Evening star., 1937-06-11
FIGHT ON ECONOMY
BYA,E,.G, T, REBEL
LODGES IS PRESSED
Mass Meeting of 7 Groups
Hits A. F. l., Makes Over
u, tures to c. !. O.
3 REPRESENTATIVES
PLEDGE AID IN DRIVE
Committee to Garry Four.Point
Program to Congress to
Protect Jobs.

Backed by the roaring approval of
q crowded mass meeting, the seven
rebel" lodges of the American Fed
Grafton of Government Employees to-
day prepared to push forward with
their anti-economy drive, in defiance
of the suspension order of the eXecu-
tive council which has called a hear
ing on the matter here tomorrow.
Attacking both the American Fed
Grafton of Government Employees and
the parent American Federation of
Committee for Industrial Organiza-
ton, the mass meeting held last night
et the Willard under the direction of
the Committee Against False Econ
nmy-the Steering Committee for the
eeVen-mapped a militant campaign.
it will include an effort to enlist ma
tion-wide support from Government
workers in order to bring efforts to
bear on Congress to forego any econ
omies at the expense of civilian per-
sonnel.
Approximately l 500 men and women,
1t was estimated, participated in the
demonstration. and cheered pledges
Of support from three Democratic
members OF the House-Representa
tives Robert G. Allen of Pennsylvania,
John M. Coffee of Washington and
Keller of Illinois. 1t was made clear,
however, that the appearance of the
Representatives was solely in the in
terest of opposing economy legisla-
tion, and did not extend to any partici-
patton in the factional troubles of the
workers. Senator McCarran, Demo-
Crat, Of Nevada, who was to have
spoken, was prevented at the last min
ute from attending the meeting it was
announced, and sent his regrets.
Four-Point Program Mapped.
In combating the retrenchment
measures pending in Congress, the
Committee Against False Economy will
urge four-point program as follows:
l. Minimum salary adequate to
maintain decent standard of living"
and automatic promotions.
O. Extension of civil service by nom
competitive examinations, without ap-
plication Of State apportionment. (The
House Civil Service Committee has
tentatively approved bill that would
apply the apportionment law in eX-
tending civil service, thereby throwing
about 10000 employees from Maryland,
Virginia and the District out Of their
tobs)
g. Adequate transfer system and
preferential unemployment for those
dismissed other than for cause.
a. Repeal of the marital status act.
The resolution embodying these
planks aSsailed the proposal Of Repre-
sentative Cannon, Democrat of Mis-
souri, for a discretionary cut of IS per
cent in appropriations, and that by
Senator Byrnes. Democrat of South
Carolina for 10 per cent mandatory
cut, Under these, it was said, thou
sands of employees would be fired" and
other evils would develop.
Foes Condemned,
A second resolution condemned both
the A. F. G. E. for failure" to back up
the drive proposed by the seven lodges,
and suspending them for acting inde-
pendently, and the A. F. of L. for sup
porting the position taken by its sub
ordinate.
A third resolution praised the Com
mittee for Industrial Organization,
arch rival of the A. F. of L. for "its
kplendid success in organizing workers
in unorganized industries" and con-
cluded:
This meeting urges the Committee
Against False Economy to join. with
representatives of all other interested
Government employe groups in ap-
preaching the Committee for Indus
trial Organiza ton to ask its help in
organizing Government employees in
defense of their jobs and job stand
srds, and to unite Government en-
ployes with the rest of the organized
labor movement"
Henry Rhine, speaker, who has
been one of the leaders in the inter
mittent warfare between the liberal
and conservative wings of the A. F.
G. E., told his audience that we must
initiate new labor movement for the
Government employees"
Adequate Pay Upheld.
Representative Allen. the first speak
er, told the Government workers that
Eve cannot lower wages that are
already to low" The growing COM
plexties of Government, he continued,
call for efficient workers "and we can
not have efficiency unless we pay
for It,"
Representative Keller recalled the
economy drives of 1928 and the
fact that retrenchment policies under
taken then had to be abandoned.
Coffee expressed himself as against
economy and in favor of expansion. 4"
He said also that he opposes income
tax for Government employes-the
reference being to the proposal ad-
vanced III connection with the Dis
trict budget
Appeals for Funds.
Janet Gaines, president of Resettle-
ment Lodge, which is one of the seven
under suspension, urged the workers
to support the anti-economy drive
financially. A collection was taken up
at the meeting to defray initial ex-
penses and the participants also were
invited to contribute dime each for
lapel buttons bearing the inscription
stop That Cut"
A special committee from the Exec
utive Council of the A. F. G. E. will
convene at the Hamilton at 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning to consider the
charges brought against the seven or
ganizations by Charles I. Stengle, ma
tional president. The lodges involved,
in addition to Resettlement. are Gen.
eral Accounting, Interstate Commerce,
Labor, Agriculture, Public Works and
Beltsville.
Paul Olsen from Library of Con-