Evening star., 1942-03-23
Continued From First Page

(COnIlnucQ from r1ISt rage
dues before workers could obtain
jobs in war industries.
Citizens Express Views.
Contrary to assertions by labor
leaders that much of this public pro-
test had been generated by organ
ICED campaigns, Senator Lee told
reporters the vast majority OF his
letters were from ordinary citizens
who apparently were expressing
their own views.
Senator Lee said there was no
doubt that the public had been dis
turbed by editorials in newspapers
and by the printing OF tear-out
pledges to vote against Congress
members who failed to support re-
peal of the 40-hour week and legis-
lation to halt strikes.
Senator Lees colleague, Senator
Thomas. Democrat. of Oklahoma,
has asked the Senate Defense In
vestigating Committee to look into
charges that an organized campaign
has been conducted. Chairman Tru-
man promised a decision on the
request later in the day.
On the other side of the battle
line, organized labor Is expected to
demand that the administration
disavow the bitterly worded attack
on unions Saturday by Assistant
Attorney General Thurman Arnold
before a House Judiciary subcom-
mittee. He accused organized la
Dor of impeding the use of men and
machines in the war effort, destroy
ing independent businesses and
holding farmers and consumers at
Its mercy"
An American Federation of La
Dor official. who asked not to be
quoted by name, said yesterday that
Mr.. Arnold, In charge OF antitrust
prosecutions for the Justice Depart
ment, had started innumerable
prosecutions against labor organiza-
tions and has been defeated In every
one. His present attack on labor is
just to cover up the failure Of his
campaign"
Officials Of the Congress of In
dustrial Organizations withheld i'm
mediate direct comment, but noted
grimly that the Executive Commit
tee OF the C. I. o. and heads OF
c. I. O. unions are holding a two
day conference here and that it
could be assumed that Mr.. Arnold's
attack, together with legislation
pending on Capitol Hill, would get
prime attention.
A tendency on the part of House
members to charge the Senate with
failure to enact labor legislation was
said to be adding to the troubles of
Administration leaders In keeping
down 4 potential revolt. The House
passed several months ago drastic
measure by Representative Smith,
Democrat, Of Virginia, outlawing
strikes in defense industries, freezing
open and closed shops, regulating
picketing and dealing with almost all
phases of the labor question.
TNU hCtiOu EsARCCeCo OVVH.
This measure since has been before
the Senate Labor Committee and
Chairman Thomas, who reportedly
discussed the labor problem with
President Roosevelt Saturday, in di-
Gated no immediate action was to be
expected.
The controversy over extra pay
beyond 40 hours q week also concerns
the War Labor Board. The board
announced today 1t would hold its
first public hearing, beginning We'd
nesday, on case involving the ques-
tion of time and half pay for Sat-
urdays and double time for Sundays
on continuous operation. The board,
in its announcement, commented
that 1T will also be the first time In
the boards record that A. F. L. and
C. I. o. unions have joined together
to submit q common case"
The case involves eight plants OF
the International Harvester Co.. en-
ploying $4,000 workers in Chicago,
Rock Island. East Moline and Rock
falls, ILL.,, Milwaukee. and Spring
field, Ohio.