Evening star., 1949-08-26
THE EVENING STAR Washington, D. C. '"A-21
rs,
Murray Brands Charge
OF Steel Official as
Vicious and Insulting
By the Assoeistsd Press

NEW YORK. Aug. 26.-Presi-
dent Philip Murray OF the CIO
Steel Workers Union described to-
day as vicious and insulting" the
charge that John L. Lewis sue
cess in winning miners pensions
is behind the steel unions de-
mands.
The veteran union president.
closing the case for the steel
workers before a presidential fact
finding board, attacked a speech
to the panel by Enders M. Voor-
hees. chairman Of the Finance
Committee of United States Steel.
Mr.. Murray declared Mr.. Voor-
hees lis the voice Of reaction"
who speaks in the language Of
economic Bourbonism."
The United States Steel execu-
tive told the board his industry
was caught in the bitter race for
power of giant labor monopolies"
and had stated that Mr.. Murray's
union sought pensions because It
was confronted with fait &C
compli Of the head Of the United
Mine Workers"
Sees Insult to Miners, Too.
This attack is vicious and IN.
sulting." Mr.. Murray said.
TT is not only an insult, to me.
It is an insult to those who make
Mr.. Voorhees, steel and those who
mine his COAL"
Mr.. Murray, who formerly was
a vice president Of the United
Mine Workers under Mr.. Lewis.
said he was happy when tho
miners won their $l00-a-month
pensions last year.
Rivalry is not the background
of this case" he declared. I
have had my differences with
John Lewis - but they have
nothing to do with this case
absolutely nothing"
The steel workers are asking FOR
$125-a-month pensions IS a part
of the 30-cent-an-hour package
which they have asked the board
to recommend.
The board will close its heas-
ings next Tuesday after two days
of rebuttal by the so steel COM
panies in the case.
VIII Report to Truman.
The board then will submit .
report to President Truman. Its
recommendations will not be
binding. but the Government
hopes they will lead to peace in
the steel industry.
The 60-day truce obtained By
Mr.. Truman in the steel dispute
ends September II.
Mr.. Voorhees, had told the
board that the only way It could
increase purchasing power was to
recommend that steel workers.
wages be decreased In obedience
to king customers shrinking de-
mand for steel products"
Mr.. Voorhees, talks about the
background Of this case" Mr..
Murray said. why does he not
mention his own $7o.323 pension
Tor Mr.. Olds' (Irving Olds. CHAIR
man Of the Board Of q. q. SteeD
$63. .815 pension, or Mr.. Fsirless'
| (Benjanain Fairless, q. q. Steel
jpresident), $76.537 pension7"
Called WiIlfuI Men.
The union president, who also
heads the CIO. said that Mr..
Voorhees, Is against q modest
wage increase for his workers. He
is tor princely wage increases for
himself and his fellow executives"
Last year Mr.. Voorhees, took .
wage increase Of 81. .567. Mr.. Fair
less an increase Of $20,l67 and Mr..
Olds $22 1867. This certainly did
not show the same concern about
imitation that these gentlemen
now purport to have"
The union president said that
Mr.. Voorhees, had laid bare the
reactionary desires and the out
moded thinking Of that handful
Of willful men. who, through de-
vices Of management, control the
steel industry Of this country"