Owned and Published by 
and for Lansing Labor

Phone 2-9612

OFFICE: 109 E. South St.

VOL. 1, NO. 14

Lansing Labor News

Official Weekly Newspaper of CIO Labor in Lansing
MAIL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 657, Lansing 3, Mich.

15,000 Paid Subscriptions 
For City War Workers

5c PER 
COPY
$1.50 Per Year by Mail

LANSING, MICHIGAN — JUNE 14, 1945

ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY

OLDS LOCAL DELEGATES REPORT

What the CIO Does in 
Washington About 
Stopping Higher Prices

Here is a ringside account of how the union fights for extension of 
price control legislation to prevent living costs from suddenly sky­
rocketing in this coming period of less employment and less take-home 
pay. The article, submitted by the two members of Olds Local 652 
recently voted to send to Washington to assist the CIO in this campaign, 
is their report to the Local 652 membership, but will be of interest to 
everyone else who is concerned about the menace of inflation and what 
is being done about it. — Editor.

By RUSSELL WHITE and ALVIN TAYLOR 
Representing Olds Local 652 in Washington

WASHINGTON

NEWS

NOTES

By

TRAVIS K. 
HEDRICK

For Federated 
Press and 
Lansing Labor 
News

Labor and the Tories

Our British cousins have 
launched their first election 
campaign since the war with a 
bitterness that holds a def­
inite lesson for the American 
worker.

Led by that sturdy old tory, 
Winston Churchill, the Conser­
vatives have signalized the 
break in the war-cabinet by 
waving the red flag at the La­
bour party and shouting for 
the Liberals to join them in 
fighting back socialism.

Now Churchill is undoubedly 
a great war leader. His figure 
symbolized the fighting spirit 
of the British. He is an orator 
of no little power. But he is the 
same Churchill who followed- 
up his defiance of Hitler after 
the collapse of France with a 
statement that he “did not be­
come His Majesty’s first offi­
cer to preside over the liquid­
ation of His empire.”

Churchill is pure tory. He is 
an English imperialist . . . and 
he means to keep the crown col­
onies, and India, under British 
rule for the benefit of British 
capitalists. He ignores democ­
racy, save in the abstract.

So, when the British Labour 
Party and the Liberals decided 
to break up the coalition cabin­
et, Churchill struck at once. He 
moved to make the election 
come at once ... in July. Then 
he took to the air and delivered 
an epoch speech in which he de­
clared that socalism “is insep­
arably interwoven with totalit­
arianism and the worship of 
the state.” For good measure 
he charged that “no socialist 
system can be established with- 
out a political police—a sort of 
Gestapo.”

The British Labour party is 
a socialist party. It is not a 
communist party. It proposes 
nationalization of public utili­
ties and the railroads. It pro­
poses full production and full 
employment after the war.

Chruchill sees that as a men­
ace to imperialist policy and ex­
ploitation. He chooses to run 
on a nationalist” platform and 
shoves aside all his previously 
held beliefs in the need of Brit­
ish unity.

he prime minister warned

See WASHINGTON, Page 3

We were selected at the June 
membership meeting to attend 
a series of meetings in Wash­
ington, D. C., June 7 with the 
Congressmen and Senators from 
Michigan on the question of 
price control and economic sta­
bilization.

We arrived in Washington 
about 9:30 a. m. and went at 
once to the CIO offices where 
we met with the CIO’s Legisla­
tive Representatives and other 
delegates from other local un­
ions and councils from Michi­
gan.

We were informed that the 
whole price control act was 
under fire and in danger of 
crippling amendments which 
would make OPA even less 
effective than it has been in 
the past.

Our leadership in Washington 
felt that even one amendment, 
if passed, would open the gates 
to further amendments propos­
ed by vested-interests which 
would in effect eliminate price 
control and leave the workers 
without any protection from the 
profiteers at a time when their  
take home pay has been reduced.
Republicans, led by Taft, were 
attempting to undermine price 
control by the following:

The Taft Amendment requir­
ed every price ceiling (except 
farm products) to cover various 
stated costs plus a 1938-40 pro­
fit margin.

This would knock out pres­
ent rent freeze regulations, 
forcing OPA to put a value 
on everyone of 15 1/2 million 
rented properties. Result — 
end of rent control.

It would require every rent 
ceiling to cover operating costs 
plus a reasonable return or fair 

value of property.

