Evening star., 1951-07-20

v. v. LCyIVn JCSSIVH
Opens With Calvin
Discussing u. 5. Jobs
The 33d annual convention of
the District department of the
American Legion was in progress
here today, with National Comdr.
Erie Cooke, jr.. slated for an ap-
pearanee as speaker at tonight'S
session.
iConvention sessions are being at
tended by 391 delegates at the
Shoreham Hotel. The meeting
will end with elections tomorrow.
Undersecretary of Labor Michael
j. Calvin, at the flrst-night ses-
sion last night. charged the Gov
ernment has failed to keep pace
with private industry in treatment
of its employees.
He said Government employees
all over the country ''tremble each
year in the shadow of a fund
slashing Congressional ak that
can sweep their jobs away with
out warning"
Calls Employe Defenseless.
"The Government employe is
defenseless when that ak starts
swinging Mr.. Calvin said.
Neither length OF service nor a
good performance rating. nor all
the Civil Service rules in the book
are any assurance that he will
have his job when the funds are
gone"
Mr.. Calvin contended that cir
responsible charges uttered in the
hallowed halls of Congress add to
the Government employees inse-
curlty.
"The most infamous libel cast
upon any man since the founding
of our country was the libel of
Gen. Marshall in the privileged
sanctuary of the Senate" he de-
clared. "No private employer
would ever permit such an out
rage"
The speaker declared that job
security is not the ''only area in
which the Government fails to
measure up to private employers, 3"
but that also "it has not kept pace
in real wages"
"The average real weekly earn
ings of factory workers have gone
up IS per cent since 1885," he
said. THE average real weekly
earnings of classified Government
employees have not gone up at all
in fact they have gone down
per cent.
Living Standard Lags.
This means that the standard
Of living of factory workers has
increased 45 per cent, while the
standard of living of Government
employees has decreased 2 per cent.
Government employees in gen.
eral are the most patriotic, high
principled and working peo-
pie in the country, and they de-
serve better break than is being
given them"
Another speaker. Commissioner
F. Joseph Donohue. told the au-
dience: I'VE will not be fooled by
what is now going on in Korea. ="
mo one will ever tell a Legion
naire that the United Nations IS
seeking cease-fire order" he said
Mr.. Donohue said he was CRATE
full for the support of the Amer
ican Legion when he was chal-
lenged by Congress on his appoint
ment as Commissioner. He SAID
he didn't ask for the appointment
and does not know what prompted
President Truman to make it.
Memorial Service Held.
Herbert j. jacob, national vice
commander of the Legion, who
has Just returned from a trip
around the Eastern States. where
he has Jurisdiction, introduced
many honored guests representing
Government, civil and politlcal
circles. Flowers and corsages were
presented to Miss Marion Carson
who was Miss Tank Corp Pos'
of 1885," and to Miss Lee Boyd
who is Miss Tank Corp Post o1
1851"
The annual memorial service
was held, with Capt. John F. Orze
of the Army Chaplain Corps Civ
ing the address. The ceremon!
was directed by Raymond S. Roy
ston, commander of Fort Steven
Post, with participation by th'
posts ritual team.
The 391 delegates were to con
slider many resolutions today ant
tomorrow. Tonight's main speak
er will be Erie Cooke, jr., natlona
commander of the Legion. Spe
cial trophies and citations are t.
be awarded to various posts ant
individuals for outstanding serv
ice to the Legion and community
Elections are scheduled tomorrow
night.
Before the opening session,
parade consisting of about 100 dec
Grated cars, Forty and Eight loco
motives, bands and drum and bugl
corps, was held. 1t left Fourt
street and Pennsylvania avenu
NV, and disbanded at the Shore
ham.