Evening star., 1941-02-17
A.F.L.-C.I.0 0. Feud
Threatens Defense,
Arnold Declares
Antitrust Division Head
Testifies ot Hearing on
Bill to Curb Strikes
By JAMES FREE.

"Bickering between A. F. L. and
C. I. o. unions threatens to slow
down a number of national defense
projects" Thurman Arnold, Assist
ant Attorney General in charge or
the Justice Departments antitrust
division, asserted today at the House
Judiciary Committee hearing on
proposed legislation to curb strikes
in defense industries.
ut looks as if there were going
to be this backing and filling, this
jangling and this constant labor war
which might create very serious
situation" he said.
The disputes between the Amer
ican Federation of Labor and Con-
greSS of Industrial Organizations,
Mr.. Arnold said, are caused by "dif-
ferences of bosses rather than vary
ing PHILOSOPHERS of the two unions"
He pointed out the Justice De-
partment'S interest in this matter
is protecting consumers and small
businessmen from being squeezed"
by alleged antitrust activities Of
labor organizations or any other
groups OF concerns.
Court Decision Cited.
He said that a recent Supreme
Court decision involving iurisdic-
tional strikeS-the Hutcheson case
has limited his divisions efforts to
protect one union from another
union. This particularly applies, he
explained, to cases where labor or
ganizationS have restrained trade
for purposes of destroying an estab-
liShed and legitimate system of COL
lectiVe bargaining.
AS an example of the manner in
which certain unions have hindered
the defense program, Mr.. Arnold
cited the case Of military camp
which required installation of 100000
panes of glass and only 20 union
| glazers were available in that To-
| cality.
'Non-union men called in to work
as GLACIERS had to pay the union 50
a day for the privilege of working"
he declared.
During Mr.. Arnold's testimony It
was brought out that D. w. Tracy,
Assistant Secretary of Labor, was
one of number of labor leaders in
dicted on conspiracy charges under
! the Sherman Antitrust Act In a
San Francisco District Court in the
fall of 1899. At that time Mr.. Tracy
was president of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
an A. F. L. group.
Appointed After Indictment.
do you mean to say that he was
appointed Assistant Secretary Of
Labor after he was indicted?" Rep
resentative Robson of Kentucky
asked
YES" said Mr.. Arnold, who added
that there was no question Of moral
turpitude involved in the charges
against Mr.. Tracy.
Mr.. Arnold declined to express any
opinions regarding desirability of
drafting labor and industry along
with prospective soldiers, and the
possibility of fixing prices and wages
| during this emergency. He said
! these were matters for persons ex-
pert in those particular fields to
determine, and added that insofar
as business and labor operations are
concerned they should be permitted
to run as normally as possible, with
care taken to prevent any restraint
of trade
May Hear Knudsen.
As the committee began its first
hearing on so-called anti-strike bills,
the c. I. o. announced that its
president, Philip Murray, has sent
a letter to all c. I. o. locals assert
ing that an attack against labor
organizations is becoming acute in
many State Legislatures. Mr.. Muir
rays letter said the attack was Gen.
tered on model" bill recommended
for passage by State Legislatures to
penalize sabotage in defense plants.