Evening star., 1944-05-25
0'Conor Urges
Matching Funds
In Postwar Plan
Wants Stote to Aid
Cities and Counties
To Provide Jobs
By the Associated Press.


CUMBERLAND, Md, MAY 25-
In an effort to stave off unemploy.
ment in Maryland after the war
Gov. o'Conor last night recon.
mended that "the State should
offer g portion OF its planning
money to the county and city gov
ernments of Maryland on a match
ing basis"
Addressing the final session of the
Maryland and District of Columbia
annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor, the Governor
asserted that "such an ARRANGEMENT
would insure the widest distribution
of work throughout the State, be-
cause every county and all the
metz opolitan areas would have a
hand in planning work.
William Green, AFL president,
also spoke. He stressed that 90 per
cent of American workers have ad-
hered to the no-strike pledge.
Outlining his proposal, Gov.
O'Connor said:
There should be coordination Of
this Statewide effort which would
be accomplished by having the
Maryland Commission on Postwar
Reconstruction and Development
pass on the suggested list of prof.
ects, submitted by the local subdiyi-
sions.
Share in Financing.
Under such a system the State
and local governments could share
In financing and could participate
in administration" he added.
Cittng the postwar plans for
Maryland already under considera-
ton blythe State Planning Commits
sion and the Board of Public Works,
the. Governor stated that we must
not depart from, the. age-old prin-
ciple of America that private in
dustry and private initiative are
the principal sources of employ
merlt.
But Government also has its
obligations and responsibilities. It
should develop any public facilities
and services as may be required in
order to protect and improve our
American standard of living.
Government should supplement
the job-creating efforts of private
enterprise through public works
wherever it is necessary and should
support and implement the efforts
OF private industry to furnish en-
ployment for all who are ready and
willing to work." he said.
Labor Freedoms Menaced.
Mr.. Green, declaring that 80 per
cent of American workers have ad-
hered to the no-strike policy, said
labor nevertheless still is con-
fronted with continuous attacks
upon its basic freedoms"
Men OF small vision seem to lose
sight of the fact that more than 50
per cent of American workers have
adhered religiously and faithfully
to the no-strike policy. The
moment a small local strike affect
ing only handful of workers takes
place in their own community they
denounce labor as whole and cry
loudly for the enactment of drastic,
repressive legislation.
Men of shallow comprehension
demand the compulsory drafting of
all labor to work in private industry
because they are unable to solve
local and temporary manpower
shortage. The impulse to seek
shortcuts toward our objectives is
natural but dangerous"
He challenged ANY individual or
any Federal agency to show they
have done more than organized
labor itself since Pearl Harbor. The
American Federation of Labor has
reduced time lost due to strikes by
its members to the lowest figure in
the Federation's history"
At the same time, he said: Let
me reiterate as strongly as I know
how that in the crucial period ahead
Of us strikes must be avoided at any
cost"
Six Incumbents Reelected.
In referring to the postwar period,
Mr.. Green asserted that I'VE know
now that the only way to establish
sound and continuous prosperity In
our country is to produce more, not
less, and to create wider markets
for our production by more bounti-
full and effective distribution among
the great masses of consumers"
In the only contest for Office, dele
gates reelected six incumbent vice
presidents by overwhelming ma
jorities over Charles S. Hill, WASH
ington Negro, the seventh candidate.
Mr.. Hill received only 8612 votes,
as compared to 352 polled by Charles
B. McClosky, Washington, who got
the lowest number of votes received
by the reelected vice presidents.
The vote stood
E. E. Butler, Hagerstown, and Carl
G. Scholtz, Baltimore, each 371:
John Locher, Washington, 368i5 :
Paul E. England, Cumberland. $751;
and G. Kingston Howard, Baltimore,
365.
Robert J. Buxbaum, Baltimore
was reelected president; Frank J.
Coleman Washington, secretary:
Robert Lester. Washington, treas
urer, and Vincent ]. McHenry, Bal
timore, organizer Mr.. Coleman was
named delegate to the AFL conven-
ton in New Orleans in November.