Evening star., 1936-07-19
{. I. 0. MAY SEEK
| SENATE UNITS AID
Debates Asking Investiga.
{ tion-Attempts at Intimi-
: dation Charged.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.


An appeal to the special Senate
COMMITTEE named to investigate IN
stances Of 'unddes interference with
khe right Of labor to organize and
sbargain collectively" is being con-
ssidered by the Committee on Indus
strial Organization, it was learned
last night, in connection with alleged
sattempts at coercion and intimida-
stion in several Pennsylvania steel
towns and in Camden, N. j.
s The committee as it was appointed
tjust before the close Of the last ses-
Sion of Congress consisted of Senator
ia Toilette, Progressive, Of Wiscon-
ssin, Senator Thomas, Democrat, OF
utah and the late Senator Murphy.
sDemocrat, Of Iowa. No new appoint-
sment has been made since Senator
..Murphy's death, few days ago.
By a Senate resolution the COM
emittee was directed to hold hearings
sat any place desired, for the purpose
sof probing violations of the rights
sof free speech and assembly and un-
fdue interference with the right OF
labor to organize and bargain collec-
-tively." A report to the Senate Is
scalled for, together with recommended
.tion for whatever legislation seems
advisable. Fifteen thousand dollars
was appropriated for the inquiry.
La Follette's Return Awaited.
= At Senator La Follette's office yes
ssterday, it was said that he Is ex-
spected back In Washington on July
927. If specific charges Of "interfer-
~ence" have been received by that
time, it is then expected that the
Committee will begin its investigation
simmediately. In any event, it was
declared, the inquiry will be pressed
with sufficient vigor to allow pres
Aentation Of a report and legislative
Recommendations early in the next
session Of Congress.
I No formally prepared list Of allega-
stions has been disclosed by the G. I. O.,
sbut from Pittsburgh where the steel
sorganiztng drive is centered have
come complaints Of discharges for
sunion activities at Aliquippa and Of
sattempts at coercion at Sharon, Far
'.rell and Sharpsville, all steel towns
in the Pittsburgh area.
According to Philip Murray, chair
snan of the organizing drive, "A men
with average employment records OF
13 years each have been discharged
sby a single company since July l.
eAll we're identified with union
activities.
:, At the other three towns. repre-
ssentatives of the company unions
awere called to a meeting of business
Fand professional men Of the COM
<munities and arguments against the
organizing drive presented. In Nc
..Keesport, it was reported that en-
sployes had been urged to sign petit
stions denouncing the drive.
It was reported also that several
Towns have enacted new ordinances
aimed at preventing picketing. The
legality of these ordinances Is to be
attacked in the courts, it was an
Snounced, with the Federal Norris-La
sGuardia law and the Pennsylvania
nti-injunction law to be cited on
behalf of rights to peaceful picketing
The Camden. N. j., situation centerS
taround strike at the r. c. A.-Victor
splant. Street fights and arrests of
spickets have been frequent there.
~Although the United Radio and Elec-
~trical workers who are directing the
<strike are not af1iliated with the G.
" O., support Of the latter organiza-
stion has been extended.
Summons to Trial"
Meanwhile, the tension between the
C. I. 0. and the Executive Council OF
rthe American Federation Of Labor
was increased by the content OF the
slatter's summons to the C.. I. O.
funions for their trial" on August 8.
In the summons, signed by william
sGreen, president of the federation,
Fand addressed to officials OF the IL
&C. I. o. unions, 1t was set forth that
sthe council has assumed the power
sto suspend member unions through
sapplication Of a rule-making power
specifically granted by the federation
constitution.
( The notification then declares:
In the event the council finds said
sunion guilty, the council may take
sany Of the following steps: (a) For
: give said breach with or without condi-
/. tions to be fulfilled by said union;
(b) suspend said union from the
: American Federation of Labor and
) from enjoying the benefits from said
membership for definite or for an
: indefinite time; (c) penalize said
union for said breach in any other
.way; or (d) If the actions of said union
ahave been so serious that all rela-
stions between 1t and the American
tFederation Of Labor should be severed,
srevoke its charter, but only upon in
sstructions from convention of the
eAmerican Federation of Labor passed
Eby two-thirds vote ordering the re-
vocation Of said charter"
AS yet no official reply to the
asummons has been made by any of
.the c. I. o. unions but meeting of
Gtheir officials is scheduled for Tuesday
aafternoon. At that time it is ex-
spected their policy will be determined.
6Grounds for compromise also will be
Sdiscussed with John L. Lewis, chair
sman, authorized to extend such infor-
&mation to George M. Harrison, presi-
sdent of the Railway Clerks and mem
sber of the federation's executive
scouncil. and Edward F. McGrady.
{ Assistant Secretary of Labor. Harri-
sson and McGrady have been active In
-seeking a settlement of the labor
sdifferences without a decisive split in