Evening star., 1947-03-12
House 6eis Protests
From Unions on Plan
To Ban Communists
by The Assoeioted Pres,


Representative Gwinn, Repub-
lican. Of New York said today that
some unions are protesting as 'trea-
sonous and pro-Fascist" and "a
body blow at civil rights" the pro-
posal by Secretary of Labor Schwel-
lenbach to outlaw the Communist
Party in America.
Mr.. Gwinn told the House Labor
Committee there was an immediate
protest and reaction in some
kilograms I have just received" to
the suggestion that the Communist
Party be banned from any public
activity.
Mr.. Schwellenbach's proposal be-
fore the committee yesterday was
followed promptly by a promise
from Chairman Hartley to intro
due a bill to ban the party. This
in turn drew hearty second from
Representative Kersten, Republican,
OF Wisconsin.
Herzog Testifies Again.
After Paul M. Herzog, National
Labor Relations Board chairman,
had testified again regarding pro-
posed changes in labor laws, Mr.
Gwinn read these sample kilograms
to the committee:
I'm the name of Local 848, Broth
erhood of Painters, AFL, represent
ing 1900 members, I protest the
treasonous and pro-Fascist proposal
to outlaw the Communist Party.
True Americans will not stand for
this. Labor will resist this effort to
undermine our democracy. ."
1t was signed by Morris Davis, sec
retary of the local
From Nicholas Carnes, president
of Local 1850 of the ~CIO Depart
ment Store Employees Union:
I'VE urge you to withhold any
action in line with the testimony of
Secretary Schwellenbach before
your committee. We regard any
.call for outlawing the Communist
Party as body blow at the civil
IlSQJS Oh all CTaQe unions.
Rucker Suggests Four Changes.
"And so it goes" Mr.. Gwinn said.
Numerous witnesses have told the
committee that Communist inf1u-
ences exist in the labor movement.
The committee heard Allen W.
Rucker, president of the Tool Own
ers' Union. Inc, Lexington, Mass,
recommend four changes in the
Wagner Act. This law guarantees
labor the right to bargain collect
lively.
Mr.. Rucker advocated elimination
of the closed shop, which requires
bosses to hire only union members:
equality OF employers and unions
under the law; no strike vote until
free collective bargaining has failed
utterly; no strike unless a majority
of all employees in plant vote for it
by secret ballot.
Party Seen Going Underground.
A member of the House Commit
that a law such as that urged
by Secretary Schwellenbach might
upset delicate negotiations with
IOuSSld dIlu COQlO TcSulC Only III
driving the party underground in
stead of keeping it partly in the
open where it can be watched more
carefully.
Mr.. Schwellenbach said he had
reason to hate Communists, declar-
ing that Communists had defeated
him when he ran for Governor in
his home State of Washington. and
that they tried unsuccessfully to
beat him for the Senate.
In New York City, Eugene Dennis,
general secretary of the Communist |
Party in the United States, said that |
Mr.. Schwellenbach in advocating
that the party be outlawed openly
joined forces with the ultra -reac-
tionary COP and it's Parnell- |
Thomas Rankin Un-American Com
mittee.''
He said that "the American peo-
Pile, the followers of the late Pres
ident Roosevelt. and especially the
labor movement. were shocked" at
Mr.. Schwellenbach's recommenda-
tionS.