Evening star., 1942-03-24

murray TI0miSeS TuH
Consideration Of Plan
Advanced by Roosevelt
The Executive Board Of the Con-
gress Of Industrial Organizations
was due to act today on administra-
ton suggestions that labor waive
claims to double time for Sundays
and holidays in war production,
when those days fall within the
regular tour Of duty.
President Philip Murray promised
that full consideration" would be
given to this proposal, advanced
first by President Roosevelt at a
conference last week with Mr.. Muir
ray and William Green. president
Of the American Federation of La
Dor, and reiterated yesterday at an
extraordinary conference Of more
than 400 C. I. o. members by Donald
Nelson, War Production Board head.
The c. I. o. chief would not hazard
guess as to what action the board
would take.
The board met at the Lafayette
Hotel, winding up session that was
called for the dual purpose of map
ping a campaign against current
efforts in Congress to suspend the
40-hour work week, and to spur the
organization Of management:labor
committees in war industries as a
means of increasing production.
AS the conference of the rank
and-file delegates was concluded last
night at the National Press Club,
they received message from Presi-
dent Roosevelt declaring the rights
and privileges of labor are being
tested by fire" and emphasizing
that nothing must be permitted to
interrupt the Nations drive to vic
tory.
Responsibilities Of Workers.
Greeted with cheers. the Presf-
dents message to Mr.. Murray said:
In recent years the workers in
Americas great industries have
gained new privileges and reaffrmed
old rights. Today all of those rights
and privileges are being tested by
fire. II we lose this war, they and
all the rest Of our American Iiber-
ties will be lost Only victory can
protect our freedom; If the freedom
OF any OF us Is lost, the freedom
Of all Is lost.
with rights and privileges 60
responsibilities. We are learning in
the hard days Of war what is some
times overlooked In the easy days
OF peace: that liberty and freedom
belong only to men and women who
can earn them, and that none of
the values which make life in
America worth living can be re-
tanned except by people who will
give everything and do anything to
keep them.
This has especial point for or
ganiZed labor-for its leaders and
for the men and women in the ranks
Our free workers can give to vic
tory far more than the Axis task
masters can ever wiring from the
unwilling muscles of the regimented
toilers of Europe and Japan. BY
the freedom they enjoy and the
privileges they have won American
workers dare do no less than meet
the new challenge of old slavery
with courage, with energy and with
determination that nothing shall
interrupt our country's march to
victory over the Nazis and the Japs."
The conference called for defeat
of the Smith bill to suspend the 40
hour week and in a resolution that
was forecast Of a vigorous counter
offensive asserted that CONGRESS
must be made aware of the demand
of the entire Nation that such re-
pressive legislation must be de-
feated" =.
Undercover Work Charged.
"The current campaign against la
Dor and the victory production" an
other resolution said, "' - has its
source in conspiracy against la
Dor and the war effort originating
In Oklahoma and Texas" and 80 .
reveals the effective undercover work
OF Axis agents operating in this
country against our military Sc
curity and against the security of the
United States" Coupled with this
denunciation was a call for an in
vestigation to expose the activities
OF Axis agents and their friends and
allies among anti-labor and ap-
peasement groups in Congress and
elsewhere"
The conference renewed the c. I.
o. pledge of uninterrupted war pro-
duction, and demanded in return
a secure status for the union in
dustry. 1t also reafirmed "the
principle that fair and equitable
wage increases must be provided
now for American workers"
Seemingly evidencing a growing
spirit Of cordiality with the rival
American Federation of Labor, the
conference recalled the formation of
the Combined Labor Victory Com
mittee in which the two groups
participate, and urged extension of
these joint activities in promoting
the war effort.
The resolutions were adopted at
q session from which the press was
excluded.