Evening star., 1947-08-10

all set to return to Florida for a
quiet life of raising cattle on some
land Ne had purchased when a
friend at the NLRB called him and
pleaded with him to hear case for
the board as trial examiner.
1--WE been doing it ever since" he
says.
As trial examiner he has been
receiving $500 a year. His new
job pays $4,000.
Mr.. Denham is a personable man
with a voice that is inclined to be
on the loud side. He is a hard
worker, even carrying that trait to
his Chevy Chase (Md) home where
he puts in much time in his flower
garden after getting in from the
office. Another hobby is coin col
lecting
His habit Of wearing one of his
own flowers in his coat lapel each
day brought forth a crack after his
appointment from James j, Rey-
nolds, holdover member of NLRB,
"Denham will be wearing a cauli-
flower instead of that rose after he
has been around here for a while"
he said.
Upheld by Courts
As a trial examiner, Mr.. Denham
has been identified with the con-
servative element OF the NLRB. His
appointment was not popular with
labor, but well received by manage
ment.
He is firm believer in the Taft
Hartley law and, in a way, helped
write it. At the suggestion of Sen
ator Donnell, Republican, of Mis-
souri,, he prepared list of suggested
changes in the Wagner Act.
A number of Mr.. Denham's de-
c1sions have contributed to the
conservative trend of the NLRB in
recent years. While the NLRB has
overruled him, Mr.. Denham in vir-
tually all instances has been upheld
by the courts.
He doesn't like the word Gear"
which somewhat naturally has been
given to his new labor job. He
quickly says that neither labor nor
management needs a car" He
sums up his views in this way:
I'm the old days when was called
upon to help out a firm that was
sick financially would suggest cut
ting down the front Office salaries
and expenses and giving the boys
out in the work pen a raise. You
must keep them happy"
He plans to move slowly in his
new job when Taft-Hartley Act
changes affecting NLRB become ef-
fective August 22 He believes the
new law will aid both the employer
and employe and that its effects
on labor-management relations have
been greatly exaggerated. Mr.. Den
ham does admit there likely will be
"a lot of litigation as a result of
the law" and until court interpreta-
tions are made I'VE will have to
play by ear"
On Wage Board
Mr.. Denham is a Republican and
50 is Mr.. Gray, the third NLRB
appointee.
Mr.. Gray was with the Houdaille-
Hesey Corp. In Buffalo, first as
head Of personnel and then as di-
rector of labor relations for nearly
score of years. The firm operated
the huge Buffalo Arms Co. in the
war and he directed the company's
relations with employees there. He
said there has never been a strike
or lockout during all of the time he
served both outfits.
Also during the war he saw part
time service with the New York
Regional War Labor Board. Last
fall he was named an industry men,
Der of the National Wage Stabiliza-
ton Board and served until the
board was dissolved March /.
Labor troubles develop" says Mr..
Gray. because an employer too
often knows too little about his peo-
pie and his people know too little
about him. I believe in fair recog-
milton of the rights of workers just
as I do of management. have
never believed the whole Wagner
Act was wrong. A great deal of it
was right, although it tended to
give too much power to one side
labor's. I do not quarrel with a
mans right to strike, but 1t must
be tempered with the economic ef-
feet the action will have"
Mr.. Gray has been one Of Buff
falo's leading civic figures for years.
He is. q calm. ild-mannered man
Of 80 with fortnight way of talk
ing which impressed even the Sen
atofs.