Evening star., 1945-12-05

report WAS GIic ICSulG VI d otuuy 1C-
quested by Mr.. Murray.
House Approved Proposal.
Despite Mr.. Murray's blast, how
ever, and the opposition of other
labor leaders, Acting Chairman
Ramspeck of the House Labor Com
mittee told reporter he believes
the House will approve Mr.. Tru-
mans proposal.
The Georgian, who will quit his
House seat January l to accept a
job in private industry, said he
thought the President should be
given what he asked for. and let
him try it OUT
Taking note of Mr. Murray's as
sertion last night that Mr.. Tru-
mans plan "can be but the first
step for ever more savage repres-
sion" and that the CIO would
mobilize "its entire membership and
the American people to defeat this
specific measure and all similar at
tempts directed against labor" Mr..
Ramspeck commented:
He'll find the American people
don't agree with him on that. The
plan has worked for a good many
years on the railroads, and they
seem to like it,"
Mr.. Truman's proposal was pat
termed after procedure set up for
handling railroad labor disputes.
In his speech last night Mr.. Muir
ray, who was one of Mr.. Truman's
strongest hackers in the 1914 po-
litical campaign, accused the ad-
ministration of "abject cowardice." :"
Answering the Presidents pleas
that workers end strikes and re-
frain from calling further strikes,
he declared:
Our objective is to restore the
huge cut in the national pay en-
velope. Unless We do, clearly Amer
lea faces bad times. If the workers
do not have the purchasing power
to buy the goods, the wheels of in
dustry cannot keep turning"
Mr.. Murray asserted large COM
panies citing the United States
Steel Corp and General Motors
Corp.-had fatty refused pay in
creases and had refused Govern
ment requests to resume negotia-
tions with the unions.
Turn to Right to Strike.
Confronted with this situation
American labor, in self-protection
and in the interest of the entire Ma
ton, have turned to their right to
strike" Mr.. Murray said, and con-
tinued: ~
This is what the workers of Cen
eral Motors were compelled to do.
''This is why over half a million
steelworkers have voted five to one
authorizing steel strike.
This is why electrical manufac-
turing workers, aluminium, packing
house and rubber workers and others
are also voting overwhelmingly in
favor of strikes"
Earlier in the day, Mr.. Murray
wired the White House that the
Truman proposals will be brought
to the attention of the (steel work
ers) Wage Policy Committee Tues
day, December H." This will be
during a three-day session of the
committee to consider further ac-
ton on the recent steel workers
NLRB ballot, in which the union
approved, by 5-to-1 vote, calling a
strike to back up a $2-a-day wage
demand.
Mr.. Murray, in his radio address,
quoted the Office of War Mobilization
as having reported that American
industry can raise wages and sal
aries "a per cent and still earn twice
as much take-home profits as 1t did
before the war"
Human Rights Ignored, He Says.
Faced with these economic con-
ditions, what has the Federal ad-
ministration done?" Mr.. Murray
asked. at has completely ignored
human rights. But American in
dustry has been appeased with evel
greater opportunities for increased
profits at the expense of the Amer.
lean people"
Industry has refused to engage
In collective bargaining Mr.. Muir.
ray asserted. Industry has refused
to accept voluntary arbitration ii
the automobile dispute. Industry ha.
refused to meet WITH the union ir
the steel industry though specifcal-
ly requested by the Federal Gov.
eminent.
"To all this arrogance the Fed
(