The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-03
Whittemore Charged
With Bias---Removal
From Office Sought
United Rubber Workers, Clio, Claims Selective Serv
ice Board Chairman Prejudice Against Union; Inn
mediate Action From Natl Draft Officials Desired


sentative and the c. I. o. organiza-
ton as whole.
The resolution also asks that or
ganized labor be given equal repre-
sentation on the Naugatuck draft
board and that steps be taken at
once to bring this about.
President Kenishea stated that the
doings of the Naugatuck draft board
for some time have been the sub
ject of much discussion in the local
organized labor circles, with the be-
lief finally having firmly crystalized
that Mr.. Whittemore, due to his
position as a man of wealth and a
manufacturer and his general lack
of contact with an interest in the
average human being, was not the
person to be chairman of board
where the human side of life must.
perforce, come in for some considera-
ton.
The executive boards voted favor
ably on the resolution at last nights
meeting and the die is definitely cast
and that every resource of the In
ternational officers of the unions
will be brought into play to bring
about the removal from office OF
Mr.. Whittemore together with a full
investigation of all deferments.
The resolution which was pre-
scented at last nights meeting fol-
lows:
WHEREAS: The G. I. o. has SOL
EMMY pledged to our Commander
n-Chief, Franklin D. Roosevelt, to
carry out the mo Strike Pledge, :"
and, the record OF the G. I. O.
speaks for itself as a clean organ
ization and above reproach and,
WHEREAS: The officers of the
National and international Unions
of the C. l. O., their representatives,
the local unions and their officers
and membership are doing all with
in their power, to increase produc-
ton, to maintain constant flow of
war materials to our boys on all the
battled SCARED fronts, and take an
active part in the economical and
social activities in their communities
and further pledge themselves to
purchase and aid in the sale of War
Bonds and Stamps, to aid and assist
in every way possible to help win
the war and fulfill the mo Strike
Pledge" and
WHEREAS, Our Commander-in-
chief and other government officials,
have recognized the important part
the c. I. o. is playing and exempli-
flying in the all out total war ef-
fort. and,
WHEREAS: The Chairman of the
Naugatuck draft board, Mr.. Harris
Whittemore, Jr., has very little If
any knowledge of the merits and
integrity of the c. I. O., and is un-
aware of the ercords and true facts
of its untiring effort to help the
United Nations, and
WHEREAS: Mr.. Harris White
more, Jr., being biased and of such
prejudice toward the C. I. O., its
officers and its representatives, and
is allowing deferments to certain
groups, who in our opinion are not
eligible for repeated deferments,
and the citizens of this community
have registered their most anxious
desire and approval of the action
that is being taken by G. I. o. Or
ganized labor in the borough of
Naugatuck, and therefore, are of
the opinion that Mr.. Whittemore
cannot faithfully serve in this ca
pacity because of his selfish, dicta-
torial setup as chairman of the
draft board. now therefore be it,
Resolved: That through joint &C
ton of the executive officers and
members Of Locals As, 100, 218 and
the United Rubber Workers of
America, CLIO, they hereby demand
board and the immediate removal
an investigation of the local draft
of its chairman, Harris Whittemore,
Jr., and to insist that he not be
placed or serve on any other gov
ernmental boards because of his &C
ton and remarks made at a draft
board meeting directed at United
Rubber Workers of America repre-
sentative and CLIO organization as
a whole, and be it further,
Resolved: That organized labor
be given equal representation on
the draft board and to initiate the
necessary steps to secure a repre-
sentative from organized labor as
a member of such board, and that
copy of this resolution be sent to
the warden of the borough of Maui
gatuck, to the state Selective Serv-
ice director, to the state CLIO Union
Council, to the United Rubber
Workers ofq America, International
CLIO, to the National CLIO head
quarters in Washington, D. c., and
to Chairman General Hershey Of
the National Selective Service head
quarters in Washington, D. c., tell
ing why these local unions have
be tn forced to take such drastic
action and also release to the press
to inform the citizens of the meth
DDS and functioning of the chair
man of draft board 14A located ir
Naugatuck, Connecticut.