Evening star., 1949-07-08
House Unit Considers
Study Of Peg|er's Files
! On Labor Abuses

A House Labor subcommittee
was considering today whether 'tc
take a look at the letter files OF
Columnist Westbrook Pegler, who
testified before the group until
late last night on the ABUSES
and "racketeering" of organized
labor leaders.
After the group had two ses-
sions with Mr.. Pegler, Chairman
Jacobs said that lit might be-
that the committee would sub
poena the columnist's files. Mr.
Pegler earlier had offered to show
the files voluntarily if he was giver
two days in which to get them in
order. Mr.. Jacobs, an Indiana
Democrat, expressed disappoint-
ment at what he termed the lack
of names and factual information
in substantiation OF the col
umnist's charges.
Mr.. Pegler said the "Americar
labor union racket is unjust, il
legal and immoral" and he advo'
Gated repeal of all labor laws anc
return to the first principles.
He included in the list the Taft
Hartley Act, the Norris-La Guardis
Act and the Clayton Act. the last
two laws exempting unions from
injunctions and antitrust action.
Asked About Berry Case.
The committee is investigating
"the existence or nonexistence" OF
undemocratic practices in labor
unions and originally began with
an inquiry into charges that the
treasury of the AFL international
Printing Pressmen's Union was
used to the personal benefit of the
late George L. Berry, former
Senator from Tennessee and long
time president of the Pressmen.
At the close of the hearing, Mr.
Jacobs asked Mr.. Pegler if he hae
written anything about Mr.. Berry's
operations. The columnist replied
that he had-15 years ago. The
chairman then asked if he hac
written anything recently since
new charges have been made
against MI. Berry.
Yes, I did," replied Mr.. Pegler
but it wasn't used"
Mr.. Pegler refused later tc
elaborate on that statement, bul
Mr.. Jacobs said he understood the
syndicate which employs Mr.. Peg.
Ter refused to run what the col
umnist wrote about the Berry case
Kennedy Walks Out.
There were these other develop
ments at the hearings. which be-
came heated on occasion:
Representative Kennedy, Dem.
ocrate, of Massachusetts, walked
out of the hearings and said he
was withdrawing from the sub
committee altogether. He sale
later that he thought some of the
questioning was "off the beam.
but that his real reason for with
drawing was that the hearing was
taking up too much of his time.
Representative Sims. Democrat
of South Carolina, who said he
always had been a careful reader
of the Pegler columns, expressed
a little disappointment" at the
information the columnist was
able to give the committee.
Mr.. Pegler declared that while
he had cabinets full of letters
he said were written by dis
gruntled union members. he had
two g. inch Segregated files
which he suggested the committee
come to New York to inspect. He
said the letters related to scores
iof union abuses.
Says 200 Could Testify.
Representative Werdel, Repub-
lican, of California inquired how
many witnesses the committee
might expect to get from the
names in the file.
If the writers could overcome
their fears of testifying. I should
imagine 200 or ESQ.," Mr.. Peglel
replied.
Mr.. Pegler was summoned by
the committee after he had writ
ten in his column that the COM
mittee needs only ask me- about
undemocratic union practices.
The columnist and Mr.. Jacobs
a former Indianapolis LABOR at.
torney, tangled over Mr.. Jacobs
legal representation of a Balti.
more carpenters local in a law
suit against the Internationa
Carpenters Union and its presi.
dent, William Hutchinson.
Mr.. Pegler said he understood
Mr.. Jacobs got "a large fee."
1T was" Mr.. Jacobs said "i'
was about $4,000"
How much do you make?'
Mr.. Jacobs demanded of Mr.
Pegler.
I'll tell you if you tell me how
much you make Mr.. Pegler said
Later he said he made about $45(
per story.
He said about a dozen unions
and union leaders control the
American labor movement"
He named them as AF'L Presi-
dent William Green, CIO Presi-
dent Philip Murray. President Oar
Tobin of the Teamsters. Carpen.
ters' President Hutchinson, Mr.
Moreschi of the Hod Carriers
President David Dubinsky of the
Ladies Garment Workers, Walter
Reuther Of the Auto Workers. the
railroad brotherhoods and some
of the mass unions"