Evening star., 1952-05-23
More Strong Language
Is Expected ]! Today
Al Wage Board Probe
BY the Assoeiated Press

More OF WnaC chairman bafQen
described as fright strong Ian
guage" may be heard today be-
tween the House Labor Committee
and union members Of the Wage
Sterilization Board.
Sharply worded differences were
voiced at a hearing yesterday over
allegations Of Communist front
associations by three CIO board
representatives.
The House group Is inquiring
into the boards activities, par
ticularly in the steel wage case.
Committee members have charged
the board was stacked in organ
lied labor's favor.
Board Member Joseph w.
Childs, vice president of the CIO
Rubber Workers Union, accused
Representative Vail. Republican,
of Illinois, committee member.
of ''red batting" and making
dirty inSinuationS' against him
self and two CIO colleagues.
Hearing Recalls Childs.
The committee today recalled
Mr.. Childs and agreed to allow
John Brophy and Benjamin Sigal,
two other CIO members of the
WSB, reply to what Mr.. Childs
denounced as Mr.. Wallis "thinly
yelled references" connecting them
with Communist-front groups.
Mr.. Childs' blunt language. un-
usual for a witness before a con-
gressional committee, appeared
likely to be returned In kind
before the hearings end.
Mr.. Childs' attack on Mr.. Vail.
made in a prepared statement,
was what Chairman Barden re-
ferred to as strong language.
Though Mr.. Barden's face red
dened angrily. he did not inter-
rupt. The committee recessed
almost at once.
Touching off Mr.. Childs' state
ment were references to House
Un-American Activities Commit
tee reports read into the record
May 9 by Mr.. Vail. They dealt
with the activities of various
groups cited as subversive.
Mr.. Vail mentioned no names,
but suggested that they might
refer to CommuniSt-front associa-
tions of some public as well as
labor members of the board.
Back-Hand Smearing Charged
Mr.. Childs, accusing Mr.. Vail of
back-handed smearing, said one
of M. Wallis references "is indenti-
fable as being directed against
me" as the only Rubber Workers
Union official on the board.
That reference dealt with the
signature Of a Joe ChildS," presi-
dent of the local Rubber Workers
Union in Akron, on statement
issued by the Civil Rights Congress
and appearing in the Daily Work.
er of May 25, 1947. The statement
attacked the Un-American Ac-
tivities Committee.
IF I signed this Civil Rights
Congress petition" Mr.. Childs
said. "and it is possible that I did,
even though I do not remember it,
I certainly did so without know
ing that the organization had any
tie-up with the Communists"
He said he had never been a
Communist nor sympathetic with
them. "and never expect to be-"
No Admittance or Denial.
Mr.. Vail asked If he denied
signing the statement.
Il can neither admit nor deny
having signed it. All I can ac-
cept is what the Daily Worker
states" Mr.. Childs replied.
Mr.. Barden interrupted to say
that for some one who could
neither admit nor deny the action,
"you use some right strong Ian
guage about Mr.. VAIL" and added:
Il think your statement regard
ing Mr.. Vail ought to be modified,
or you ought to be prepared to
state under oath whether you did
or did not sign that petition"
Mr.. Childs said "The only fair
way to determine whether I
signed 1t or not. is to get the state
ment. Frankly, I think some one
was using my name at that time
as a union official"
Mr.. Barden then directed that
Subpoenas be issued on the Daily
Worker or the Civil Rights Con-
gress to produce the original
petition to determine if Mr..
Child'S signature was a forgery.