Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-16
Murray Backs
Unified Strike
War Chest
Stee!workers Ready
To Pool Resources
For Common Defense
By the Associated Press

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 15.-Philip
Murray, CLIO president, lined up
in John L. Lewis labor unity pa
rade today and proposed that they
set up war chest with the AFL
to fight strike battles of all union
lied labor.
This was the days top develop
ment in the big steel and coal
strikes. Mr.. Murray's United
Steelworkers spread their free
pension strike to some steel fabri-
Gators and made ready to hit
aluminium next More than a
million already are idle in the
double-header strikes with no
peace-only industrial GRIFFIN
sight.
Mr.. Murray said his steelwork-
ers and Il am sure other equally
minded aflliates" of the CLIO stand
prepared to join Mr.. Lewis United
Mine Workers and the AFL Ito
pool their resources for the COM
mon defense and general welfare
of the labor movement"
Doesn't Mention az Million Va,
Mr.. Murray said he had consist
emily advocated unity of action
on the part of all responsible and
genuine American trade unions.
But his prepared statement did
not mention specifically Mr.. Lewis
proposal "a hours earlier. Mr.
Lewis urged that his UNIV and
the AFL contribute $2.500,000 a
week to the steelWorkers in an
"uncompromising fight of all
American labor"
In expressing sympathy for the
steelWorkers, the UNIV boss called
on the AFL to get at least nins
of its Wealthiest unions to match
a contribution of $250,000 weekly
by the miners so the steelworkers
can win beyond peradventure ..
the monumental conflict which 10
now drawn"
A contribution of s250,0o0 week.
ly by the UNIV and each of nine
AFL unions would make up the
s2,50o,ooo total Mr., Lewis pro-
posed.
Mr.. Murray returned the SYM
pathy gesture toward the miners,
who also are striking over PEN
SionS.
! Says Miners Should Be Aided.
Mr.. Murray said his proposed
war chest should aid the miners
also because the UNIV is engaged
Gin a mighty struggle with power
| full employers in the coal industry
to protect the security of the
miners and to gain benefits neces-
sary to their continued well be-
ing"
Mr.. Murray said the steelwork-
ers will lend help and assistance
to the miners and to all unions
which are forced into necessary
strike action by the opposition Of
the monopolists and financial in
terests who dominate the great
industries of this country"
There was no immediate COM
ment from William Green, AFL
president. An aide in Washing.
ton said Mr.. Green will make no
statement before Monday.
Counter-Proposal Is Surprise.
Mr.. Murray's counter-proposal
caught most labor authorities
f1atfooted. 1t had been generally
believed that the long standing
Lewis-Murray feud would prevent
anything but disagreement on the
CLIO leaders part.
The ruddy-faced Scotsman had
once been a UNIV official and a
lieutenant of Mr.. Lewis. Then he
became head of the CLIO and,
theoretically at least, Mr.. Lewis
superior.
The split followed when Murray
accused the miners chieftain Of
exceeding his authority.
Few observers had expected Mr..
Green to be sympathetic with
Mr.. Lewis idea. But in light Of
Mr.. Murray's statement. they re.
served further judgment.
Mine Group Opposed.
An official at AFL headquarters
in Washington had this to say:
If the steel workers need any
help. they are certainly capable
OF asking for it themselves"
And a group of Mr.. Lewis own
miners voiced their opposition to
tsee LABOR, Page A-5)
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