Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1949-12-02

re'e AVdra COMMITTEE" the heads Of
our largest manufacturing establishments We
see on this Committee" the solid front of
local bankers The so-called public press is
venting its hatred against us with unprece-
dented venom.
Surely this array of wealth and power
lined up against us should serve as warning
signal to every single union member in our
community And don't only speak of UAW-
CIO members. l say every union member" "
because if the attack against the UAW-CIO is
successful, no other union will be safe from a
similar, or an even more vicious assault.
I don't propose to discuss the details of
our program here. Rather, l want to point to
some of the desperate measures that the men,
bers of this Salvation Committee" are resort
ing to in their frantic efforts to delude the
people Of our city.
Shortly after the start of their infamous
campaign, it became apparent to the leading
lights of this Salvation Committee" that they
weren't fooling anyone. "The Committee of
Ten Thousand" that they stsrted-now dead
and very quietly burried-floundered pitt
fully To this day, we are told, less than 500
people signed up for this Committee, although
its sponsors claim around $500 signatures.
They arrived at this figure by counting the
individual members of various organizations
that have approved their plan.
THIS UNEXPECTED REBUFF to the SALIVA
tion Committee" threw them into such
CONSERVATION that they began to look around
for someone who could spark their publicity
campaign in a more convincing fashion APP
parently Mr. Flournoy, their local boy wasn't
doing 80 hot So they contacted Mr.. Steve Han
agen the prince of Press Agents" who hap
pens to hail from Park Avenue New York
Mr.. Hanagen, the man who made the Indiana
polls Speedway Classic what II Is; the man
who plugged Miami, Fla Sun Valley, Idaho;
Auto-Lite, Owens-Illinois Glass, the Union Pa
cific Railroad and host of other equally blue
chip" clients, l am told was asked to take over
the job of selling this Salvation Committee"
to the people of Toledo.
The price, we are told, was suggested as
$25 900 90 per month, This was to be re-
tainer The cost of full page advertisements,
radio speeches, outdoor signs, etc, etc. Of
course was to be all extra and on top of the
above mentioned sum-
Mr.. Hanagen, who according to some
people came to Toledo personally for a confer
ence with members Of the Salvation Commit
tee" while others claim that he only sent one
of his agents to talk to the Toledo group, did
not accept the job.
Subsequently the job was offered TO Mr..
Fred Rudge of Fred Rudge, Inc, AIS Fifth
Ave, New York City. MIR. Rudge, who Incl
dentally also handles the account of the Cham
pon Spark Plug Co.--among many others
accepted the job Mr. Rudge some time ago
did Job for The Toledo Blade also
Of COURSE, we don't know what Mr.. Rudge
" Is being paid for doing this Job. Maybe he
isn't getting the S25000 reputedly offered Mr..
Hanagen, But whatever he is getting. rest
sured that it is substantial. Publicity agents
with Fifth Avenue address don't work for
peanuts,
Mr. Flournoy. the local boy, of course still
claims that he is the director" of the Saliva
tion Committee" Maybe he is But we are sure
that Mr.. Rudge isn't around Toledo to twddle
his thumbs
Another interesting side light in this con-
troversy Is the role played by MIR. r. A. Stran-
ahan, head of the Champion Spark Plug Co.
Mr. Stranahan is a co-chairman OF "The Com
mittee to Save Toledo's Payrolls,"
The funny part Of this situation is that while
this Salvation Committee"-co-c chaired by
Mr.. Stranahan--is shouting for sound labor
relations" and praises the Labor Management
Citizens Committee, does not number among
It's members certain person by the name of
R. A. Stranahan.
Now, really, Mr. Stranahanl How can you
say to the people of Toledo that you believe in
sound labor relations "-as you do in those
full page ads with your signature under them
how can you acclaim Toledos famed Labor
Management-Citizens Committees you do
when you refuse to join the LMC?
The fact is that Mr.. Stranahan told our
Champion Unit Shop Committee that he,
Sranahan, would never join the LMC" And
70 this day he has kept his word. To this day
he hasn't joined LMC.