This would knock out pres­
ent price freeze regulations, 
force many prices up, force 
none donw. Result — wide- 
open break in present con­
trols.

It would eliminate price ceil- 
ngs on luxuries, or when ceil- 
ngs are not enforcible, or when 
 price doesn’t substantially ef­
fect cost of living.

These were talking points de­
signed to force concessions in 
floor debate. All undermine 
price control.

The Thomas Amendment re­
quired a ceiling on every farm 
product, or things made of farm 
products (food and clothing) to 
cover stated costs and a fixed 
profit margin. Effect — the 
same as first part of the Ta 
Amendment.

The 3- or 6-months renewal

See FIGHTING PRICES—Page 2

Democracy At Work

What Wage Freeze!
Washington (LPA)—What’s 
good for the goose, labor should 
take a gander at. Within the 
space of five hours the House 
of Representatives voted itself 
a 25% pay raise and President 
Truman announced that the 
wage freeze on U. S. war work­
ers would not be lifted at pres­
ent.

Labor Welcomes 
New Chairman 
Of the NLRB
Washington (LPA) — Presi­
dent Truman’s appointment of 
Paul M. Herzog, former chair­
man of the N. Y. State Labor 
Board, to become chairman of 
the Nat’l Labor Relations Board 
was welcomed by all sections of 
organized labor here last week.
Herzog, who is 39 and serving 
now with the Navy’s Industrial 
Relations Section, succeeds 
Harry A. Millis, 72-year-old 
chairman of NLRB since 1940. 
Rated as one of the outstanding 
experts in the field of labor re­
lations, Herzog is considered 
one of the early New Dealers. 
He was executive secretary of 
the Labor Board established by 
Hugh Johnson’s Nat’l Recovery 
Administration and joined the 
NLRB when it was set up under 
the Wagner Act.

From 1939 to 1943 he served 
on the N. Y. State Labor Board 
which has a national reputa­
tion for receiving more approv­
al from organized labor than 
any other state labor board. The 
N. Y. State Labor Relations Act 
is widely known particularly 
for the protection it gives to 
craft unions. Former Gov. Her­
bert Lehman made Herzog 
chairman of the New York 
board in 1942. He resigned to 
join the Navy the following 
year.

Mike O’Neil
Buys Cleaners
Mike O’Neil, former Nash Lo- 
cal 13 committeeman and a 
worker at the plant since 1942. 
has purchased Al’s Dry Clean- 
ng Service, a 12-year-old flour­
ishing business operated at 
1701 Rundle ave.

The deal was closed Friday 
and O’Neil left Nash Saturday 
to devote full time to his busi­
ness.

O’Neil’s ready wit will be 
missed at the plant, but the 
gang is congratulating him or 
he deal and extending best 
wishes for his success.

Union Beaten 
At Wohlert’s
Though nearly a hundred em­
ployes had signed CIO cards, the 
union was defeated 60 to 38 in 
n election Monday at Wohlert 
Corporation.

George Nadar, Int’l Repre­
sentative, said the firm had 
ent a letter (see editorial, page 
2) to employees a few days be- 
fore election which may have in­
fluenced many votes.

The union will definitely pro­

test the election, he said.

WASHINGTON (FP) — Un­
less American labor receives a 
larger share of what it produc­
es than in 1940, when 10 mil­
lion workers were jobless, even 
more will be unemployed in 
the near future, CIO Pres. Phil- 
ip Murray warned

—Federated Pictures

In Philadelpihia racial discrimination in hiring and firing will 
be fought jointly from now on by the CIO and the Government’s 
Fair Employment Practices Committee. The two groups signed 
an agreement in which the CIO pledged itself to take initial action 
to stop unfair job practices because of race, creed, color or national 
origin which may involve a CIO local. Signing the agreement (left 
to right seated) are G. James Fleming, FEPC regional director; 
Norma Becker, member CIO Anti-Discrimination Committee; 
(standing) Peter J. Murphy, president Delaware County Industrial 
Union Council; Samuel R. Risk, FEPC examiner; James H. Jones, 
chairman, CIO Anti-Discrimination Committee and member of 
the United Steelworkers-CIO; Robert Parker, CIO Anti-Discrimin­
ation Committee and area director for the Nat’l CIO War Relief 
Committee. (LPA)

Army Explanation Fails 
To Satisfy; Union Still
Protests the Fisher "E"

No matter how bad a war 
plant’s labor relation record, 
no matter how much they stal­
led about getting into war work, 
no matter how little of their 
total facilities they may have 
converted into war work, no 
matter how inefficiently and 
wastefully since Pearl Harbor 
they have utilized the war ef­
fort’s most precious commodity 
—labor—a war plant may still 
be awarded the Army-Navy “E” 
flag, officials of Local 602 
earned last week.

