Evening star., 1954-10-12
BY The Assosiessd prsss

DETROIT, Oct. 12.-Secretar.
of Defense Wilson was the cen
ter of a storm of protest toda.
over his remarks at a press con
ference in answer to question:
on the Nations unemployment
in labor distressed areas.
Mr.. Wilson told newsmen yes
terday that while he had" q 10
of sympathy for people where
sudden change unemployment
catches 'em -. I've always likee
bird dogs better than kennel-fet
dogs. You know, one who viii
get out and hunt for food rathel
than sit on his fanny and yelp.'
He made that comment in tell.
ing of a conference in Washing.
ton last year with q group which
said the labor surplus in its COM
munity would be increased bs
110 young men because Of a cut
back in draft calls.
"The idea that a 19-year -old
boy could be drafted and sent
to Korea to be shot at and he
didn't have enough gumption to
go 100 miles and get himself a
job don't go for that" Mr.
Wilson said.
After reading published re-
ports of the bird dogs" state
ment. Walter Reuther, CIO and
United Auto Workers Union
president, sent a five-page tele-
gram to President Eisenhower
demanding that Mr.. Wilson
publicly retract" the statement
or ''be asked to retire from pub
lie life"
At Cleveland the president of
the American Federation of La
Dor asserted Mr.. Wilson showed
a complete disregard" of the
American people and complete
ignorance of what it means to
be; unemployed"
George Meany. the AFL presi-
dent. in an address to the con-
vention of the AFL4 Bricklayers'
Union, added that Mr.. Wilson's
attitude was what could be ex-
pected of a businessman in the
Government"
'The millions of unemployed
in the United States should be
Of. some concern to the admin
Istration, to the country as a
whole and to Mr.. Wilson of the
General Motors Corp, Mr.. Meany
added.
Eisenhower Awaits Receipt.
Mr.. Wilson was in Detroit to
speak at a $l00-a-plate Repubh-
,an banquet last night. He had
10 comment on Mr.. Reuther's
telegram.
Spokesman at the Summer
White House in Denver said
President Eisenhower would
nave no comment on Mr.. Reu-
hers demand until the tele-
gram had been received.
Others quick to comment on
Mr. Wilson's remark were Sena-
or Johnston. Democrat, of South
Carolina; and Senator Ferguson,
Republican, Of Michigan.
Another comment that spurred
Mr. Reuther to send the strongly
Vorded telegram was Mr.. Will
;on's statement that he expected
employment in Michigan to bal
lnce itself out by Christmas as
lew models get into production
and maybe a few workers would
20 back South when it gets q
title cold.
Senator Ferguson, addressing
Republican rally In Grand
Rapids, Mich, last night, took
to MIR. Wilson's re-
mark.
Il would not express myself in
he same way-aS Wilson,
lbout unemployment" Senator
Ferguson said, adding:
I realize this unemployment
an be beyond the control of
my individual. Any unemploy-
nent is a calamity to the man,
lis family. his city, State, and
he Nation"
Unfortunate" Says Johnston.
In Washington Senator john
ton said:
Il think Secretary Wilson will
i've to see the day he'll regret
lis remarks. It is very unfor-.
unate for a man in high posi-
ION to make such a statement"
In his telegram to the Presi-
lent, Mr.. Reuther said it was
nanagements' "callous" use of
workers recruited in
he South that swelled the rolls
t the jobless.
According to Business Week
the Buick division of
General Motors alone had help
'anted ads in the newspapers of
4 cities in II Southern States.
.fter the production squirt was
nded, these recruits were
unlped on the streets to be-
ONE burdens on the taxpayers
+ the automotive centers," the
|AW leader charged.
"The Detroit public relief Of
ces at one time this year op-
rated on night shifts to take
are of the applicants as a re-
llt Of this callous use of these
recruits who were
lred from their homes and
antilles by glowing promises of
ttractive jobs. The workers
egularly attached to the indus