Evening star., 1945-09-17
President Summons
SchweIIenbach for
Conference on Strikes
Also Reviews Situation
With Congress Leaders
On Return to CopitoI

FTcSlQelt Ii uIudH, DdCk On tIl6
job after a weekend trip to his
Missouri home, summoned Sec
retary of Labor Schwellenbach
to luncheon conference at the
White House today to discuss
mounting labor problems that
pose the most serious domestic
issue of his administration.
Before the luncheon. Mr.. Truman
also discussed the labor situation
with Senate Majority Leader Bark
ley, Senate President Mcclellan,
Speaker Rayburn and House Major
ity Leader Mccormack. They re-
ported the problem was discussed
only in general way.
The President had not had an op-
portunity to familiarize himself with
details of the disturbances and con-
sequently was not expected to 60
deeply into the labor situation to-
day. But there was a feeling in
some quarters that he would be
forced to accelerate his planned
Government reorganization to pro-
vide machinery for maintaining
peace along the industrial front.
100000 Workers Idle.
With about 10000 workers idle,
because of disputes, and other
strikes threatened which would
throw another 325, 900 out of work,
the Government is less prepared to
meet labor crisis than at any
time in several years, in the opinion
of top officials.
Secretary Schwellenbach submit
ted plan on August 10 for reor-
ganizing the Labor Department and
strengthening the conciliation serv-
ice. but the President has not yet
acted on it.
Under the Schwellenbach plan
in addition to taking over the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board for
bookkeeping purposes, the Labor
Department would administer the
United States Employment Service
and unemployment compensation
This last proposal has
met with considerable opposition on
Capitol Hill.
The President and Mr.. Schwellen-
bach also presumably discussed the
possibility of fastening the pro-
jected labor-management confer
ence in view of the strikes in such
vital reconversion areas as Detroit.
The conference now Is planned to
begin October 20 or November S.
No Agency Set to Act.
The chief concern Of Government
officials is over the lack of any
agency to take the place of the War
Labor Board, which the President
has ordered liquidated. The WLB
is accepting no new cases unless
the disputing parties agree before
hand to be bound by it's decision.
Another matter before the Presi-
dent today was the prospective
change in the War Department,
where rumor has had both Secre-
tary Stimson and Gen. George C.
Marshall, Chief of Staff, retiring.
The President is expected to have
something to say on this subject
at news conference at 4 pm. to-
morrow.
Mother Sees Him OF.
The President landed at National
Airport at 7:55 O'Clock last night
after a flight of slightly more than
five hours from Grandview Airport,
which is not far from the Truman
farm, where the Presidents 92-year-
old mother, Mrs. Martha Truman,
makes her home. Mrs. Truman ac-
companied her son to the airport
yesterday, and as she kissed him
good-by, told him to BE good and
be game.
She told newsmen that if she lived
to be hundred she might come to
Washington again. repeating the
trip Of last spring.
The Presidents wife, who went to
Independence with him, remained
at home with their daughter, Mar
garet, for short stay.
A large crowd greeted the Presi-
dent when his plane stopped at Pa
ducah, where he was joined by both
Senator Barkley and Representative
Gregory. Democrat. Of Kentucky.