Evening star., 1939-09-28
Advanced PLANNING
For P. ". A. Is Urged
Before A. FL. Groups
Federal Expert Advocates
Economic Preparedness
In Event Of Emergency
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, Sept. 28-
Ray c. Kirkpatrick. labor relations
expert for the Federal Works
Agency, today advocated advance
planning of puolic works program
to keep the Nation on a basis of
economic preparedness" to meet
business declines.
The experience of the P. w. A.
programs, he said in speech be-
fore the A. F. of L. building trades
convention, has taught us an effec-
tive means of preventing future de-
pressions."
'It has been demonstrated" he
stated, that through cooperative
action of national, State and local
governments a public works pro-
gram on a national scale is prac-
tical."
1T has been shown" Mr.. Kirk
patrick added that if the country
is to be in condition of economic
preparedness, such Nationwide
program should be at al times in
readiness for marching orders when
and If Congress should declare it's
services necessary"
S22,000,00O for Labor.
Mr.. kirkpatrick described how P.
W. AS minimum wage requirements
invoked against the applicants for
projects had benefited labor to the
extent of more than $22OOO,OOO.
Applicants whose minimum wage
schedules did not measure up to the
standards used by P. w. A., he said,
were sent back with suggested up
ward reviSions."t
The Executive Council of the build
Ing trades department devoted most
OF its attention to perfecting newly
established machinery for avoiding
stoppages on construction projects
because of interunion jurisdictional
rows.
Departmental officers indicated
that the machinery for hearing and
acting on such disputes would be
speeded up and efforts made to build
up precedent decisions applicable to
all conflicts of similar nature.
The department and the Asso-
clated General Contractors of Amer
lea entered into an agreement at
Atlantic City last August, under
which mo strike" formula would
be applied to jurisdictional disputes
pending a decision by the depart
ment's president or an impartial
referee.
Renew Attack on Lewis.
Yesterday the metal trades un-
Ions renewed their bitter criticism
of John L. Lewis and the c. I. O.,
with suggestion that future White
House efforts to bring about labor
peace be directed solely toward the
c. I. o. leader.
The unions completed three day
convention by adopting a report
blaming Mr.. Lewis for defeating ef-
forts to settle the labor split, and
asserting that the Federation stood
ready to negotiate peace
For this reason we believe it Is
unnecessary, the report said, for
any official of Government to direct
a request to the A. F. L. to do the
thing tmake peace which it has
always shown a willingness to do.
ANY further suggestions should
be directed only to those who have
constantly thwarted every effort
made by the Federation to bring
harmony into the ranks of labor and
a unified labor movement"
President Roosevelt said recently
he would send another message to
the A. F. L. convention here next
week, and labor leaders said they
expected it to be plea for labor to
get together for national unity.
The convention took no stand on
the Wagner Act and the National
Labor Relations Board, which will
be considered by the main A. F. l..
convention starting next week.
Guard Against Totalitarianism.
Father John w. R. Mcguire, Chi
cago educator. in a convention
speech urged the unions to be on
guard against the spreads of totali-
tarlanlsm as cure for economic
Ills.
He recommended that collective
bargaining be applied to economic
problems, with labor sitting at the
conference table with investors,
owners and managers.
Delegates criticized the Navy De-
partments commissioned personnel
at navy yards on the grounds they
were interfering with union activi-
ties in the yards and refusing to
recognize union grievance commit
tees.