Evening star., 1940-11-26
Roosevelt Calls
Conference On
Defense Strikes
House Judiciary
Group Asks Whether
LEGISLATION Is Needed
BACKGROUND

pOStttOH III QeJeHSe industries.
Attorney General Jackson as
serted and union leaders denied
that Communist influence caused
and is prolonging strike. Chair
Dies of House Committee on un-
American Activities said yester-
day that Justice Department had
sho10n 1oeakneSs in not dealing
iith Communist influence re.
ported by F. B. /.
President Roosevelt prepared to
take hand directly today in avert
ing serious labor troubles in the ma
tional defense program.
Presumably to formulate plans
for what may be vigorous Federal
intervention in several strikes now
under way and in others that may
materialiZe, the President sum-
moned to White House confer
ence this afternoon Secretary of
War Stimson, Secretary of Navy
Knox, Attorney General Jackson
and Sidney Hillman, defense COM
missioner in charge of the labor di-
vision.
The White House conferees were
to receive communication from
Chairman Summers of the House
Judiciary Committee asking whether
they believed ANY additional legis-
lation is necessary to keep defense
plants working in event of strikes.
Legislation Discussed.
| The Judiciary Committee dis
cussed possible legislation to control
strikes at meeting this morning,
but Chairman Summers said no de-
cisions were reached pending a reply
to the inquiry the committee in
structed him to send to the White
House The letter was to be ad-
dressed to Mr.. Jackson with the
request he lay it before the confer
ence
Strikes affecting national defense
orders already are under way at the
Vultee aircraft plant in Downey,
Calf; the Aluminium Corp. of
America plant at New Kensington,
Pa, and in several West Coast Ship
ping centers. War Department and
Defense Commission mediators have
made particular efforts to effect a
settlement of the Vultee tieup, now
about two weeks old, but have been
unsuccessful thus far.
| Blame for continuance of this
strike was placed on Communist
workers in q special report issued
last Saturday by Attorney General
Jackson. A running feud between
the Justice Department and the Dies
Committee of the House on how the
Federal Government should combat
subversive activities in defense in
dustries has been under way for the
last fortnight.
Dies Appeal Studied.
After several public criticisms of
the Justice Department methods,
Chairman Dies last night tele-
graphed Mr.. Roosevelt an appeal to
bring about a coordination of the
various departments engaged in fer
reting out fifth column activities and
| dscIltS al Ills COuIllTy.
The chairman described present
Government methods as rejecting
"deplorable weakness" and asserted
that Communists and Nazis are at
work inside every important indus
try in the United States"
Asked about the Dies message
this morning, Mr.. Early said the
President is studying it and prob
ably will reply when prepared to
do so. He indicated he did not
know at this time whether the reply
will be made public at the White
House.
Eleven Members Attend.
Eleven of the 26 members of the
House judiciary Committee-all that
are in Washington at present-at-
tended today's meeting, which was
held behind closed doors. Chairman
Summers called the session late yes
terday after an informal conference
with small group of House men,
bers who have become aroused over
increasing reports of subversive
activities in this country and the
ever-growing number of strikes in
industrial plants engaged in produc-
ton of airplanes and other urgently
needed defense equipment.
The committee discussed the strike
situation and reports of subversive
activities for nearly an hour and
half. To reporters when the COM
mittee adjourned, Chairman Sum-
ners said:
The committee is all agreed that
plants engaged in the manufacture
of war materials must be kept open
and in operation. Whatever is nee
essary to do it has got to be DONE"
Chairman Summers indicated the
committee members gave serious
consideration to several suggestions
for additional legislation, but en-
phasized that the committee would
"stand by" awaiting proposals from
executive officials of the Govern
ment.
Suggestions Sought.
I'VE want to get suggestions from
the people in executive responsible
ity."" he declared.
The II members who attended the
committee meeting were:
Observation-Disclosures Sum-
ners Of Texas Walter of Pennsyl-
vania, Hobbs of Alabama, Tolan Of
California, Kefauver of Tennessee
and Camp of Georgia.
Republicans - Repres entatives
Guyer Of Kansas, Kitchener Of
Michigan, Robson of Kentucky,
(See SABOTAGE, Page A-11)
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