Evening star., 1939-12-12
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

John Boettiger. son-in-law Of
President Roosevelt, was described
before the House Committee investi-
eating the National Labor Relations
Board today as critic of the board
in connection with an American
Newspaper Guild case
The disclosure was made in a
memorandum Edmund M. Toland,
chief committee counsel, read into
the record of the committee soon
after its second day of public hear.
ings.
The memorandum labeled per
sonal and confidential" was written
September 18 last to Nathan Witt,
secretary of the board, by Elwyn j.
Eagen, a board field examiner in
the 10Th region, in the case of Will
liam Randolph Hearst and the
Newspaper Guild of the Seattle Post
1ntelligencer Of which Mr.. Boet-
tiger is the publisher.
The letter quoted Mr.. Boettiger as
saying he didn't blame employers
for complaining against the boards
administration of the Wagner Labor
Act.
Sympathetic With Act.
The letter read in part:
"Boettiger stated that he was very
sympathetic with the act, but that
when 1t was administered by
board which makes the kind of de.
clslon 1t made in this case, that he
didn't blame employers for COM
planning about the board. He stated
very definitely that he did not in
tend to take up the matter with the
President, that he never used his
family connections to accomplish
anything in which he might be per-
sonally interested. He indicated,
however, that he would see that his
information reached the proper au-
thorities. He indicated that he did
not intend to publicize his feelings
or to make them known generally,
He asked me not to do so, but in.
ferred that he thought I would com.
municate the substance of his con-
versation to the board"
The letter also said Mr. Boettiger
made some reference to the fact
that the newest member of the
board William L. Leiserson) did not
sign the order, and that he hoped
that this was some indication Of a
change in policy"
Leiserson on Stand.
Mr.. Leiserson was on the witness
stand for his second day of testi-
mony as Committee Counsel Toland
read the letter.
Mr.. Eagen pointed out his con-
versation with Mr.. Boettiger took
place in the presence of the pub.
Hsher's attorney and two represent
atives of the Newspaper Guild.
Shortly before this letter was
made public the committee listened
to Mr.. Toland read into the record
a report of an investigation in the
boards Los Angeles office which in
dicated Harry Bridges. West Coast
G. I. o. maritime leader. who is now
facing deportation proceedings had
led campaign against Towne Ny
lander, board director in Los An
geles. who later resigned.
The report, prepared by George
Pratt. chief trial examiner of the
board. said the Harry Bridges
group in the c. I. o. was active in
the distrust of Mr.. Nylander but
other c. I. o. unions had pleasant
relations with him.
New Personnel for Office.
Mr.. Nylander resigned after he
was reported to have said. "the en-
ployer doesn't have chance in my
Office before the board"
Mr.. Leiserson explained that all
the top officials of the Los Angeles
office had been transferred and a
new personnel selected Conditions
there now, he said. "are much bet
ter"
He also pointed out he was much
more concerned with reports of
personal misconduct" by Mr.. Ny
lander than with charges he had
mishandled cases.
Earlier a move by the board to
answer Immediately evidence de-
signed to show internal strife in
the agency was blocked by Chair
man Smith of the Investigating
Committee.
A request by Charles Fahy, gen.
eral counsel of the board, that
Chairman j. Warren Madden and