroy great instrumentality
like the N. R. A., which was fashioned
by the Congress and set up by the
President to aid the common people
and maintain the stability of the
Government.
Mr.. Richberg has betrayed and
dishonored his fathers house. He has
brought embarrassment to the Presi-
dent who honored him.
If Mr.. Richberg has tears let him
shed them now"
Strike Threats Heard.
Meanwhile talk of possible auto
strike threats continued to be heard
in union circles here, but went un-
confirmed. For several days Frank
Dillon, A. F. of L. organizer in the
industry, has kept in contact with
william Green, president of the A.
F. of L. When Green was asked,
however, whether there was any pos
sibility of a strike call, he replied:
Does a good general ever reveal
his plans in advance?"
The subject of the A. F. of LIS
strength in the auto industry was
touched upon in statement by Green
and also in the one by Richberg. The
co-ordinator pointed out that elections
so far held by the Auto Labor Board,
headed by DR.. Leo Wolman, showed
only 2,253 of 46,2ll ballots favoring
A. F. of L. representation. Green said
the federation can speak for and
represent the membership of 10
automobile local unions composed OF
thousands of members"
Richberg declared emphatically that
labor was consulted in the auto code
discussions and that the amendments
to the code we're wholly beneficial
to labor.
Sought to Determine Desires.
"All the Government representa-
tives, including myself" he said. tried
to ascertain to the best of our ability
the desires of labor in weeks of in
vestigation and conferences in which
every one concerned. including all the
officials of the A. F. of L., had full
and complete opportunity to express
their views, and they did so. orally
and in writing"
Green said labor feels that Mr..
Richberg betrayed it in a crucial
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