Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-07
Union Leaders,
On Labor Day,

BY the Associated Press

Dor Day statements Of union
leaders today as they pictured
labor defending itself against
a powerful onslaught by big
business.
On the other hand, President
Eisenhower issued a statement
stressing the giant gains made
by American labor in the goth
century.
And Secretary Of Labor
Mitchell, agreeing with the
Presidents estimate of prog
ress. added that labor should
move forward and try to raise
the low economic status of the
migrant farm worker.
Two issues ranked labor
leaders as they tried to marshal
union strength on the Nations
55th Labor Day. One issue was
the new labor control bill. The
other was increased resistance
by employers to union demands
for higher wages. an issue en-
Iphasized by the steel strike.
'Anti-LabOr Day
Today might as we'll be
called anti-labor day." said
James B. Carey, president of
the International Union of
Electrical Workers and a vice
president Of the AFL-CIO.
But the AFL-CIO officially
named the day Support the
eel-Workers Day" in a move
to help the 100000 steel work.
ers who have been on strike
for eight weeks.
George Meany. president Of
the AFL-CIO, said labor would
have to fight. big business with
a new program of education
and political power.
big business leaders are
doing everything in their power
to weaken and destroy our
trade union movement" Mr..
Meany said in a statement.
I'VE have determined that
we will have to organize for
political education and political
action in the same thorough
and painstaking way that we
organized in the past for eco
nomic purposes"
Reuther Sees Trouble
Walter Reuther, president of
the United Auto Workers and
an AFL-CIO vice president.
said, I'VE are in trouble in
America"
This has happened. he con-
tinued, because giant corpo-
rations exercising monopoly
control over vital sectors of
the American economy are
motivated by selfish policies
which deny workers, farmersI
and consumers cheir fair share
of the increased productivity
made possible by our develop
ing technology"
Mr.. Eisenhower's statement,
released by the White House
in his absence. said: "One can
not look back over past Labor
Days without a compelling
awareness Of the broad and
constant Improvement in the
condition Of our people. in the
real wages they receive. and
in the benefits they enjoy"
American labor has ad-
vanced continuously to new |
heights Of accomplishment"
Mr.. Eisenhower continued.
THE rise in our level Of
living - the social and eco
nomic progress of American
working men and women -
gives promise Of continuing
achievement"
Carey Hits President
The President came under
sharp attack by Mr.. Carey in
a radio-TV interview yesterday.
Mr.. Carey accused the Presi-
dent of making a dishonest
speech in trying to drum up
support for the labor bill that
Congress finally passed.
He said the President was
deceived by the Chamber of .
Commerce in his speech.
Secretary Mitchell arranged
to speak at a ceremony by the
grave of labor leader Peter j.
Mcguire. the founder OF Labor
Day. q
Since that first Labor Day
in 1894" Mr.. Mitchell said in
his prepared speech, our pro-
duction has multiplied four
times, employment has tripled,
real earnings have tripled,
average hourly earnings have
risen five times, the work week
has gone down from go to 40
hours. and working conditions
have improved UNNECESSARILY
as far as health. safety and
comfort are concerned" Z