Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-06
President Subservient
To Labor Union Heads
When Crisis Come He Backed
Murray Against Wilson
By Fronk R. Kent

It Is worth noting that the day after
the so-called "abdication" speech Of
Mr.. Truman in which he lauded himself
as having done more for honesty and
efficiency In Government than any other
President" the servility Of his relations
with the organized labor bosses-par-
ticularly those of the CIO-should have
been humiliatingly exposed by the resig-
nation OF Charles e. Wilson. chief de-
tense mobilizer. who, at great personal
sacrifice, had come to Washington to
help the Nation in a time Of recognized
peril.
The facts about this situation are
these: From the time-more than q
year ago-Mr. Wilson took over this job
his chief difficulty was to get any sort of
cooperation from organized labor. Not
only did its representatives violently OPP
pose putting q ceiling on wages as we'll
as on prices. but they promoted scores
Of Gripping strikes. slowdowns and lock.
outs in key plants with defense con-
tracts. In every instance wage increases
were granted, which were followed by
price increases and more imitation. Sup
ported by Defense Secretary Lovett and
Air Secretary Finletter. Mr.. Wilson called
attention to the danger Of these strikes
and long lists Of the struck plants were
printed.
Though fully apprised of what this
meant TO the defense program, there
came from Mr.. Truman no word of dis
approval. On the contrary, various Gov
eminent agencies appeared to cooperate
closely with the labor demands OF
course, q few months ago the demands
Of the steelworkers with their threat
ened strike, in this. our largest and most
basic industry. was the climax. Mr.. Will
son and others at once declared that
these demands were dangerously un-
reasonable; that to grant them would
accelerate imitation, that 1t would set q
pattern for demands IN other industries:
that it imperiled the whole defense
schedule. The controversy was referred
to the Presidents Wage Sterilization
Board, heavily packed in favor of labor.
1t recommended a 25-cent- an hour In
crease. which was practically all Mr..
Murray had asked.
Deeply disturbed over this, Mr.. Wilson
sought a conference with Mr.. Murray.
With offensive arrogance, Mr.. Murray
refused to talk with Mr.. Wilson, de-
nounced him with considerable violence
and, in his best Pecksnifiian manner.
pictured himself as q pure and disin-
terested patriot. It hardly seemed DOS
slble any one could fail to see through
this. Yet when Mr.. Wilson went to
Key West to see Mr.. Truman, the best
he was able to get was partial assur-
ance OF support. Upon his return to
Washington he found that Mr.. Truman
had changed his mind ION the plan
agreed to-" There was no alternative
except to resign. The labor bosses had
got him.
MIR. Wilson found that even when
Mr.. Truman knew all the facts and fully
appreciated the danger to the Nation,
his political ties were such that he could
not stand up against the labor demands.
In brief, on the showdown" the Presi-
dent could not bring himself to oppose
the labor bosses to whom, in 1914, at
the direction Of Mr.. Roosevelt, he had
gone. hat in hand, to clear his nomina-
ton for the vice presidency. The simple
truth Is that Mr.. Wilson, the best man
the emergency had brought to WASH
nlgton, is out because in q great national
crisis. Mr.. Truman would not support
him against the professional labor bosses
with whom he is politically linked. That
is serious accusation, but 1t can be
fully substantiated. It makes Mr.. Tru-
mans breast-beating proclamation in
his March 20 speech Of his own nobility
OF soul seem sickeningly spurious It
makes it impossible not to recall that
for many years he was the protege and
product Of the corrupt Pendergast Kan
sas City machine and the close friend
OF the convicted corruptionist who bossed
that machine.
II also raises two interesting cues
tons: Cd How. when it has been made
clear that his selection cannot count on
the Presidents support, is Mr.. Truman
gong to I'LL Mr.. Wilson's place with an
equipped, disinterested and outstanding
man? Who, of the first grade, would
accept the appointment? (2) VIII the
Democrats again nominate for Presi-
dent. as they have since 1892, a man
politically allied with the labor bosses
And SllbServient IN thNnoc