Evening star., 1945-12-17

by the Roosevelt '.<' ~ zss' "a
admirers. Sec Frank R. Kent.
ond, he was supported by inf1uen-
tial Democratic political leaders
Third. he was strongly desired by
the CIO and AFL union bosses, who
have an arrangement with the Rec
Gross by which the unions are "re.
imbursed" for the expenses of theil
cooperation.
Considering the further fact that
Mr.. Truman was naturally reluctant
to widen the existing breach be-
tween himself and the union bosses
1t is easy to understand that, though
perturbed by the widespread re.
sentiment over the labor agreement
and by the opposition to Mr.. O'Con.
nor within the Red Cross, he was
unable to stand up under the pres
sure-particularly that of the CIO
with which National Democratic
Chairman Hannegan is playing po.
litlcal ball and which seems especial
ly anxious to continue the "reim-
burslng" arrangement, protested by
Red Cross workers and contributors
all over the country as contrary tc
basic Red Cross principles and q
violation of its voluntary spirit.
Future Agreement In Air.
This is the first time in Red Cross
history either labor or party politi-
clans have ever been interested in
the appointment of a Red Cross
chairman. Except for the first
O'Connor appointment, it is the
first time a President has named
the Red Gross head without the ap-
proval of the leading Red Cross Off
cials. It is, so far as known, the
first time leading Red Cross off,
cials have asked that an appoint
ment not be made. So far as known
it is the first time there has ever
been any opposition to the Presi-
dents selection. In this case there
was lot.
Opposition to Mr.. O'Connor was
not because of the labor arrange
ment, which, though he defended
he did not originate. The opposition
was personal. This personal distaste
combined, however, with the feeling
over the union agreement to make
a formidable though unorganizeo
opposition. A lot of men would not
have wanted the job under these
conditions. 1t is not surprising II
should be reported that Mr.. OCon-
nor intends to resign after a few
months.
AS for the future of the labor
agreement, that is up in the air
At the session of the Board oi
Incorporators the agreement wa!
denounced by John l.. Lewis ano
others, 1t was pointed out that
neither the United Mine Workers
nor the Railroad Brotherhoods had
ever received a cent for expenses
though they had regularly cooper
ated with the Red Cross and that
until. lately they knew nothing
about the arrangement. A resolu-
ton offered by George L. Harrison
president of the New York Life
Insurance Co., was adopted asking
the Central Committee to "re-ex.
anime" the action taken on the
labor agreement at the earliest pos.
sible moment.
In Effect Next Campaign.
At its meeting that afternoon
there was a heated debate in the
committee. In the end, resolution
was passed, the gist of which was
contained in this paragraph: "The
present understanding runs until
May, 1916, and will, of course
govern throughout the Forthcoming
campaign for funds for $780,
000,000) next March. In view OF
that fact the Central Committee
will consider its future course to-
gether with representatives OF
these organizations in the light OF
conditions as they exist at that
time"
There were a number of votes
against this resolution, but the ad-
ministration members were all for
it. Clearly, it leaves the real issue
unsettled. 1t says, in effect, that as
the contract between the Red Cross
and the unions does not expire until
next May, the Red Cross is COM
PEELED to operate under that con-
tract until that time. 1t does not
reaffirm the agreement. On the
contrary, it declares, in effect, that
at the next annual meeting it will
decide whether to renew a contract
that has deeply offended thousands
of Red Cross workers and brought
a record-breaking protest to head
quarters.
In his personal statement on the
agreement. Mr.. O'Connor made no
new points. Like its other defend
ers. he ignored the fiat statement
in the Emerson report of 1943 that
after the National War Fund had
made its agreement the Red Cross
had no alternative save to go along.
Avoided Side Issues.
He avoided, as they all do, the
question of the effect on Red Cross
morale of "reimbursing" any group
for cooperation. Nor did he men,
tion the deluge of protesting letters
that have poured in on him in the
last two months, including resolu-
tions from some of the largest
chapters in the country. Instead,
like the others, he tried to justify
the agreement on the ground of
expediency and asserted that it had
worked we'll"
But 1t does not work well. Even
If 1t has been financially successful
(and there is plenty Of room to
uoubt that it has not worked well.
Nothing works well that disrupts
an organization as deeply as this
agreement has disrupted this Or
ganization.
The more 1t Is studied, the more
it seems q device to enable the
unions to regiment and direct the
charitable gifts Of their own MEM
bers, isolating them from the ap-
peals of outside agencies. Mr..
O'Connor Is to be congratulated
that he did not repeat the dishonest
statement so often made that, be-
cause the reimbursing payments
RraknS Rn1;naf