Evening star., 1940-02-16
Black kjacking' Laid
To n. |. R. B. in Attack
ByG.0. P. Legislator
New Deal Uses HitIer's
Methods to Overthrow
U.S.System. Says Hoffman
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.


In another blast against the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board in
the House, Representative Hoffman,
Republican of Michigan, declared
today that the New Deal "uses the
methods of Hitler, applied by some
of the disciples and adherents of
Stain, to bring about the overthrow
OF our government and to create
q draft-Reosevelt movement"
While the Smith Investigating
Committee of the House held execu-
tive sessions to consider recon-
mending immediate revision of the
Wagner Act, Representative Hoff-
man.. often an acid critic of the
Labor Board, declared:
The President appointed board
which conceived it to be its duty
to drive all workers into an indus
trial union, adherents of which had
contributed more than $1,000, 900 to
the political success of Franklin D.
Roosevelt"
Mr.. Hoffman again reviewed evi-
dence brought out at the Smith
committee hearings, which are to be
resumed Tuesday, and the Michigan
Representative charged Board Chair
man j. Warren Madden and Secre-
tary Nathan Witt with discrimina-
ton and coercion against employers.
Discomfort at Law Denied.
Meanwhile, at a House Labor
Committee hearing Lee Pressman,
general counsel for the c. I. O., was
asked by Representative Thomas,
Democrat, OF Texas whether he was
aware Of discomfort with the labor
law. Mr.. Pressman replied:
There isn't any public discon-
tent with the law. The alleged dis
content is expressed in newspaper
editorials, but not much of it has
permeated the rank and file of
labor"
Mr.. Hoffman said he had placed
on the Speakers desk a petition
dlScharging the Labor Committee
from further consideration of bill
he introduced last year providing
for drastic changes in the Wagner
Act and suggested the members
force out" this measure for consid-
Grafton.
Certain procedures of the board.
as brought out before the investi-
cation committee, he said, were "in
violation of every idea of fair play
and of justice inherent in every
American"
He charged the board with en-
ploying attorneys of foreign birth
with Communistic ideas.
THE hearings before the Smith
committee he added, disclose that
the boards secretary has been a
party to the instigation and the
carrying on of strike in great
industrial corporations plant"
'Blackjacking' Charged.
Mr.. Hoffman also said: "The
board has not been content to use
the remedies given it by the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act. BY let
ters to other departments of the
Government 1t has sought to black
jack employers into entering into
collective bargaining contracts. The
chairman of the board has been
guilty of coercion and intimidation
by writing to other departments
Of the Government, asking them
to either withhold from giving or
to cancel contracts already given
to employers who were charged with
or who might be charged with un-
fair labor practices"
Federal Loan Administrator Jesse
Jones denied at press conference
late yesterday that the Reconstruc-
ton Finance Corp. had any "black-
list" of companies involved in labor
troubles, but admitted a few small
loans had been held up at the re-
quest of the Labor Board, which
had filed complaints in these cases.
Mr.. Jones could recall but three
such cases. In one, he said, the
loan was allowed the next day. In
another case it was held up for two
weeks. A third firm withdrew its
application, deciding to obtain the
money from a bank.
The loan administrator empha-
sized he did not regard this as a
blacklist" term used frequently
at the Smith committee hearings
this week. The policy merely is to
stop, look and listen" when a COM
pany is charged with violating an
other Federal law, Mr.. Jones ex-
planned.
Whether the loan finally is dis
bursed would be our responsibility"
he added.
Correspondence placed in the COM
mittee records showed that an ar
rangement had been made between
the N. L. r. B. and the R. F. C.
under which the lending agency
would be notified as soon as a COM
plant was issued against an en-
ployer. The Labor Board, accord
ing to this agreement, would recon-
mend withholding any loans until
the case was finally adjudicated.
Loans Authorized Before Check.
Mr.. Jones said loans were au-
thorized before any check was made
to see whether a company was in
difficulty with any other Federal
department.. In his application the
business executive states that he is
respecting the laws, Mr.. Jones point
ed out, and if later evidence indi-
Gates he is not, naturally the R. F.
9. investigates,
In dealing with Labor Board COM
plants, Mr.. Jones added, the r. F..
G. simply was following out the
policy 1t pursued toward other Fed
eral agencies. In addition to an
swering numerous questions, he is
sued this formal statement:
THE r. F. c. endeavors to CO.
operate in all proper ways with Fed
eral agencies that have responsible
ties IN connection with businesses
to which loans are made. These
departments of the Government in
clude the Treasury, Controller Of the
Currency; Bureau of Internal Reeve.