Evening star., 1940-01-08
MI. R. B. Agent
Quoted on
Work for C.|.0.'
Found No Record
Of. Discipline, Says
Probe Counsel
BACKGROUND

concerning pOttcy among men,
bers OF board
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
Testimony that Jack Davis, then
field agent for the National Labor
Relations Board, was working for
the C. I. o." at the time the board
was investigating labor troubles at
the American Radiator Co. plant
at Litchf1eld. ILL.,, in 1887, was
brought out today before the House
committee investigating the Federal
agency.
Edmund M. Toland, committee
counsel. read a transcript of a hear
ing in the Litchfield case in which
it was stated that several witnesses,
workers, had quoted Mr.. Davis as
saying:
You know I'm working for the
c. I. O., and it will benefit you with
back pay"
Asked by Representative Halleck,
Republican, of Indiana what be-
came of Mr.. Davis, the committee
counsel replied:
He is still with the board. He's
an attorney now
Mr. Toland added:
Jack Davis never denied the
statements of those witnesses. There
is mo record that he ever was
disciplined. On the contrary, he re-
ceived raises and was promoted"
Part of Transcript Offered.
Mr.. Toland introduced portions Of
the transcript while Miss Anne
Freezing, a review attorney for the
board, was on the witness stand
According to the transcript. David
C. Shaw, an attorney for the NJ l..
r. B., protested vigorously at the
hearing against the activities of Mr.
Davis.
Mr.. Shaw said, it was disclosed
that Mr.. Davis, may have par
ticipated in the organization of the
local. referring to the Amalgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin
Workers, C. I. o. union which
had charged the American Radiator
Co. with unfair labor practices. Mr.
Shaw objected to having the N. l..
r. B. give the appearance of
covering up"
He said at the hearing that he
had called up Board Chairman j.
Warren Madden in Washington, told
him of the. Davis matter and added
that the issues have cast doubt on
the boards capacity and honesty.
The attorney did not feel the board
should suppress such matters
Mr.. Toland said the record of the
hearing would show Mr. Davis had
told workers to testify that its a
lockout" at the plant.
Long Wrangle Follows.
Reading of the transcript led to
prolonged wrangle among COM
mittee members.
Representative Murdock, Demo-
crat, of Utah sought to show that
Mr.. Davis was removed from all
connection with the American
Radiator case, but Mr.. Toland
said there was no record he was
uISClpllneQ at all.
Representative Routzohn, Repub-
lican. of Ohio charged in the course
of the argument that Charles Fahy,
general counsel for the N. L. r. B.,
seated at the committee table, was
passing notes to certain committee
members and promoting discord and
disorder in the hearings.
Mr.. Fahy said he would sit wher-
ever the committee wanted him to
and try to conduct himself in a
manner pleasing to the committee.
1T you'd had more court expert
ence." Representative Routzohn re-
torted, you would know how to
conduct yourself
i've had a tremendous amount
of court experience" said Mr.. Fahy,
but this is my first experience with
congressional investigation"
Other committee members sug-
gested Mr.. Davis should have a
chance to defend himself, and
Chairman Smith said any relevant
comment would be admitted to the
record.
Delving further into the Litch-
field transcript, Mr.. Toland quoted
two workers at the plant, then
closed, as having said Mr.. Davis
told them to say 1T was lockout. "
When they objected that they didn't
know about it, he replied: You say
it and I'll prove it, Both wit
nesses said they refused and were
told they need not come back to
him with any complaints.
Letter to Fahy Shown.
The committee counsel introduced
a letter from Board Attorney Shaw
to General Counsel Fahy, saying:
THE complications about Jack
Davis became so pronounced last
week, during the hearing on this
case, that I found it necessary to
talk with Washington. The COM
pany's accusations as to Davis re-
marks and actions while in Litch-
field, had the board on the spot,
(See LABOR BOARD. Page A-5.O