Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-13
By Frank r. Kent

n does seem that since the in
auguration three months ago Of the
calculated effort to force submits
sion Of both industry and Govern
nent to its demands, the character
Of the CIO arguments, the absurdity
Of its accusations and the general
quality of its propaganda would
make 1t impossible for reasonably
sensible persons to accept its claims
or support its position.
True, the CLIO has great publicity
advantages over the other side, but
the stun 1t has been putting out re-
Gently is so largely phony and un-
founded that, however palatable 1t
may be to the gullihle masses, it is
difficult to understand how it can
fail to revolt any fairly informed
person. The truth Is that in its con-
troversy with the General Motors
and the United States Steel, the
CLIO has utilized its superior propa-
ganda position to consistently dis
tort the facts and misrepresent its
opponents.
Distortion Of Facts Charged.
Normally, that would seem a
serious charge against any organi-
zation. It is not a serious charge
against the CIO because there isn't
even pretense of being accurate
or fair about its propaganda or
about its propagandists. They are,
unconcealedly determined to pre-
sent the best case for themselves
and the worst for industry with
which they. possibly can get by
regardless Of the facts.
With an easier and less costly
access to the channels of conamuni-
cation. 1t Is their shameless practice
not only to denounce as false every
thing the other side puts out but to
repeat their own false statements
after they have been disproved.
Qnincumbered by ethics or stand
ards, the CLIO propagandists regard
that as a perfectly sound policy and
are rather contemptuous at the
failure Of industry to operate along
the same lines.
Examples Are Plentiful
Examples OF CLIO distortion are
plentiful. In the General Motors
strikes, the basic charge was that
there is an organized plot" upon
the part Of the automobile industry
To- destroy organized labor" Over
and over this was repeated. And
then Ford and Chrysler signed up
and settled with the union, leaving
General Motors to fight alone.
This seemed the complete answer
to the plot" charge, but it has not
prevented 1t from being repeated and
repeated again and again. A second
example Is the charge that United
States Steel would receive under
the existing tax law huge refund
as result of the shutdown.
United States Steel promptly an
swered that 1t would receive no
refund at all, quoting the law and
citing figures. Completely ignoring
the figures and the reply, the CIO
merely repeats the charge.
CIO Alters Attitude.
Another striking example is the
CLIO attitude toward the President.
When Mr.. Truman first made his
fact-finding proposal, Philip Muir
ray and his publicity machine
denounced 1t as a vicious betrayal
Of labor" But when MIR. Truman's
Fact Finding Board recommended
an a Is per cent increase and Mr..
Truman approved, Mr.. Murray and
his aides eagerly lined up behind the
President and have been berating
the company for "'defying the Gov
eminent"
II Mr.. Truman had not created
his Fact-Fnding Board and Endorsed
the Is per cent increase (Which is
more than they expected to get when
they started their strike) It is con-
coded the union would have no
chance at all Of getting any large in
crease either in this or the steel
strike.
Yet few days ago, Mr.. 1nomas
OF the CIO Automobile Workers
Union went before a Senate COM
mittee, denounced members of Con-
gress as "old fuddy duddies" and
branded Mr.. Truman, who saved
his union from defeat, as weak"
This is a sample of union gratitude
which politicians of both parties
might well take to heart.
Leaders Ignore Charges.
Also, though the language of its
contracts with the General Motors
and United States Steel do not per-
nit of even reasonable doubt that
both strikes violate the existing con-
tracts, the CLIO leaders blithely ig-
more the charge and continue to
assert that the companies, acting
In bad faith, are out to destroy
organized labor"
Actually, there is not on record
any campaign publicity of such con-
sistent disregard for the truth and
such wholehearted misrepresenta-
ton Of the situation. The appeal is
entirely to the emotions, through
sensational allegations which are
continued with undated enthusiasm
long after they have been refuted.
Through the Intervention on their
behalf of President Truman (whose
help they accept, but whom they
still ungratefully berate) the CLIO
has averted defeat. The ultimate
outcome, of course, will be a gain
IN wages for the workers, increased
prices for the companies, with the
public paying the. bill and imitation
brought q little closer. But the
methods and manners of the CLIO
leadership, as revealed in these
strikes, can hardly fail to damage