Evening star., 1955-05-03
Annual WAGE
SCALED Rose
With Thorns'
Warning on Cost
Given in Talk Before
u. S. Chamber

Leaders of the Nations busi-
ness were warned today that the
guaranteed annual wage is a
beautiful rose" but that they
had better find out where the
thorns are and "how much they
can scratch you"
The warning came from Frank
B. Cliffe, vice president of the
H. ]. Heinz Co., Pittsburgh. He
addressed the United States
Chamber of Commerce at a
general session of its 43rd con-
vention in the chambers
building.
Mr.. Cliffe said that, in recent
weeks, union leaders have shifted
their demands. They still refer
to the guaranteed annual wage,
he said, but what they really
want is guaranteed annual work.
Where steady employment can
be given, he said, the cost Of the
annual guarantee may be negli-
gible. But in such instances. en-
ployes are not likely to make de-
mands for a guaranteed annual
wage, he continued.
Demand Indicates Cost
"Where the demand is made
the cost is apt to be great" he
added.
Another speaker, Harry A.
Bulls of Minneapolis, chairman
of the board Of General Mills.
Inc, urged delegates to shoulder
their social responsibilities vol
UNFAIRLY.
Mr.. Bulls raised the question
which he said he could not
answer-whether business would
have avoided Government con-
trolls If it had met its social re-
sponsibilities several decades
ago. But he did say that most
of the businesses which continue
to accept additional response
bilities on their own free will are
ahead of Governments compul-
sorry legislation.
Rail President Speaks
The so-called right-to- work
laws, which the National Cham
ber. fayors, were discussed by
Fred G. Gurley of Chicago,
president of the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.
Eighteen States have passed
right-to-work laws. The Cham
ber is urging other States to
adopt them also. Such laws rule
out union shop agreements
whereby an employe must join
the union to remain a company
worker.
Mr.. Gurley said the majority
OF employers are opposed to
compulsory union membership
in any form. He added that
many have agreed to the union
shop under coersion.
Carter L.. Burgess, Assistant
Secretary Of Defense for Man
power, addressing the general
session, asked for support Of
President Eisenhower's reserve
plan for maintaining military
strength.
He disclosed that the depart
ment is studying an expanded
ROTC program. The aim would
be to encourage the development
of specialists-engineers, scien-
fists, linguists and others-for
the military and for defense
industry.
Attracting Industries
Harry A. DeButts of Wash
ington, president of the South
ern Railway System, told a
luncheon meeting of the tech
niques Of community action to
attract industries and provide
more jobs.
Last year. he said, there were
more than 353 industrial devel-
opments in towns served by the
Southern Railway. The number
of new job opportunities result
ing was $4,000 and total invest
ment was about $500,000. These
developments included new in
dustries. warehouses, distribu-
tors and major additions to ex-
isting plants.
He said the railroad and its
industrial development depart
ment have found it takes team
work and sound planning to OBJ
tain the location of new plant.
Surprise Speaker
A surprise speaker before a
labor relations forum yesterday
afternoon was presented as Ivar
Nyman. former Soviet diplomat
and Red army colonel. But he
identified himself to newsmen
later as Igor Bogolepov, now of
Washington. He left his country
men in 1945 in Germany and
came to this country in 1852. He
has testified before Congressional
committees.
"The greatest deterrent to
Communist aggression is not
NATO and not American arma-
ments." he told yesterdays meet
ing, "but the unwillingness of
the Russian people to support
the policy of world revolution of
their rulers. AS bad as their
situation is now. they know that
war would worsen it,"
He was interviewed by Alden
H. Sypher, editor Of Nations s
Business. The Hotel Statler
meeting room was dramatically
darkened for his appearance,
and before and after the inter-
view he sat behind a pillar.
Another speaker was Hoyt p.
Steele, president of the Benja-
min Electric Manufacturing Co.,
Des PLANES, Ill. He said the cost
Of labor boycotts cannot be