They also learned—direc­
tly from Army-Navy officials 
—that it doesn't matter what 
labor thinks about the matter 
or what evidence they might 
want to present about any of 
the above points to the con­
trary, such an award may be 
—and was—made anyway.

The Army-Navy “E” flag was 
awarded last week Wednesday 
to Fisher Body. The union, has­

Called ’Em to Detroit

tily notified less than 24 hours 
before, called a special meeting 
of the executive board and voted 
to rush a telegram of protest to 
Washington. A list of their 
specific reasons are printed in 
this issue.

See FISHER "E"—Page 4

Don’t Hang 'E'
Near 'Old Glory'
Because they strongly felt that 
it wasn’t earned or deserved, 
Local 602 officials asked Army 
officers if the “E” flag awarded 
the company over labor’s pro­
test could be flown from a staff 
other than the one on which the 
American flag hung. On the 
same staff it would be an in­
sult to “Old Glory”, they said.

There was no reply to this 

suggestion.

How the Army Announced
Reo Cutback to Union 
and Company Presidents

Termination of Reo’s 2 1/2 ton A Army truck contract may 
not mean that all production on this type of truck will cease 
June 30. In this article outlining the announcement of the 
cutbacks it is mentioned that an order for some more of 
these units is being prepared by another government ag­
ency. Watch for further news about whether this goes 
through. 
-Editor.

By RAYMOND W. REED
President Reo Local 650

At the request of Brigadier General A. B. Quinton Jr., Chief 
of the Detroit Ordnance District, I attended a meeting Friday 
June 8th at which time Labor as well as Management was in­
formed of the termination June 30, of the 2 1/2 ton truck con 
tract between Army Ordnance 
and Reo Motors Inc.

None of Us Knew

Neither Mr. Hund, president 
and general manager of Reo 
Motors Inc., who represented 
management at this meeting, 
nor myself, knew why our pres­
ence at this meeting had been 
requested.

In makng the announcement 
it was stated that due to the re­
sults of swiftly changing mil­
itary requirements brought a- 
bout-by the total collapse of 
Germany, the contract for the 
2^ ton trucks at this plant had 
been readjusted by the War 
Department, and that notice of
See ARMY CUTBACKS—Page 3

U. S., ENGLAND MAY HELP

Nazis Industrialists 
Planning to Escape 
All War Guilt

Here is a story you will not see in very many publications, 
a story about the men behind the scenes who backed the 
German war machine and financed Fascism and the Nazi 
party to destroy organized labor and halt the march of 
liberalism and social progress in Germany and Europe. This 
story is not about those dark days but about the rosy future 
these same industrialists anticipate under American and 
English (but not Russian) occupation — while our news­
paper and magazine headlines scream that the war guilt 
will be placed upon German workers or generals or the de­
funct Nazis. Here is how fascism expects to get started 
again and how it expects America and England to help.
— Editor.

By HERBERT A. KLEIN 
FP War Correpondent

SUPREME ALLIED HEADQUARTERS (delayed) (FP) — 
While the German military leaders get themselves in the spot­
light, trying to cast blame for their nation’s war policy and 
deeds of horror upon the top Nazis, another powerful group 
has kept safely in the background as it maneuvers for a come­
back.

In 1918 it was the Kaiser who fled while the generals stayed. 
This time the danger is that after the top Nazis are gone, by

All Factories Were Not Hit Like This

Many German war plants are in ruins, like this Krupp armament 
works at Essen, but FP War Correspondent Herbert A. Klein says 
German monoply industries still have enough of their plants intact 
to make tempting proposals to their colleagues in other nations.

