Evening star., 1955-01-27
Righi-io Work Bill
Advocates Report
Sponsors Found
By Gene Goodwin
s,or ssaff cesrsspondsns

ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 27.-The
Maryland Rigilt-to-Work Com
mittee appeared today to have
found at least two State Sen
stors willing to introduce its
n1a1ch-publicized bin to outlaw
the union shop in the State.
Senator William s. James,
Democrat, Of Hartford County,
told reporters he and Senator
James Weinroth. Democrat, OF
Cecil County probably would in
troduce" the bill. Legislative
Representatives Of the Right-to-
Work Committee said they have
found sponsors in both the Sem
ate and House, but declined 70
identify any Of them.
The proposed legislation. which
would give Maryland the same
right-to-work law In effect IN
Virginia, has been the subject
of much controversy in MARY
land, although, until today, no
state legislator would speak out
! in favor Of 1t publicly or agree
to introduce it.
Squads of officials and work
ers from Maryland labor unions
stormed the State House earlier
This month urging opposition to
Che bill.
Worked ii Teams.
They employed a system Of
teams, with union men from
Baltimore City and the counties
concentrating on huttonholing
legislators from their home,
areas. s
Now the businessmen Of the
State appear to be employing
the same device.
Twenty business leaders Of
Prince Georges County met for
two hours yesterday with legis-
lators from that county to urge
their support Of the right-to-
work legislation.
. John Fitzpatrick OF Frederick.
attorney for the Maryland Right
to-Work Committee, acc0Inpar1-
led the Prince Georges group.
The bill the committee has
prepared would make q labor
contract requiring union ineIl-
bership Ithe union shop IAN
Illegal combination of conspir-
acy." 1t also would provide that
no worker could be required by
an employer ito become or re-
main a member Of any labor
union" and any person denied
employment because he Is not
union member could collect
damages in the courts.
Curbs Checkoff.
The bill would declare it to
be the public policy Of the State
that the right Of persons to
work shall not be denied or
: abridged on account Of menu
bership or non-membership in
any labor union
It also would affect the union
dues checkon system in q clause
prohibiting employers from re-
quiring any Aemploye ito pay
any dues, fees or other charges
of any kind" to labor union.
r. c. Harris. jry Of the South
ern Oxygen Co, Bladensburg.
told the Prince Georges House
members that General Electric.
Westinghouse and. Western Elec-
trio located plants in Virginia
because Of the right-to-work law
that State adopted In 1947.
What attracted them. he said.
was the assurance that they
would have "less trouble with
unions"
Wage Question Raised.
Carlton r. SickleS, a Prince
Georges delegate. who is q labor
lawyer, questioned whether the
real attraction wasn't the low
wages that result from a right
to-work law. All the business
leaders disagreed with this.
Samuel H. Harvey of Harvey
Dairy. Inc, Brentwood, said. ut
Is the duty Of the State Of Mary
land to protect individuals who
don't want to be dragged into
unions"
A. H. Smith Of Smith Sand a.
Gravel Co.. Branchville, said
there is no bitterness in our
hearts toward unions, but We
believe they, should not have q
monopoly on the labor market"
Delegate Perry o. Wilkinson.
chairman Of the all-Democratic
Prince Georges House delega-
ton. said. after the conference.
no one in his group will intro