The union times., 1945-11-10


 'closer relationship and under standing' with organized labor if Republican COngressmen ended what he termed ''an unhOly aIIi- ance with Southern reactiOnary Democratic Congressmen,'' Tim othy M. Collins, President of the Connecticut Federation of Labor wrote to Herbert Brownell, Chair man of the Republican National Committee in response to a letter in which the COP. leader asked for constructive criticism, sugges- tlOns or comments.
 Quoting President William Green of the American Federation of La Dor that nothing is better calculated to destroy the free enterprise system and drive the American people to leftist extremes than the callous dis regard shown by Congress toward human needs during reconversion. Collins listed the Federation's imme- dlate legislative program, as follows
 7-POINT PROGRAM
 l. The KilgOre Unemployment Compensation Act, providing for 20 weeks of compensation with weekly payments up to $25 a week to tide workers through the recon. version period.
 Z. The Full Employment bill. whereby the government would en. courage private industry to provide jobs for all and would assume re. sponsibility for the prevention of depressiOns.
 3. The 65 cents an hour Mini. mum Wage bill to eliminate sub. standard wages in industry.
 4. The Murray Wagner-Dingell bill to broaden the existing social security program and to provide for a national program of health insurance (nOt sOcialized medi. cine).
 5. The Wagner-Ellender Housing bill to stimulate the building O1 suitable homes for the American people and to provide employment in the important construction in. dustry.
 6. A permanent Fair Employ ment Practices Commission (pledg ed in the Republican Party plat. form of last year).
 7. Continuance and expansion of the u. s. Employment Service
 Brownell had written to the Con- necticut Federation of Labor head that in furthering the Republican Ma tlonal Committees efforts "to foS- ter and maintain a closer relationship and understanding with leaders of the American Labor Movement" he had appointed as his special assistant c. Don. Louden, former public rela- tions director and legislative cores pendent for the Ohio State Fedora tion of Labor. One of Louden's du- ties, BroWnell wrote, would be to pre- pare digest of editorial and news comments appearing in labor journals
 NON-PARTISAN POLICY
 Collins declared that the Federation under its non-partisan political policy has supported progressive candidates for Congress regardless of their party labels. He said the Federation would continue to study the voting records of Congressmen "and make recom- mendations to their constituents based upon the traditional American Federation of Labor policy of reward ing friends and punishing enemies, whenever they stand for reelection and it will apportion blame where ii belongs when measures in the interests of the people are stif1ed through parli- mentary maneuvers.
 Pointing to Senator Wayne L. Morse as the type of Republican Congressman labor approved of, Collins said, eff the Republican Party is interested in obtaining la. bor's grateful support, it will urge Republicans in Congress to end their combination with the anti labor Democratic Congressmen from the poll tax States and fol. low the example of such Republic. an Senators as Wayne L. Morse in uniting with other COngressmen regardless of political affiIiatiOn, to enact humane and progressive leg. isIatiOn."