Evening star., 1943-05-26
Dominance Of Labor
In Choosing Of 0PA
Rent Heads Denied
CIO Spokesman Cites
Examples in Hearing
Before House Group

Labor dominance in the selection
Of Office of Price Administration rent
directors in war production commu-
mites was denied today before a
House committee by Russ Nixon, a
CIO spokesman.
The witness, who is Washington
representative of the United Elec-
trio. Radio and Machine Workers
of America, disputed the repeated
statement of Harold L. Allen, coun-
sci for the committee, that "the OPA
has taken control of property away
from its owners and given it to
labor"
"A fantastic attempt is being
made" said Mr. Nixon, ito create
the impression that organized labor
has undue influence in the rent
control program merely because in
certain instances steps were taken
to make sure that a clearly anti
labor person was not selected to
administer workers rents.
1T must be made clear that labor
does not approve of large number
of the various rent officials selected
by the OPA. You may be sure that
labor does not consider as it's selec-
ton Area Director Walter Staple
ton of Bridgeport, Conn, a former
mortgage banker; Regional Rent
Executive Hal Smith of the South
ern region, also former mortgage
banker; Area Director Clarence W.
pjtfcfn1I Eiroctnoo
and Ford representative; Area Di-
rector Carl Hibbard of South Bend,
Ind, who is president of his own
printing company and vice presi-
dent of two financial institutions,
or Area Director H. Russell Phillips,
Newark, N j., formerly director of
the United States Lines. These are
merely few OPA rent officials who
come to mind. An investigation
would reveal to this committee the
complete falsity of any contention
that labor has dictated personnel
selection or the policies of OPA rent
control"
Tippett to Testify.
Tom Tippett, OPA official in charge
of recruitment of area rent directors
throughout the country, whom he
called "the keystone men of the
system" was expected to appear later
today before the committee and pro-
duce letters showing that labor or
ganizations were not the only ones
consulted in the directors selection.
Mr.. Allen read yesterday from
book published in 1881 with
Mr.. Tippett's name on the fly leaf
as co-author, that the founding
fathers tried Ito set up Govern
ment that would protect their in
terests as property owners"
Here is an organization" the
counsel said with a sweep of his
hand toward the witness. with the
keystone men selected by man
who is antipathetic to property
Series of Letters Presented.
Mr.. Allen also read into the rec
ord, while the 52-year- old official
sat in the witness chair. letter after
letter the latter had written direct
ing the field staff to consult with
labor before sending nominations of
area directors to Washington, with
no directions to consult other
groups.
A letter from Mr.. Tippett to the
acting regional director at New
York read, after the candidate has
been chosen, naturally he must be
cleared with labor"
A memorandum from Mr.. Tippett
to his chief, Paul Porter, head of the
OPA rent division, mentioned the
policy from Washington that
the recruiting officials should con-
suit labor in the community"
A memorandum from Mr.. Tippett
to the field staff said that general
phrases such as the candidate has
the approval of labor" were not
enough. That approval must be
specific
The witness frequently protested
that labor was only one of the
groups consulted, groups which in
cluded real estate boards, chambers
of commerce and churches. He was
challenged to find such a reference
in his file for the New York region
which was before him 1t was then
that he offered to return today with
such letters.
Mr.. Tippett, who said his OPA
salary was $4,000 year, was exam
ined on the book. Your Job and
Your Pay" by Katherine H. Pollak
and Tom Tippett. published in 1881
by Vanguard Press in New York