Evening star., 1946-01-24
Truman Views
Steel Strike as
Test Of Power
Says Both Industry
And Labor Possess
Too Much Strenoth
FA1RLESS URGES national wage
policy for solving strikes.
Page A-20
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

President Truman today de-
scribed the Nationwide steel
strike as a tryout of power be-
tween management and labor,
and said he thought there was
too much power in the hands of
both industry and labor gen.
orally.
The President told his news con-
ference it was necessary for the
Government to assert itself. to as
sert the power of the people. He
DID not, however, indicate any plans
the Government may have for end
Ing the four-day steel strike.
Mr.. Truman indicated rejection OF
proposal for an all-industry wage
conference as suggested by Benja-
min F. Fairless, president of the
United States Steel Corp.
Meat Plans Proceeding.
Secretary of Agriculture Ander.
son, meanwhile, went ahead with
plans to take over the strike-bound
meat-packing plants Saturday. He
assured the Nations housewives that
Federal seizure of the industry to
end the strike will not mean an in
crease in ceiling prices of meat
products.
Mr.. Truman said at his conference
that the meat workers would return
at their old wages when the Gov
ernment SelzeS the industry, but
whether any of the 263,00O strikers
would work for the Government still
was up in the air.
The AFL meat cutters and butch.
ers' union telegraphed all its locals
today, within an hour after the
Presidents statement, to stand by
for instructions from our general
Office" Previously the union had
given assurance that its members
would return for the Government.
as loyal Americans would return
Leaders of the $4,000 striking CIO
meat workers union have called a
strategy meeting for tomorrow to
decide whether to return to work,
The AFL telegram to its locals.
signed by Earl Emerson, union
president, and other international
officers, told them mot to be misled"
by reports of "the action of the
amalgamated regarding returning
to work"
Told to Stand BY.
1t added, Our organization has
the pledge of high Government Of
nciais that the Government will put
INTO effect any wage increase de-
termlned by the meat fact-fndinc
commission retroactive from the
GATE OF Government seizure. Up to
the present time we have not re-
celVed the official seizure order:
therefore, stand by for further In
structions."
Mr.. Truman said he did not think
1t practical to seize the steel indus
try at this time, but he indicated
his view might change if the strike
is prolonged.
Questioned about the pronosal of
Mr.. Fairless that he cali a confer
ence OF executives of all strike
pound industries to consider what
KIND OF a wage increase the economy
OF this country can endure" the
PRESIDENT pointed out he had held
meetings with executives involved
IN strikes. He said he probably
would have others.
Mr.. truman added, however. that
the pest thing for the country MIR.
Falriess could do would be to send
IN acceptance of the White House
proposal that steel wage differences
De settled with wage increase of
lo!s cents an hour. Mr.. Fairless has
rejected the proposition although
the CIO United Steel Workers
agreed to it.
While the President in effect
turned thumbs down on the Fairless
suggestion, it was learned from other
ofhclals that he may call a media
tlon conference of top steel industry
heads IN new effort to end the
strike. He was not questioned about
this possibility at his news confer
ence.
The mediation conference was in
olcated as one Of the steps the
PRESIDENT is likely to take before
ordering seizure. of the giant indus
try. Officials said invitations would
be extended to the heads of all the
big steel companies rather than
United States Steel alone. They
said he would make certain the
executives had authority to COM
init the industry on any agreement
that might be made.
Mr.. Truman's assertion that both