Evening star., 1946-04-03

raising the money required without
any compensation whatever, as de
thousands in industry, in the pro.
fessions and all other walks of life
which 60 to make up the American
Red Cross"
Mr.. O'Connor pointed out that all
Red Cross chapters do not segregate
labor contributions from any others
But from reports submitted by q
number Of chapters it was estimated
the AFL and CIO contributed be-
tween $50, 900 and $35 100000 tc
the 1945 campaign.
Less Than l Per Cent.
The two labor committees were
reimbursed $238,308 by American
Red Cross for their actual expenses
during that campaign" Mr.. O'Con.
nor noted. This sum Is less than ]
per cent of the amount credited tc
the labor committees.
One clause of the labor agree
ment reads:
"The Red Cross and the War
Department Audit of the Red
Cross shall have the right to ex-
anime the books and accounts of
the labor organizations with refer
ence to the reimbursements made
by the Red Cross incident to the
work of the labor war relief COM
mittees."
These books and accounts appear
to be as thoroughly audited as any
used anywhere today. In addition
to monthly audits by the Red Cross
and War Department there are
those conducted by the National
War Fund and labor committees
five audits in all.
$500 a Year Average Pay.
Headquarters of both labor COM
mittees are in New York. Abraham
Bluestein directs the AFL group
and Leo Perlis the CIO organiza-
ton. Average salary of the staf1
workers is $4,000 year.
The AFL's Labor League FOL
Human Rights sprang from its wal
relief committee known as United
Nations Relief. It was organized
in 1888 with the purpose Of fight
ing totalitarianism and rescuing the
victims of Fascism." On its labor
committee stan are % persons in
national headquarters and 80 in
is regional offices.
The CLOS National War Relief
Committee was founded at the
CLOS 194l convention on the basis
Of a resolution offered by Irving
Abramson, now chairman of the
committee. The IL committee men,
bers serve without pay. The work
ing staff is made up Of go persons
most Of them assigned to the 2;
field Offices.
Objectives Announced.
In the last agreement covering
the year ending April 80. these OBJ
jectives were announced:
THE Nationad War Fund, the
American Red Cross and the two
labor war relief committees have
one common objective - helping
mobilize maximum public support
for the philanthropic needs on the
war front and home front, through
representative campaigns in loca.
communities.
"The national Offices and field
representatives OF the two labor
war relief committees will Coop
crate with the National War Fund
its State and local constituent or
CARNATIONS and the American Red
Cross, by promoting maximum par
ticipation of union members In
these campaigns"
In recent statement designed to
nail as rumor any "kickback" to
the unions, Chairman OConnor
itemized the Red Cross budget for
reimbursing labor committees. Ex-
penses from September, 1912, to
April, 1945, included:
Salaries, $500, ,508.04; Office rental
S Supplies, stationery, postage, COM
Eaunication. office equipment and
services. 08,433.20; travel and
maintenance for field visits, STA
e4e.28; posters, pamphlets, publica-
tions and other campaign supplies
SAQ d0Q QE Total eSo0 oon 40