Evening star., 1946-09-02
Labor Day Messages .
|0f Murray and Green
Denounce Congress

Denounce congress
Labor Day statements by CIO
President Philip Murray and AL
Leader William Green today de-
nounced the "reactionary" ma jority
|! OF Congress for action during the
past legislative session which they
regarded as hostile to the inter-
ests Of American labor.
Congress fell down on the lob +"
charged Mr.. Green, listing the
failure to broaden the social Sc
curity program, to inaugurate q
system Of national health insurance
or to enact a "long-range housing
program" as we'll as "a series of
hostile moves which would have
undermined the freedom of Ameri-
can workers and handcuffed the
trade union movement"
The C1O president was no less
bitter in his reference to the 1916
record of Congress.
Has Noted Derelictions.
Labor has noted the derelictions
OF Congress in failing to measure
up to It's responsibilities" he said,
"and the which it has ex-
tended proflteers at the expense
OF the common people"
Among these favors, Mr.. Murray
asserted, the outstanding was the
weakening of the Price Control Act.
The resulting imitation" he de-
clared. has cut equally into the
real wages of the American workers
and into the savings and pur-
chasing power Of all sections of
our people. 1t threatens still worse
disaster sto our National welfare" D."
The CIO, he added, also deplores
the failure of Congress to provide
"a real full employment program"
to set up permanent Fair En-
ployment Practice Committee, or
to outlaw the poll tax,
Mead Also Critical.
From member of Congress, Sen
ator Mead, Democrat. of New York
came the holiday statement that he
could not "be too proud of the con-
tributions of the National Legis-
lature in dealing with the postwar
period
Reconversion Director John r.
Steelman declared in a statement
that labor peace is vital during the
critical months ahead, while pro-
duction is catching up to demand"
He urged labor and management to
help maintain it,
We are threatened with at least
measure of imitation" DR.. Steel
man said, because Of insufficient
goods to buy.
Industrial production is at ar all
time high but it is still not nearly
high enough" he said.
Turning to the international scene
both Mr.. Green and Mr. Murray ex.
pressed labors desire for closer
friendship and cooperation among
all nations, urging that this country
continue to help the weaker nation.
/ to get back on their feet
Imperialism Opposed.
The CIO president said he felt
that labor, through the World Fed
Grafton of Trade Unions, must ex.
ercise its influence against aggres.
sive imperialism in foreign affairs
wherever 1t is found to be practicec
by any country
Both union leaders pointed to tht
strides each organization has taker
during the past year to secure an in
crease of membership.
Mr.. Murray told Of the CIO,
great organizing campaign to bring
the benefits OF unionism to unor-
ganized workers in the South and
other parts Of the country" and
promised intensified drives by the
CIO Political Action Committee 'tc
educate the public on the vital is
sues of the day and the voting rec.
prds of their representatives"
AFL Membership Mounts.
Boosting that AFL membership
has reached an all-time high o1
more than 100000, Mr.. Greer
warned, Our enemies are making {
last-ditch fight to halt the clock o.
progress and revive Fascism ir thil
country. They are backed by vas
wealth and abundant resources. Bu'
the truth will overcome them"
The second peacetime Labor DAY
since l94l finds nearly 1900 ,0Ot
women with jobs and only 500,0Ot
seeking work, it was estimated b,
Frieda s. Miller, director of tn,
Labor Departments Women's Blu.
reau. But many'displaced war work
ers find the bulk Of available open.
ings are in the "traditionally wage.
depressed woman-employing indus
tries" she noted.
She declared that assurance O.
equal pay-based on the job ant
not the sex of the worker-woult
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