Evening star., 1948-10-14
|TUFound Guilty
OF Contempt in
.TaftActVioIation
Union Not PenuIized,
But Swyeert Orders
1t to Obey Injunction
BY the Asseeiaisd Press

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 14.-Fed-
eral Judge Luther M. swygert
today ruled that the Interna-
tional typographical Union is in
contempt of court because it has
insisted on a closed shop in its
contracts with newspapers.
The judge, who issued an injunc-
ton against the printers union last
March 27, did not penalize the union.
but ordered it to prove within 10
days that it is abiding by his in
junction, based on the Taft-Hartley
Labor Act.
1n Washington, the ITU
claimed a partial victory in the
decision and said it will appeal.
BY agreement, the appeal may 60
directly to the Supreme Court.
Henry Kaiser, an ITU attorney,
said the court refused to grant .
Government request that the
ITU be ordered to cease making
strike benefit payments and CIV
ing other support in the IL
month walkout of printers against
Chicago's daily papers.0
Robert N. Denham. counsel for
the National Labor Relations Board.
had asked the contempt citation.
charging that the union had con-
tinued to insist on closed shop.
had Disseminated against nonunion
men in hiring and had supported
strikes against newspapers in viola
ton of the injunction.
Union Claims Proper Dealings.
The union had insisted 1t was
negotiating with newspapers in good
faith, but Judge Swygert ruled 1t
had deliberately attempted since
the issuance Of the Injunction to
continue "closed-shop conditions In
the newspaper industry"
The order specifically directs the
ITU:
/. Not to encourage local unions
in demands for a contract which
would discriminate against nom
union employees by setting certain
standards of competency for them
and none for union members.
2. Not to instruct local unions to
demand that the form contract be
signed by employers.
3. Not to support strikes, slow
downs and walkouts in disputes
brought about because the union has
violated the March ~ injunction.
l. To notify all locals that the
union is in contempt of court and
that the international cannot sup
port any local that insists on con-
tract terms violating the terms Of
the injunction-insisting on the
form contract" and discrimination
against union members.
To Have Widespread Effect.
Today's ruling was expected to
have widespread effect throughout
the newspaper industry.
This ITU case was the subject Of
q sharp exchange between Presi-
dent Truman and Senator Taft, Re-
publican. of Ohio last month.
The President had written that
the Senator had put the heat" on
the NLRB counsel to bring the con-
tempt suit. which the Judge refused
to dismiss today.
The charge was made by the
President after 1t was disclosed that
a committee representing the Chi
cago publishers came to Washing
ton and conferred with Senator
Taft in his office in the Senate Of
flee Building about the case.
=. Taft Assailed Truman.
This charge was denied by the
NLRB counsel and Senator Taft
said Mr.. Truman's statement was
merely an attempt to curry favor
with the labor bosses who control
the labor publicity to which he
is looking for help in the election" !"
The suit started last January 10
when the NLRB asked for the in
junction, charging that the union
had violated the Taft-Hartley Law
in Chicago and other cities.
After extensive hearings, the in
junction was issued March n and
it was that injunction which the
NLRB counsel charged on August
% that the union had violated.
/ Don Hurd, secretary-treasurer Of
the ITU, said union officials would
have no comment on Judge Swyg.
ert's decision until it had been stud