Evening star., 1948-09-03
House Group TO Probe
Further Into Charqe
Reds Dominate UEW
Conflicting Stories Told
By Carey Of CIO and
President of Union
By james Y. Newton

A House Labor Subcommittee
was confronted today with con-
flicting stories about reported
Communist domination of the
CIO Electrical Workers and en-
ployer cooperation with Com
munists because they are said to
oe easier to deal with than bona
fide labor leaders.
The committee heard different
stories on the two points from two
leaders of the 0,000-member union
and decided to inquire further into
both.
Chairman Kersten has recessed
the hearing probably until Septem-
ber 28 At that time, he indicated,
other leftist officers of the UEW
will be called, along with officials
of electrical manufacturing COM
panies, who would testify on the
charges that they have been CO.
operating with Reds.
Declared Buying Peace"
James B. Carey, secretary-t treas
urer of the CIO and president of
the UEW until ousted by the leftist
regime in 1941, hurled the charges
that industry management had dis
criminated against anti Communists
because they could get along easier
with the Reds. He said it was a
matter of employers buying indus
trial peace" He explained that
Communists cannot be aggressive
about employe grievances because
they have to compromise to protect
"other interests
Mr.. Carey cited three cases where
he said Westinghouse and the Radio
Corp. of America had discharged
anti-CommunistS for what he said
were insufficient reasons. He added
other witnesses could supply dozens
of other cases.
Chairman Kersten said it would be
dangerous setup" if management
"co-operates with Communists" and
promised full investigation of the
Carey charges.
The investigation Of the UEW,
which has members in some of the
Nations most vital defense plants,
was recessed because the union will
hold its annual convention next
week. Mr.. Carey will make another
attempt at the meeting to unseat
national officers of the union, headed
by Albert j. Fitzgerald, the president
who followed Mr.. Carey on the stand.
Said to Serve as Front.
The CIO secretary-treasurer tes-
titled that the UEW, third largest
CIO union, is front for the Com
munist Party ION many questions
He said he noted that Communists
had considerable influence in union
affairs even when he was president.
Mr. Carey said he had no evidence
of any one being a party member,
but he named as contributing to
the Red influence in the union
Mr.. Fitzgerald, Secretary Treasurer
Julius EmSpak. Organization Direc-
tor James Matles, the union execu-
tive board and the staffs of the
main office and union newspaper.
Il think they sacrifice the inter-
ests of the U. E. to promote the
foreign policy of the Soviet Union,
he declared.
Mr. Fitzgerald described the Com
munism charges as efforts to
smear" the union. He said he knew
nothing about Communism or Com
munist influence in the UEW and
was not concerned with it.
Spars With Chairman.
Mr.. Kersten and Mr.. Fitzgerald
spent most of the afternoon SPAR
ring. Mr.. Kersten put one question
seven times, with minor variations
Finally Mr.. Kersten summed up:
You have stated it is no concern
Of yours whether a proven Commu-
mist Party member is in key posi-
ton in your union"
My position Mr.. Fitzgerald said
lis that our constitution, and I as
sociate myself with it, states that
(See UEW, Page A-4J