Evening star., 1944-08-08
FbI and Grand Jury
| Gather Data for Transit
Inquiry Tomorrow
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8.-Phila-
delphia looked to FBI agents and a
Federal grand Jury today for possible
sensational disclosures In the six
day transit strike that developed
with suddenness and without appar-
ent organized leadership. inspiring
q unions charges of company coll
fusion" and sinister enemy activ-
ity."
I'VE are going after the big fish,"
q Federal spokesman said as the FBI
gathered data and the grond jury
prepared to convene tomorrow to
hear at least IS persons. including
strikers, Philadelphia Transporta-
ton Co. officials, officers of the CIO
Transport Workers Union and Gov
ernment war agency officials.
Il would think the inquiry viii
last at least 4 week, longer If neces-
sary," said Henry A. Schweinhaut, q
special assistant to Attorney General
Biddle, sent here to direct the probe.
CIO Says Men Pushed About.
'TIhe workers were pushed
out on checker board as pawns in
a sinister game" said the CIO
Transport Workers Union.
The strike, protest against the
upgrading of eight Negroes to driv-
ers' jobs under a Fair Employment
Practice Committee directive, began
last Tuesday morning and was
crushed completely early yesterday
after the Army had seized the lines
by order of President Roosevelt
Armed troops continued to ride
every bus. trolley, subway and sub
elevated train today.
The Army sought to determine
whether any Of the 18l employees
absent lacked valid excuses.
Any "die-hard" strikers faced dis
charge, Draft deferment cancela-
tions and ban on employment for
the duration"
A Federal spokesman said the
special investigating jury would
summon Frank L. McNamee, re-
gional director of the War Man
power Commission.
Mr.. McNamee estimated that f.
000, 900 man-hours were lost in de-
tense plants, the equivalent of 267
Flying Fortresses or five destroyers
Five Of the eight Negroes who
were scheduled to begin training as
operators when the work stoppage
began, reported to PTC instruction
depots yesterday but were told to
go home and call back tomorrow to
see whether you are to report for
work"
When they called today, they
were told not to report this morn
ing. but to call again tomorrow.
Later this morning they went to the
Fair Employment Practices Com
mittee to report on the situation to
G. James Fleming. regional director.
They don't need my encourage
ment,' Mr.. Fleming said "All are
determined to go on with their
training They are here merely to
keep us informed.
Training to Continue.
"All indications are that the Gov
ernment is going to take up the
training again promptly, especially
since the city is 27.0O0 workers short
for all kinds Of work.
"As trainees, they are getting SO
cents an hour In their former
status with the PTC they made con-
siderably more. so every day of delay
means a financial loss to them.
However, we are not pressing.
Some as operators will be earn
ing less than they earned on their
former jobs. They simply want to
change to more pleasant type OF
work"
Meanwhile, the four strike leaders.
dismissed when they appeared for
work yesterday, are free on $500
bonds pending hearing August IA
on charges of violating the Smith
Connally Act.
The four, who pleaded innocent,
are: James H. McMenamin, chair
man of the Strike Committee: Vice
Chairman William C. Dixey, Frank
P. Carney, four times president of
the company union displaced as
bargaining agent by the TWU, and
Frank Thompson, frequent spokes-
man for Mr. McMenamin.
Walkout Defended.
Mr.. McMenamin said:
i have no regrets for my actions
during the last week.
Most PIC men feel very sour
because they feel they haven't got
justice. The men felt it was a pro-
test, not a strike. They hoped some
agency would give them a fair and
just hearing, but none was offered.
There was no cooperation.
Il feel personally there is no guilt
involved. I was no more a leader
than any of the 5000 employees. I
only acted as a spokesman because
they asked me to-"
Mr.. Dixey was reclassified Ia by
his draft board last night. PIC had
notified the board that he no longer
was entitled to occupational defer
ment.
Similar notification went out to
Mr.. Thompson's board. Mr.. McMena-
min and Mr.. Carney are past draft
age.
Private Survey Planned.
The Bureau Of Municipal Research,
privately endowed agency, an
nounced its intention of making "a
survey of the events leading up to
the strike"
A strikers statement last week
had said the Negro upgrading en-
dangered the jobs of returning war
veterans in PIC employe. The bu-
reau. commenting, said:
That Negroes or any others up
graded in their employment could
take away the jobs of returning war
veterans is entirely contrary to fact.
THE Selective Service and Train.
Ing Act of 1910. as since extended,
fully protects former servicemens
jobs
Brother Of District Resident