Evening star., 1947-02-10


Guild tried to settle the strike by
compromise, and that it made nc
greater demands on the Stern pub
lications than on papers in various
other cities, Mr. Eubanks asserted
in his statement to the fcommittee,
II submit that the best evidence
at hand shows Mr.. Stern and his
associates were motivated only by a
desire for financial gain when they
suspended their papers and sold the
assets to a competitor. 1t is not an
unreasonable conclusion that the
strike of his employees was provoked
deliberately to serve as a shabby ex-
cuse for Mr.. Stern to divest himself
of his responsibility to the commu-
nifty, and that the transaction an
nounced on the night of January
81, 1947, was one long contemplated
to be concluded at time most pro-
pitious for the personal fortune OF
MIR. Stern and his associates.
"It may have been a deal inspired
either by the prospect of immediate
profit or one dictated by necessity to
hedge against future commitments
that would overtax the earning ca
pacity of this property. His burdens
no doubt were increased by the
pressure of the guild strike. But at
no time, either before the strike was
called, or after it had been in pro-
gress, was the guild unwilling to
compromise it's demands to effect a
settlement. The record of the guilds
negotiations with other manage
ments and a comparison of the re-
suits of these negotiations against
Stern's only offer is incontrovertible
evidence"
Other Contracts Compared.
Mr.. Eubanks said the guild has
signed contracts fixing an $85-a-
week minimum wage for report
ers with the Cleveland Press,
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland
News, Detroit Free Press, Chicago
Sun, Chicago Times, st. Louis Post
Dispatch and Washington Post. He
said the "only comparable offer by
the Stern management was $78."
"These same papers and many
others signed contracts providing for
general wage increases ranging from
S. up to $26 per week." Mr.. Eubank's
statement continued, "as against
Stern's only offer of increases from
IS to $40 per week."
The Philadelphia Camden Guild
asked for a basic minimum of 500
a week for experienced reporters,
instead of the existing minimum
of $68. }
A separate statement filed by
Philadelphia Camden Local No. 10
of the guild asserted!
Many guild officers were of the
impression management was, in ef-
feet, trying to goad the unit into
strike action and then accuse it of
being intransigeant. So, though we
were convinced that our $100 report
ers' minimum proposal was justified,
we made a revised proposal of sos
for that key category, and scaled
other minimum rates down in pro-
portion. We receded on other pro-
posals."
Stern's Charge Discussed.
In discussing Mr.. Stern's charge
that the guild sought to interfere
with management. Mr.. Eubanks told
the committee:
"Mr. Stern alone must know what
inspired his unfounded charge. If he
has shred of supporting evidence
he should be required to produce it,
Mr.. Stern imputes sinister motives
to members of the guild. Whether
it was uttered in an irrational
moment or with vindictive purpose,
his accusation has been given wide
spread circulation in newspapers
and by radio commentators. Mr.
Stern's charge has no basis in fact
Mr.. Stern knows it and the public
is entitled to know it. -
1.-THE Stern management has not
seen fit to discuss its financial posi-
ton publicly and whether it was in
financial difficulties is known only
to the owners.
1.-THE Stern papers both in Phila-
delphia and Camden certainly en-
joyed their proportionate share OF
the newspaper industry's prosperity
in the past six years, a period In
which the publisher now claims tc
have been severely handicapped by
a guild contract.
Cup to within few days of the
announcement of suspension and
sale the Stern papers were boast
ing of increasing advertising lineage
and greater circulation"
Although the strike started ir
November, the Record and the two
Camden papers continued to pub
lish until the sale suspended publ.
cation. During that time executive
personnel took over the editoria
duties.
The first contract ever signed b!
the American Newspaper Guild wa!
with Mr.. Stern's Record in 1884
Mr.. Stern, during a dozen years O
dealing with the Guild, was widel.
known as a supporter of organized
labor.
Last November, after a deadlock
on wage demands, $50 guildsmeI
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