The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1941-07-17
May Bill
by
Big Vote

Rejecting the effectiveness
of the CLOS massed political
strength. the House of Repre-
senta,ives in a smashing 220
to l49 vote killed the anti
labor sections of the Connally-
May amendment to the draft
bill. July 10.
The vote showed the results
Of an intensive mass lobbying
campaign waged by ESQ CLIO
representatives who came to
Washington from all parts of
the country to fight down the
drive against labor's right to
organize. bargain collectively
and strike.
The $50 CLIO representatives. at
the same time. voiced mass deter
mination. in a special CLIO legisla-
tive conference July Z. to fight
Congressional and governmental
attempts to destroy labor's rights
through anti-strike laws and other
repressiye acts.
Only the clause lowering the
draft age 10 20 was passed in the
Connally May bill. but by the 900 20
l49 roll-call vote the House buried
proposals that would have meant
government Strikebreaking through
seizure and operation OF struck
plants. through use Of the army
TO protect strikebreakers. and
through heavy criminal penalties
against strikers and pickets.
CLIO leaders warned. however.
that the original connally amend
ment passed in the Senate last
month remained on the conscrip-
ton bill and can still be consider
ed when the deleted May bill goes
TO conference between House and
Senate committee members.
John T. Jones. District l6
United Mine Workers president.
and CLIO legislative representa-
tive. maintained that dangers
still remained In the Congress
sional situation and cited the
vinson bill. the Ball cooling.
off" bill. and other anti-union
proposals that could be called
up at any time.
Jones and other clio leaders
credited the organized CLIO protest
with defeating the May Connally
bill. Even such embiitered anti
labor Congressmen as Rep. Smith
OF Virginia admitted that the CLIO
lobby was directly responsible for
the defeat Of anti Labor sections
OF the bill.
In addition to the mass deScen.
on congressman. calls were made
on President Roosevelt by Philip
Murray. Clio president: on Speak
or Rayburn and Majority Leader
Mccormack By committee head
ed by Thomas Kennedy. United
Mine Workers secretary-treasurer.
and on Vice President Wallace by
group headed by Jones.
A large number of Republicans
voted to delete the anti-labor sec
tons of the bill. OF the 900 votes
for deletion. "a came from Repub-
l.cans. the balance from Demo-
Gratis and one from the sole Amer
lean Labor Party representative.
Vito Marcantonio. while of the
l49 votes to retain the ant!-labor
clauses. l04 were from Democrats
and IS from Republicans.
At the one day legislative con-
ference. CLIO leaders unanimously
worked out program to: /. Defeat
the Connally May bill. the Vinson
bill. the Ball bill and all similar
measures which curtail in airy
way the rights Of labor" .. Con-
denim the use OF troops 10 break
strikes; 3. oppose wage cuts
through systems of forced savings
and heavy taxation OH workers
and other low income groups: 4.
Urge government establishment OF
industry councils as outlined i'll
the clio defense plant and to
fight the establishment Of labor
advisory commissions" being
prompted. by the Office Of Pro-
duction Management: 5. Secure
added WPA appropriations TO taxa
care of the seven million who ara
unemployed despite the defense
program.
The conference. first Of its kind
In CLOS history. heard a report
by John T. Jones who placed full
responsibility for the current anti
labor drive on Congressional lead