Evening star., 1938-03-03
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

BY JOHN G. HENRY.
The National Association of Manu-
facturers supplied labor relations bull
letins designed to Offset claims of
union organizers, it was admitted be-
fore the Senate Civil Liberties Com
mittee today, as officials of the en-
ployer group were questioned closely
about the content of such literature
Reading from several such bulletins
issued in the last several years. Chair
man La Toilette gained the admission
In connection with the absence of
several employe privileges in a dec
laration purporting to set forth rights
Of employees under the Labor Rela-
tions Act.
Senator La Toilette and the wit
nesses, Walter B. Weisenburger, exec
utive vice president, and Noel Sar-
gent, secretary, brushed frequently
over interpretations to be placed on
the association bulletins.
In one instance the committee chair
man produced bulletins bearing the
same date but differing in explanatory
text proceeding an appeal for steel
workers to Join the Steel Workers
Independent Labor Union. Early edi-
tionS of the bulletin indicated that
the appeal actually had been posted by
a member company and that the
practice might be followed by others.
United Front" Urged.
The later edition had blocked out
the implication that it was COM
pany announcement, the witnesses ex-
planning that the early version was a
mistake and that the appeal was one
circulated by the independent union
and simply reprinted for international
purposes by the N. A. NJ
The "pros and cons of diplomacy"
were employed by the association in
dealing With suggestions made to
them for coping with the labor rela-
tions problem, the committee was
told by Mr.. Weisenburger in explain
ing correspondence between himself
end an employer organization entitled
the Utah Associated Industries.
First of this correspondence read
into the record by Chairman La Fol-
lette was letter dated February 25,
1887, from A. c. Rees, executive Off
Ger OF the Utah organization, to Mr.
Weisenburger, In which the former
suggested that the N. A. NJ partici-
pate in the leadership and generalship
of united front" in meeting labor
relations problems.
Earlier in his letter Mr.. Rees de-
scribed the 1896 platform of the N.
A. M. as follows:
Pros and Cons"
"As with all platforms intended for
public consumption, this platform,
too, contains the lofty sentiments with
which no issue can be taken Such is
the case with all platitudes. Couched
in safe eeneralities. these contentious.
claims and enunciation of ideals can
not be successfully contradicted or
opposed"
Replying, Mr.. Weisenburger wrote
that he agreed with every word ut
tered by Mr.. Rees, but that on the
matter Of the united front there was
involved some very careful reasoning
that I am not fully at liberty to
discuss in this media"
Asked by Senator La Toilette If
this meant he dared not write what
he had in mind, Mr.. Weisenburger
denied that there was anything secret
involved but that he was simply ap-
plying the pros and cons of di-
plomacy' often called upon.
Much of today's examination of
MIR. Weisenburger and Mr.. Sargent
centered upon the associations circu-
latlon of ounce of prevention bull
letns in which employers we're kept
advised of what they could and could
not do under the labor relations law.
Ernest T. Weir, head of the Ma
tional Steel Co. and chairman of the
Industrial Information Committee of
the National Association of Manu-
facturers, was to be called before the
committee later today. for questioning
about the educational and propa-
gandizing functions of this organi-
cation.
Evidence yesterday, first day of the
Senate's open inquiry into activities
OF the N. A. NJ, disclosed that the
association has devoted hundreds of
thousands of dollars in the last four
years to this educational" purpose
Membership contributions to the pro-
gram amounted to approximately
100000 in 1887, it was shown.