The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-20

duSIfy.
AS President Truman's choice
for the powerful post of general
counsel to the expanded national
labor relations board, the 62-year-
old Republican told reporter:
81 believe the labor situation
will clear itself up much more
rapidly tnan some people belleV-
ed"
He said he has no intention to
use his powers under the new act
to "dictate" labor relations.
81 don't think labor needs
car" he declared. Neither does
industry"
Along with Denham, now an
NLRB trial examiner, the presl-
dent announced yesterday his two
choices for the additional board
memberships created by the act
Abe Murdock, former democrat
ic house member and Senator
from Utah, and republican j.
Copeland Gray, labor relations ex-
pert of Buffalo, N. Y.
All three jobs pay $4,000 annu-
ally and the appointees are sub
iect to senate confirmation.
Murdock and Gray will serve
with members of the existing
board. including chairman Paul
Herzog. John M. Houston and
James J. Reynolds, j., whom Mr..
Truman formally reappointed yes
terday.
Neither Senator Taft (R-Ohio),
chairman of both the Senate Re-
publican Steering and Senate La
Dor committees, nor Senator Ball
(R-Minn), member of the Labor
committee, had any immediate
comment on the nominations. Sen
ator Ives (R-NY), also on the la
Dor group, said he did not know
any of the three new appointees.
But Senator Morse (R-Ore),
sometimes a rebel from the Re-
publican party line, said of Muir
dock: 81 have the highest regard
for him. 1 consider it an excel
lent appointment"
The ranking democratic mem
Der of the Labor committee, Sen
ator Elbert D. Thomas D-Utah,
said he thinks Mr.. Truman "has
appointed a fine board and fine
general COUNSEL
Denham said he had discussed
his appointment with John R
Steelman, presidential assistant
although not with the president.
and Every definitely is commit
ted to the fair administration o1
the act pledged by Mr.. Truman
and the three present members Of
the NLRB.
sI think the act is not nearly
as bad as those in opposition said
it was," Denham declared.
''All of the rights under the old
Wagner Act are preserved. There
are some restrictions and new re-
sponsibilities on labor organiZa.
tions, but I think a close examin.
alton of the boards decisions will
show that the board has more or
less approached the same things
in recent months.
sWhen the smoke has settled
and we get clear. fair and dis
passionate view, l am confident
we will find that it will not be
nearly as hard to get along with
as some people feared.''
The act became law over the
President veto June %. Most ot
its provisions go into effect Au
gust O., including the new boarc
functions.
Denham. if confirmed by. the
Senate, will become the prosecu
tor for the board. He will be indie
pendent OF the five members anc
will decide for himself when te
proceed with charges of violation:
such as unfair labor practices. He
viii enjoy wide discretion in in
vestigation and complaints.
The board loses its old role as
prosecutor. judge and jury. 1t vii,
be a sort of labor court. and will
be required to seek injunction.
against unions charged with en-
gaging in illegal boycotts and jur.
isdictional disputes.
VI Murdock, long known as new