Evening star., 1953-09-24
AFL Official Sounds
Call for Increased
Political Activity
BY the AssOcIotsd Press

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 24.-The
AEL today sounded a call for
Stepped-up political activity after
hearing message from Presi-
dent Eisenhower that the Taft
Hartley law Is essentially sound.
AFL leaders seemed to take
this to mean the Eisenhower
administration intends to retain
most major features Of the
union=criticized labor relations
law.
Gen. Eisenhower's message,
read to AFL convention dele
gates by Vice President Nixon
yesterday. promised that he will
recommend Taft Hartley amend
rnentS to Congress next January
to correct "a number of defects"
~ Wants Immediate Action.
James L. McDevitt, director.
OF the AFL'S Labor League for
Political Education, said In a
report prepared for delegates,
"Let's go home from this
convention and get the people
we represent in action now"
Gen. Eisenhower's message did
not spell out what labor law
changes he has in mind. He
said the administration has the
law under a continuing and crit
ical study and will be prepared
to send suggested changes to
Congress in January.
He said the general aims are
to remedy defects which cause
concern on the part of working
men and women over possible
results and uses of the act to
their detriment," to improve the
laws administration, allow
healthy growth" of unions, and
lessen Government interfer-
ence" in labor relations.
Mrs. Hobby to Speak.
After hearing Secretary of
State Dulles address at noon
(EDT) today, the convention
was due to hear another cabinet
member, Welfare Secretary
Hobby, at 8 pm. (EDT), and
former President Truman at 5
pm. (EDT).
Mr.. Truman was to speak at
convention memorial services for
William Green, late AFL preSi-
dent. and there was no advance
indication he would engage in
the running controversy be-
tween AFL leaders and the
Eisenhower administration over
Taft-Hartley changes.
Mr.. Nixon, in remarks of his
own, before delivering Gen.
Eisenhower's views to the con-
vention, said he was confident
the President hadn't broken his
word on Taft-Hartley changes
as claimed by former Secretary
of Labor Martin Durkin, an AFL
union leader.
Mr.. Durkin quit the Eisen-
hover cabinet job two weeks
ago. He said Gen. Eisenhower
gave him a personal promise to
support a set of 10 changes in
the Taft-Hartley law, but later
said he couldn't go along" with
the changes.
Defends President.
Mr.. Nixon said Gen. Eisen-
hover in 40 years of service to
his country "has never been
guilty of breaking his solemnly-
given word on anything and I
don't believe anyone can claim
he broke his word in this in
stance"
II know Martin Durkin and I
also know the President of the
United States" Mr.. Nixon said,
land consider them both to be
honorable men,"
Mr.. Nixon said there ZAP
parently was misunderstanding
between them," a comment that
brought a burst of laughter from
the delegates. who had consid-
erably more applause later for
Senator Morse. Independent. of
Oregon.
Senator Morse said comment
made by Mr.. Nixon that an ad-
ministration message outlining
Taft-Hartley changes had been
prepared for Congress indicated
Mr.. Durkin was right about
claiming he had an agreement.
THE time has come to reject
this kind of alibing you heard
this morning from the Vice
President" Senator Morse said.
Senator Morse said he believed
Mr.. Durkin's story of having an
agreement with Gen. Eisenhower
despite denials because he knew
Mr.. Durkin as "a man Of un-
impeachable integrity"
The Oregon Senator said the
Eisenhower administration "has
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