Evening star., 1937-02-20
PROBE BROADENED
BY ADDED FUNDS
La Toilette Committee Gets
$40, 900 More-To Investi-
gate Violence Groups.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Ia SOAA4N ~ AAG1NAsAs
Equipped with an additional $4,000,
the Senate committee investigating
violations of civil liberties was max
ing plans today to intensity and
make more inclusive the scope of its
inquiry.
simultaneously with this gesture Of
support for an investigation which
has been most important to the cause
of organized labor, the battle of harsh
words between the American Fedora
ton Of Labor and the Committee for
Industrial Organization broke out
again with a singing rebuke by the
executive council of the federation to
John L. Lewis and his aides.
Basis for the new attack is the
movement within the United Mine
Workers, c. I. o. affiliate, to suspend
william Green, federation president,
from its membership. an action
termed by the council as inspired
solely by spleen and bitterness"
Labor Split Regretted.
After condemnation of the ''unwar-
ranted" attack upon Green, the Coun-
Gil expresses regret at the split in
labor's ranks, adding ''it shall be our
continued purpose to unite labor with
in the fold of the A. F. of L." In the
latter thought, Green told reporters
that the Peace" Committee named
by the Council to negotiate differences
with the c. I. o. is still awaiting op-
portunity to meet representatives of
the Lewis faction
The hint that the Federation might
be willing to cooperate in further
organization work in the automobile
industry also was contained in Green's
remark that the individual worker
stands helpless in dealing in wages
and hours with powerful employer
like Mr.. Ford" The C. I. o. has dis
closed intentions of seeking members
in the Ford organization.
As its closing action, the Federation
Council ordered a study made of the
sit-down strike technique and its re-
lation to law and order.
Joint Statement Isued.
The degree to which the interest of
the Civil Liberties Committee will be
extended is indicated In the following
Joint statement Of Senators La Fol-
lette and Thomas, committee men,
bers:
Among its other obligations in this
inquiry your committee must study
vigilante and violence groups such as
the Black Legion. 1t must survey the
private espionage and strike-breaking
forces maintained by industry itself.
1t must inquire into evidence OF in
dividual and communal violations Of
free speech and assembly by various
authorities and organizations. 1t
should analyze relevant State and
community statutes and their work.
ings."
Facing the committee also are nu-
merous complaints about labor coer-
cion and abuses in Government de-
partments.
Request Cut $4,000.
The new appropse ton was granted
by the Senate yesterday without de-
bate after the Commlttee on Auolt
and Control had cut the amount from
the requested $4,000 to $4,000. The
La Toilette group originally had only
SIS 1000 with most Of their work thus
far being done by employees borrowed
from other agencies. A ban on bor-
rowing employees becomes effective
next month, with the new appropria-
ton being necessary to carry on the
inquiry.
With details of this extended activ-
ity not to be completed for some few
weeks and requiring considerable field
activity before hearings may be held
the committee hopes to complete its
examination of employment of espion-
age services by General Motors Corp
early next week.
For their Monday session, three