Evening star., 1937-01-21
SPYING REVEALED
-
!. IN METAL TRADES
Sayre Tells Senate Probers
System Is Called Employ.
ment Service.
BY John C. HENRY.

A labor espionage department term
ed an employment service" is MAIN
tanned by the National Metal Trades
Association. the La Toilette Civil
Liberties Committee was told today by
Homer D. Sayre. chief executive offlcer
OF the organization.
The association, Sayre explained,
devotes itself primarily to perpetual
Ing open shop" conditions in the
metal manufacturing industries.
Denying that this espionage service
attempts to bribs employees, Sayre said
all its information is gathered by its
own paid agents.
I'VE have so-called undercover men
who work out of the national Office in
Chicago he explained.
This service, he added. Is under
supervision of o. r. Abbott, employ
nnent manager.
Prevention Of Difficulties.
1--WE believe the greatest good We
can do our members is the prevention
Of labor difficulties" Sayre said.
:, Il think there is nothing worse
than a strike. AS rule. when man
goes out on strike he loses more than
he gains"
Sayre insisted his association Is not
. lobbying organization, but added
that they would fight legislation they
did not favor "by every legitimate
means"
Referring to the constitution OF the
association, Senator Thomas, Demo-
.crat, of Utah asked Sayre II the de-
.clared purpose Of maintaining "aquita-
.ble" conditions in plants is governed
by State and Federal laws.
That would depend upon the men,
bers, guess" Sayre answered.
do you mean that II the members
decide their declaration Of principles
Is better than the law they would
become nti-government?" Thouaa:
asked.
"Oh, no." Sayre denied.
Strike Action Section.
Referring to strike action" sec.
ton of the associations declaration
of principles, Sayre explained that the
"actual practice Is TO communicate
with us to see if We can prevent it.
You have machinery here for full
collective action by employers, do you
not" Thomas asked.
Yes" Sayre admitted.
And aren't you interested In keep
Ing employees from acting collective
ly?"
"Oh. no, many of our plants have
employe employer representation
plans" SayTe replied.
Delayed at Opening.
The committee was delayed unit
1890 am. in convening. with Sayrt
taking the stand Immediately and th'
examination being opened by Sen
ator Thomas.
About 40 employees organized the as
.sociation in 1899, Sayre said, to form
policy Of employe relations.
I. At first, he continued the group en-
tered into agreement with labo
unions but these were terminated IL
1901 and the association has stood OF
the open shop" policy ever since.
On January IS, he said, there wer
H0G employer IneINOeIS.
G. NJ. Not Member.
!. General Motors Corp is not a mem
/. Der Of the association, Sayre answered
In response to questioning, but added
that Fisher Body and Harrison Radia
tor. subsidiaries of G. NJ, belong
Among other members, he said, are
Continental Can Co. and Wright Aero
Dues are 90 cents per operative
,(employe) per month, Sayre said.
Policy of the organization is formed
by a council of II leaders of ths
manufacturing industry, Sayre testi'
fed, among them officers Of the
Chrysler Corp, llys-Overlsnd Co.
Servel, Inc, and the Crouse-Hind;
Co.
Sayre admitted, however, that the
paid officers of the company exercised
O strong influence in guiding policy
Constructive Activities.
Claiming the association follows
many constructive activities, Sayre
told the committee they were among
pioneers in safety first" measures in
plants and in apprentice training
work. The safety first" theory was
developed first on Humanitarian
grounds, he explained, but the eco
nomic value soon was discovered.
On Monday and Tuesday the COM
mittee is scheduled to hear testimony
about activities Of the Corporations
Auxiliary Co. Of Cleveland, among
those summoned being j. H. Smith,
president, and Dan G. Ross, sales
Noopooer