Evening star., 1946-04-06

tteJ COHtHIlLLeeS. lntS Is LnS con-
eluding article OF a series
explaining the agreement.
".
If the question of whether the
Red Cross-labor agreement should
be perpetuated were left up to the
labor committees, there is not much
doubt how the American Fedora
ton of Labor and Congress of In
dustrial Organizations groups would
decide.
Both found the four-year-period
during which they handled Red
Cross campaigns within labor ranks
to be thoroughly satisfactory. BY
the agreement the AFL's Labor
League for Human Rights and the
CLOS Community Services Commit
tee did the planning and publicity
work and were reimbursed for out
of-pocket expenses by Red Cross.
Abraham Bluestein, head Of the
AFL labor committee, and Leo
Perlis, heading the CIO group, are
eager to renew the agreement be-
yond its designed wartime life ex-
pectancy. Not only has it solved
large item in the Embarrassing
work of the welfare committees,
but it has materially benefited
labor's standing in local chapters
where they now have true repre-
sentation.
War Fund Out of Business.
The National War Fund, the other
relief agency with which the labor
committees made an agreement in
1912, has gone out Of business. But
Community Chests and Councils,
Inc, which NWF absorbed, is alive
and aggressive.
isz Its national committee has recon-
mended continued cooperation OF
labor on local chest level. At this
time, labor groups are presenting
their proposals for cooperation at
regional meetings of CCC, and the
indication is that many chests will
work out financial arrangements
with the unions.
The Red Cross Central Committee
must weigh advantages of the agree
ment-continued excellent relations
with $4,000, 900 union contributors
against the opposition that has
welled up in some quarters inside
as well as outside the Red Cross.
Purpose Served.
Those who have followed the mat
ter closely believe the Central Com
mittee will rule the agreement was
an emergency measure which has
served its purpose. With leadership
from Basil O'Connor, national chair
man, there likely will be some con-
tinuing form of understanding with
the unions, however, and continued
opportunity for labor representation
in the Red Cross.
The Central Committee doubtless
will consider the fact that some large
contributors have opposed the agree
ment, but have continued to give
because humanitarianism came first
Then there is the fact reported by
Red Cross circles that many Central
committeeman went along with the
agreement for the sake of unity dur.
ing the war.
Proponents of the measure point
to financial figures as the final ir.
REPUTABLE argument for its success
BY union reckoning, the AFL anc
CIO contributed about $225 100000
during the war to both the Rec
Cross and the National War Fund
for which the labor relief committee.
were reimbursed about $4,000, 900 a,
actual expenses.
Report by Emerson.
4 Guy Emerson, the Wall Street
banker who did the spadework fol
the agreement, helped clarity his
concept of it in a report two years
ago to the late Norman H. Davis
then national Red Cross chairman
Mr.. Emerson made these points:
i l. This is not an agreement tt
buy" labor. 1t is a practical ar.
rangement for doing a complicated
and important money-raising job
We assume that the individuals who
make up the labor groups are a.
patriotic as any others and that they
want to raise the standard of giving
to public causes within their groups
i 2. No dollar has gone to an,
union" Any outlay we have made
has gone for salaries and expenses
duly audited, to individuals whit
have given the great bulk of theil
time to raising funds for the Rec
Cross and the National War Fund.
Not an Ideal Nor a Theory.
| 3. Why are these workers not di.
rectly on Red Cross payrolls? I,
they were on our payroll they woule
not be as effective in their contact.
with the diverse groups in organizee
labor. AS labor men, they are full,
accepted by labor. This is not ar
ideal or a theory. It is merely I
fact.
i 4. Why does not labor pay them:
j believe the Red Cross is bettel
served in having a friendly direc.
ton over those who are working fol
Red Cross. Labor representative,
have said that the fact this stat
was paid by the Red Cross and tn,
National War Fund is a protection
to the men against efforts to diver
!, any of their time to other activities
Leaders in business and industr,
who indorsed the program befor,
the current campaign included
Irving S. Olds, chairman OF tn,
Board of Directors of United State