Evening star., 1948-02-11
Queried
On Order for
GSI 10 Bargain
Executive of Post
Won't Give Source
For Trumun Story

A House Labor subcommittee in.
vestigating the Government Serv-
ices, Inc, cafeteria strike, made ana
other attempt today to get to the
bottom Of a published report that
the White House ordered Federal
Works Administrator Philip 3.
Fleming to direct GSI to bargain
with the union.
James Russell Virgins, managing
editor of the Washington Post, de-
clared that he believed story pub
ished in his newspaper yesterday
was correct in its essentials" He
refused to disclose the source of the
report contained in the story that
Gen. Fleming had been directed by
the White House to bring about a
settlement of the strike.
1--WE obtained from reliable
source information that it was the
White House wish that Gen. Flem-
ing settle the matter" he told the
subcommittee.
Details Are Refused.
The witness, in reply to questions
by Representatives Smith, Repub-
lican, Of Kansas and Fisher, Demo-
crat, of Texas, in the absence OF
Chairman Hoffman, refused to say
when, how or by whom the re-
ported order" might have been
transmitted to Gen. Fleming.
Gen. Fleming yesterday denied
to the subcommittee that he had
been ordered or requested to inter-
vene In the labor controversy.
White House Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross informed Mr.. Hoff-
man late yesterday and had an
nounced earlier at a news confer
erence that President Truman had
no comment other than that the
strike situation was entirely in the
hands of SECRETARY of Labor
Schwellenbach.
Mr.. Fisher began the questioning
of Mr.. Virgins by commenting that
the published report puts the
President in the position Of taking
stand In the strike controversy
and interfering in a local matter to
order bargaining"
False Hopes Seen.
Mr.. Fisher added that it was i'm
portant to determine the accuracy
of the report because it apparently
gave false hopes to hundreds Of
strikers and might give public I'M
preston that GSI is violating its
contract with the Government"
The strikers are members of Local
All OF the Cafeteria Workers Union,
the parent body of which is the CIO
United Public Workers of America.
With Gen. Fleming as q witness,
Mr.. Hoffman yesterday read from
the Post that Gen. Fleming had been
directed by the White House to re-
quire GSI to bargain with the union.
Assuming that such an order had
been given, what could you do
about it?" Mr.. Hoffman asked.
Gen. Fleming said he knew OF
nothing he could do under the con-
tract with GSI, except to rive the
organization six months notice Of
termination Of the contract. He said
he knew of no authority to insist
that GSI bargain with the union.
Reporter Testifies.
Frank Wilder, Post reporter. was
called and said he had written the
story on the basis of facts gathered
in the course of his work. He said
he had obtained the information in
strict confidence.
Maj. Gen. u. S. Grant III, head Of
GSI testified on the background
of the brief negotiations between
GSI and the union and the events
leading to the strike. He said he
believes the majority of the union
members are loyal citizens but that
the leadership is dominated by what
he believes to be subversive infiu-
ences.
Gen. Grant observed that, II
GSI ousted 1000 employees taken on
to fill the strikers places. 1t might
be sued for unfair labor practices.