Montana labor news., 1944-03-30
MURRAY CRITICISES
GRAHAM'S POSITION
ON SOCIAL SECURITY

WASHINGTON.-Senator James E.
Murray, Democrat of Montana, made
public last week a statement by William
Green, president Of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor. reasserting the fedora
] tion's determined policy favoring exten-
sion of social security and endorsing the
principles of S. 1161, commonly known as
the Wagner Murray -Dingell bill
The Green statement was prompted by
the effort of James D. Graham, presi-
dent of the Montana State Federation
Of Labor, an affiliate of the national
group, to swing organized labor's support
away rom the pending measure.
Press reports from Helena recently
quoted Mr.. Graham as having branded
the bill as "totalitarian" and foreign to
the American way of life He also was
quoted as saying: The Montana Fedora
ton of Labor is in favor of social Sc
curity-but at what price are We to give
our democracy away for it? We've
got to stop this thing, this government
by decree from Washington. . They've
gone crazy in Washington"
Calling on President Green for an ex-
preston of views on AIr Graham's dec
larations and activities, Senator Murray
told the national labor chief he had been
under the impression that the principles
Of the bill were satisfactory to labor
The senator in this connection observed
that, 1T is, Of course, embarrassing to
me as sponsor of a bill designed to be
beneficial to labor to find its leaders in
my own state opposing the bill" The
reply Of the head Of the AFL was prompt,
direct and unequivocal, a virtual repudi-
alton of all that Mr Graham has said
or done Senator Muray's impression,
declared Mr.. Green. was absolutely cor
rect.
we have gone further than endorsing
the provisions Of the bill, he AIDED THE
convention of the American Federation
Of Labor which was held at Boston.
Mass, last October unanimously adopted
the Wagner Murray -Dingen bill Presi-
dent Graham Of the Montana State
Federation of Labor was in attendance at
the convention when it voted in favor Of
this bill Not one single voice or vote
was raised or cast in opposition to the
mea sure."
President Green continued: In my
opinion the Wagner-NI -NIurray-D -Dingel bill
represents a decided step forward in the
application of Social Security legislation
The American Federation of Labor is
giving a full measure of support to the
Wagner-Auray- -Dingell bill. I feel sure
that if President Graham Of the Mon
tana State Federation Of Labor is privi-
legged to gain a thorough understanding
of the provisions of this bill he will be
for it and will support it. However that
may be, I am of the opinion that undue
Importance should not be attached to the
opinion of some one individual regarding
pending legislation. 1t would be well
nigh impossible to bring about unani-
nous support Of legislation which is so
as the Wagner Murray
Dingell bill"
The Montana State Federation of
Labor, under direction of Mr.. Graham,
as president, adopted a resolution favor
ing substitution Of general revenue fl |
nancing for the payroll tax plan advo-
Gated in the Wagner er-Murray-Dingell bill. !
Senator Murray, in November, advised
Mr. Graham in some detail that the pro-
posal would not be in the interest Of
labor" He invited the Montana labor
official to indicate "at what points you
believe my line of reasoning is wrong"
There has been no reply, the Senator |
said today.