Evening star., 1952-12-05
Durkin Draws Praise
For Labor Farley Bid;
Taft Remains Silent
By o staff Correspondent Of The Star

IdH REMAINS yllenI
BY Staff Correspondent Of The Sfor
NEW YORK, N. Y, Dec. S.
Martin P. Durkin's plan to ask
Senator Taft and labor leaders to
meet with him as soon as he be-
comes Secretary of Labor won
praise at Eisenhower headquarters
here today. But the Ohio Senator
remained to be heard from.
Mr.. Durkin, AFL plumbers
union president and an Illinois
Democrat, told reporters yesterday
that Senator Taft's attack on his
appointment was no personal"
and would not be an obstacle to
future official meetings.
The conference he has in mind,
he explained, would enable Sena-
tor Taft and labor leaders to agree
on possible changes in the Taft
Hartley Act.
Visits Headquarters.
Mr.. Durkin visited Eisenhower
headquarters for the first time
except for a quick trip here last
Friday night for his initial meet
ing with the President-elect at
the Morningside drive residence.
A busy day at headquarters
yesterday included the following
other developments: !
Gov. Sherman Adams of New
Hampshire, who will be the As
sistant to the President, an
nounced he would establish liai-
son. with the White House today,
He planned to confer with several
Truman aides as part of the pro-
gram for an orderly transition
from the outgoing to the incoming
administration next month.
JOb-AnalysiS Survey Made.
Eisenhower headquarters Off
cials disclosed that some of the
present planning and selection of
personnel for the new administra-
ton is being based on a survey
started almost six months ago.
A report already has been sub
mitted to Gen. Eisenhower by a
management consultant firm, Nc
Kinsey & Co. of New York. 1t
does not deal with policy problems
or questions as to the necessity for
particular jobs. Nor does it rec
ommend particular individuals for
jobs. Officials explained that its
main purpose is to provide
"yardstick so that square pegs are
not put in round holes"
This survey and report, limited
largely to policy-making positions, 4
was begun last summer at the \
suggestion of Herbert Brownell, 1
jr.; Arthur E. Summerfield, Har-
old E. Talbot and others.
Mr.. BroWnell will be Attorney
General and Mr.. Su1amer1eld,
now Republican national chair
man, will be Postmaster General.
Mr.. Talbot is believed to be
possible appointee as Secretary of
the Air Force.
The management's firms job /
analysis material is one of several
similar studies under review By
the incoming administration. Gen.
Eisenhower recently established a
committee headed by Nelson A..
Rockefeller to review various ad-
ministrative reorganization rec
concentrations.
Assures Labor's Support.
Before Mr.. Durkin arrived at
headquarters. Merlyn Pitzele !
chairman of the New York State
Mediation Board, and Henry j..
Carman, Columbia University
dean emeritus. who is a member
OF the board, came there in the
hope of seeing him. Mr.. Pitzele
is reported in line for appointment
as Federal Mediation and Con-
ciliation Service director.
Mr.. Durkin assured reporters
that the Eisenhower administra-
ton and organized labor would get
along we'll together.
He won the election" Mr.. Dur
kin said. Labor wants to see him
make good. Labor will give him
every chance to make good and
will do everything it can to help
him." 5
The Secretary of Labor-desig- H
nate, as we'll as Gov. Adams, re- \
fused to comment on Senator
Taft'S attack on the Durkin ap- /
pointment as incredible" But |
Mr.. Durkin commented that the |
Taft criticism would not prevent
the calling of a conference next \
month. Gov. Adams praised the
plan for conference, and indi-
Gated he saw no reason why it |
could not be arranged.
Mr.. Durkin said he thought it
over and sent word Monday that
he would accept. He has severed
his connection with the AFI-
plumbers union, but has been as
sured that when he leaves public
life he can return as it's president
without loss of pension or benefit
privileges, he added.
NEI@I1lIl@ lIEIjGLs