Evening star., 1947-07-17
Truman May Fill
Three Top Posts
In NLRB Today
Prepares Statement
Naming Two to Board.
And General Counsel
By james Y. Newton

PfeSldent truman LOQay pre-
pared announcement of appoint
ments to three important posts
on the new National Labor Rela-
tions Board and it was expected
the lineup would be completed
in time for release at this after
noon White House news confer
ence.
Prominent in late-hour specula-
ton for the jobs were Abe Murdock,
former Democratic Senator from
Utah: Robert R. Dunham, attorney
and National Labor Relations Board
trial examiner; James P. Holmes,
attached to the United States Con-
ciliation Service Office in Chicago;
Aaron Horvltz, New York attorney,
who is widely known as an arbi-
traitor of labor disputes, and Cyrus
S. Ching, director of labor relations
of the United States Rubber Co.
General Counsel to Be Picked.
Two appointments will be made
to the board itself and the third will
be to the all-important post OF
NLRB general counsel. The Taft
Hartley Act expanded membership
of the board to five members from
the present three and created the
autonomous position of general
counsel. The latter will have the
task of investigating and prosecut-
ing all complaints filed by employers
and unions and will direct NLRB
field offices.
Mr.. Truman, as was generally ex-
pected, will retain all three present
members of the NLRB.
The White House also has to select
a director of the United States Con-
ciliation and Mediation Service,
which, under the Taft-Hartley Act
is taken away from the Labor De-
partment and set up as an inde-
pendent agency That appointment,
it was understood, however, has not
been nailed down.
Ching Is Mentioned.
Mr. Truman, it is said, would like
to have Mr.. Ching, who was an in
dustry member of the War Labor
Board, as director of conciiiation
He also is mentioned as a possibility
for membership on the NLRB.
In connection with the Concilia-
ton and Mediation Service, it was
understood the White House has
assured the House Appropriations
Committee that q prominent citi-
zen" will be selected as director
Mr.. Truman was said to be deter
mined to. fill the post with an in
dustry rather than a labor man.
It he cannot get Mr.. Ching. then
someone else from the management
side will be named.
On the basis Of that assurance,
the Appropriations Committee has
agreed to 60 ahead with consider
alton of an appointment to finance
the operations of the independent
agency.
Denham Has $3.50 Chance.
Mr.. Denham. who lives in Chevy
Chase, Md, was given "a $3.50
chance" of getting the job of gen.
eral counsel, job which in many
ways will be the most important
one in labor relations in the coun-
try. He is president of the Trial
Examiners Association a group
comprised of examiners from vari-
Gus Federal agencies.
Former Senator Murdock was de-
feated for reelection last fall by
Senator Watkins Before his elec-
tion to the Senate, he served four
terms in the House.
Among those who had been men
toned for NLRB posts, it was said
that former Senator Robert M. La
Toilette has not shown interest in
one Of the jobs, and H. Willard
WirtZ, former chairman of the Wage
Sterilization Board, had rejected
appointment. Mr.. Wirtz now is d
professor Of law at Northwestern