Evening star., 1952-06-23
Murray Says Truman
Anayed His Fears Of
Action Over Strike
BY the Associotsd Press

1hIA, AAlO., julio zO.-E Hlllp
Murray. head of the CIO Steel
workers, said yesterday that Presi-
dent Truman assured him last De-
cember You need have no fear"
of a Taft-Hartley injunction if
the union would postpone its
scheduled January / strike.
And he called Clarence Randall,
Inland Steel president, a liar" for
saying that Mr.. Murray and Presi-
dent Truman had made a deal"
Mr.. Murray addressed an audi
ence of $500 at a steelworkers'
rally in this community of 130, 900.
About $1,000 persons in Gary and
adjoining East Chicago earn their
livelihood in the steel mills.
Steelworkers have been on
strike three weeks. since the Su-
Ipreme Court ruled Government
Seizure of the industry illegal.
President Truman has not started
Taft-Hartley Law injunction pro-
Iceedings to stop it. A pending
resolution urging him to do so has
passed one house of Congress.
Charges Conspiracy.
Before an overflow audience in
icluding steelworkers, politicians,
mayors of the two hard-hit steel
towns and 1t. Gov. John Watkins
of Indiana, Mr.. Murray:
l. Accused major steel producers
of "a conspiracy to prolong the
steel strike.
2. Criticized Gen. Eisenhower
for voicing opinions on the steel
strike when "he could hardly
know the facts" Mr.. Murray in
particular objected to this remark
he attributed to Gen. Eisenhower.
why don't they use the Taft
Hartley law?"
3. Attacked the industry's re-
Iluctance to give the unions ESQ.,
600 striking members a union
shop.
4. Said it would be unjust to
expect the steelworkers to under
go an 80-day strike injunction
under the Taft Hartley Law since
they have already delayed the
original strike 153 days on the
request of the President.
S. Did not say what the unions
position would be if the Taft
Hartley law were invoked. But
he remarked, THE Taft-Hartley
law does not manufacture steel"
6. Predicted the steelworkers
will win the strike regardless Of
what kind of suppressive weapon
may be used against you"
Mr.. Murray's speech was broad
cast over a six-station network
covering Wisconsin, Illinois and
Indiana.
Mr.. Murray was bitter in his
denunciation of Mr.. Randall. He
accused the steel executive of de
liberately lying" in saying Mr..
Murray and Mr.. Truman made a
DEAL" Mr.. Murray said he had
more respect for the office of
President than try to do such a
thing"
Further, Mr.. Murray said when
Mr.. Randall later denied making
such a statement. Il called him a
liar again."
Cites Presidents Words.
The steelworkers' head said
President Truman told him last
December, a week before the
scheduled New Years Day strike
date:
IF you will voluntarily agree to
suspension of the strike believe
you need have no fear of the
courts imposing on your members
the so-called Taft-Hartley injunc-
ton procedure"
The strike was postponed. Gov
ernment seizure followed and steel
workers stayed on the Job until
after adverse court decisions on
the seizure.
Mr.. Murray said the union and
management have resolved the
major part of their fight over a
wage increase.
The steelworkers' demand for a
union shop, under which all work.
ers would be compelled to join the
union, now is a principal obstacle
to settlement.