Evening star., 1947-02-08
House Inquiry
On Coercion by
Unions Opened
Philadelphia Police
And FBI Asked to
Protect Witnesses
investigation

+ Congressional investigation
into complaints of union rack
eteering was in the making to-
day as an offshoot of the Hear-
ingS on new labor laws.
Chairman Hartley of the House
Labor Committee revealed plans to
ask the House for $4,000 to broaden
its present inquiry. He made the
announcement after his committee
heard eight witnesses representing
Philadelphia fruit and produce deal
ers charge that officials of Local 929,
American Federation of Labor
Teamsters' Union, had "coerced" and
intimidated" them.
Mr. Hartley also disclosed he will
ask the FBI and the Philadelphia
director of public safety to give the
witnesses complete protection" be-
cause, he said, they are seriously
afraid Of physical violence"
Senate Hearing Recesses.
Meanwhile, the Senate Labor
Committee is in recess until Tues
day after hearing former Gov. Har-
old E. Stassen of Minnesota cau-
ton Congress against going too far
in restricting labor's present bar
gaining rights.
The Minnesotan, who is an
avowed Republican candidate for
President, treated a crowded COM
mittee room to a lively debate with
two prominent Republican Senators
Taft of Ohio and Ball of his own
State. Senator Taft also is in the
1948 presidential picture.
Adding a touch of drama to the
discussion was the fact that Mr..
Stassen sent Senator Ball to the
Senate by appointment in 1910,
after which he was elected in his
own right. They disagreed yester-
day over Senator Balls bill to out
law the closed shop, but when the
hearing was over they shook hands
to show it was a friendly difference
of viewpoint.
Lewis G. Hines, legislative repre-
sentative of the AFL, told reporters
during the House hearing the pro-
duce dealers were trying to put
over a smear against the union"
Union to Be Heard.
Mr.. Hines also addressed the COM
mittee, asking an equal opportunity
for the union to be heard next week.
The committee decided to hear the
union representatives under oath
probably Tuesday afternoon.
AL day Monday, and Tuesday
morning, the committee will hear
testimony on both sides of the Phila-
delphia Record case. Representa-
tiyes Of the CIO American Newspa-
per Guild will appear Monday, and
J. David Stern, who sold the Record
after a guild strike, will appear
Tuesday morning.
Earl Jay Gratz, former Phila-
delphia assistant district attorney,
told the committee that one phase
of the produce dispute arose over
union attempts to force 200 girl
clerks to join Local 929.
He said the girls were unwilling to
join and the employers refused to
make them do so because it would
violate State and Federal labor laws.
Sought New Contract.
Mr.. Gratz said the union subse-
quently sought a new contract
which, among other things, would
require:
l. An employer get union permis-
sion to enter his place of business
on a Saturday. Permission would
have to be asked in writing 10 days
in advance.
2. A two-man partnership engag-
ing no salesmen would have at
least one of the partners become a
union member. This, Mr.. Gratz said,
might compel an employer to picket
his own place of business.
Jack Klein, one of the merchant
witnesses, testified that he had been
driven almost to suicide in 1945 over
difficulties with Local 929.
Abe Goldberg, secretary-treasurer
of Local 929, who was mentioned
several times in the testimony, told
reporters after the hearing that the
charges were zone of the greatest
smears" he had ever heard. i