Evening star., 1940-12-13
T.. |. 0. Strike Policy
May Be Clarified al
Farley Here tuesday
Defense Blocking Charge
In House Focuses
Attention on Meeting

BY the Associated Press.
General policy of the c. I. o. on
strikes in defense industries may be
clarified at a conference here Tues
dav between Philip Murray, c. /. O.
president. and six vice presidents OF
the organization.
Special significance was attached
to the meeting in view OF Callfor-
MIA House members charge on the
floor yesterday that the c. l. o. was
. doing all it could to destroy" the
national defense program.
Mr.. Murray. who recently sue
ceeded John l.. Lewis as c. l. O.
chief, was expected to favor a firm
line in any general policy toward
; strikes. Friends who call him an
industrial statesman" said they did
not expect him to veer from his life
long preference for negotiation IN
settling industrial disputes.
The congressional attack on the
c. I. o. broke while House members
discussed the process of the pre-
paredneSs program.
Representative Ford, Republican.
of California asserted the c. l. o.
had done everything they possibly
could to disturb, disrupt and destroy
the national defense program He
declared that many" OF the Leaders
in the organization were "racketeers,
highiackers, Communists and dam
eerouS alien criminals and adVo-
Gated concentration camps 1or
every one of them who is spreading
this dissension."
Voorhis Assails Statements.
Taking issue at once with his
colleague, Representative Voorhls,
Democrat. of California said such
wild statements" endangered ma
tional unity.
On another labor front, Sidney
, Hillmans tentative plans for settlng
up employer -employe committees in
the aircraft industry to adjust diff
ferences were reported to have en-
Countered objections from union
leaders who are members OF his
Labor Policy Advisory Committee,
Mr. Hillman is the labor member OF
the Defense Commission, as we'll as
head of the c. 1. O.s Amalgamated
Clothing Workers.
The objections were said to be
based on the ground that establish
ment of such committees might IN
terfere with rival union organizing
drives now under way in the rapidly
growing industry.
Mr.. Hillman'S only comment was
that the plans for such committees
still were in conversational stage.
Mr.. Murray announced yesterday
the appointment of John Brophy to
the post of director of industrial
union councils.
Mr.. Brophy. he said, will be
charged with the full responsibility
Of co-ordinating the work and af-
fairs of all Industrial Union Coun-
cils. State and local. with view to
the development of the greatest pos
sible harmony between that work
and those affairs and the policies
OF lne Z. l. -. as WllOle.
Taber Hits Defense Pace.
The Ford -Voorhis exchange eli
NAKED a House debate which was
touched off when Representative
Taber, Republican, of New York as
serted that the defense program was
not progressing as fast as 1t should
because workmen we're being as
sessed "exhorbitant fees in order to
obtain jobs.
The most important thing Presi-
dent Roosevelt could do, Representa-
tive Taber declared. would be to
put the Governments house in
order by giving more authority to
the Defense Commission.
Representative Ford said the c.
7 o. had opposed changes in the
Neutrality Act and enactment of the
c0nscription law. and that in their
2ttempt to destroy airplane produc-
ron, they called strike at the
Vultee aircraft factory in California.
He went on TO say that the G. L.,
q. was striking against shlpbulldlng
operators. was interfering with the
lumber industry and have made
ne statement that they are going
u take over all industry = He added:
I understand the substance OF
>cmark made by MIR. Sidney Hillman
was that industry had better get
aboard or take the consequences.
Voorhis Defends Hillman.
Does it seem possible, in what
has been called free America, " he
continued. that through the lead
ership of the C. I. o. and Sidney
Hillman, this program can be
stopped, our national unity sabo-
tagged. and this country not only
left defenseless, but eventually
turned over to the Communists?'
7ord's reference to Mr.. Hillman
drew Mr.. Voorhis' especial fire.
Il know" Mr.. Voorhis said in
angry tones, that Mr., Hillman was
the man who went before the c. l.
o. Convention and told the conven-
ton the first business of labor in
America is the business of national
defense and that they had better get
on that train.
Il know that is one of the most
important steps that has ever been
taken by an American labor leader"