—Federated Pictures

suicide, mutual murder or execution, and even after some of the 
generals and the admirals are removed, the directors and man­
agers of the super-corporations may stay on at their old stands.
Every man, woman and child in the United Nations has an 
interest in seeing that this bloody conflict does not end with 
the men whose dirty work the Nazis did pulling a comback for 
another try. The picture is not complete, and many things may 
change it, especially an aroused public opinion in the victor na­
tions. But here are a few facts I have picked up from my own 
observations in Germany and from conversations with other 
correspondents:

READY FOR CARTEL PROFITS AGAIN

1. Top men of German industry, notably those tied up 
with big industry across the channel and overseas by means 
of cartel agreements, co-ownership and inter-locking direc­
torates—these men expect that in the areas occupied by 
Americans and British they soon will be able to resume 
production and profit making, more or less as usual. This 
applies especially to the powerful chemical trust, I. G. 
Farben Industrie.

2. Most of these economic lords of Germany today are 
living in comfort, well-housed, well-fed, well-served. They 
are not too much worried about what “die Amerikaner” 
will do, although most of them were admittedly Nazi party 
members and all of them were among those who benefitted 
most from Nazi policies and guided the Nazis in those pol- 
icies.

EAGER TO BUY GOOD WILL

3. As evidence of their goodwill towards their recent 
enemies, they are all set to turn over substantial accumu­
lated dividends from German war indusry to American 
and British stockholders. For instance, the lucky holders 
of I. G. Farben stock can figure on receiving more than 40% 
accumulated dividends—very tempting—if the I. G. Farben 
directors can wangle permission to transfer funds they as- 
sertedly have long had ready for this purpose. This is a 
thinly disguised attempt to bribe.

4. Spearheading the drive for restoration of German 
production and profits will be the heads of many big corp­
orations whose plants have been damaged little or not at all, 
in spite of the air assault on Germany. There are many of 
them. Despite thorough devastation of many towns, prob-

See NAZI INDUSTRIALISTS—Page 4

 
Well, How About It?

News from the

AUXILIARIES

FISHER AUXILIARY

Due to our Michigan weather 
the Fisher Auxiliary was forced 
to hold their weinie roast in­
side.

Dinner was served to about 75 
people at the Fisher hall. There 
was dancing during the eve­
ning and a few interesting card 
games. Everyone had a good 
time.

We are glad to announce that 
the Auxiliary will have about 
$50.00 to help equip a day room 
at the Percy Jones hospital.

Mrs. Mildred Ewing has just 
become a member of our Aux­
iliary and we hope that some of 
the other wives of the good 
union members will soon join us. 
How about it ladies?

Not a Bad Tip!
Washington (LPA)—A wage 
increase of five cents an hour, 
and equal pay for waiters and 
waitresses, was ordered by the 
War Labor Board last week for 
workers in 20 hotels here. Back 
pay from October 1, 1944, will 
amount to about $250,000.

Home Front
Casualties
Loom Large
Boston (LPA) — Official sta­
tistics of the Interstate Com­
merce Commission show that in 
the past five years casualties 
among railroad workers — in 
line of duty — increased 45 per 
cent in fatalities and 80 per cent 
in injuries: 4,182 killed and 
171,500 injured, a total of more 
than 175,000 home front War­
time casualties among railroad 
men alone.

CIO Has Plan 
For More Shoes
Washington (LPA) — Presi-
Washington (LPA) — Presi­
dents of four CIO unions, whose 
workers skin, tan, fabricate and 
sell leather in shoes, last week 
informed War Production 
Board Chairman J. A. Krug 
that if WPB would order the 
tanning of pigskin and their 
manufacture into shoes the re­
sult would be the addition of 
100 million pairs of rationed 
shoes a year to the present sup­
ply of 259 million pairs.

FOOD RATION STAMPS GOOD

LANSING LABOR NEWS, INC.
MAIL ADDRESS: P. O. Box 657, Lansing 3, Mich.
OFFICE: 109 E. South St. — Phone 2-6912

A non-profit newspaper dedicated to the interests of the community 
and to the interests of labor here and everywhere. Published every Thurs­
day at the Lansing CIO Council headquarters by the following incorporated 
body, representing locals voting to participate.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT—Ernest Miller (Reo 650). VICE-PRES.—Maurice McNaughton (Fisher 
602). SEC.-TREAS.—Kenneth McCreedy (CIO Council). TRUSTEES—George Jake­
way (Fisher 602), William Treanor (Olds 652). MEMBERS—Robert Richardson (Olds 
652), Odell Z. Lamb, Roy Newton (Nash 13), Charles O’Brien (Reo 650), Maurice 
MacNaughton (Fisher 602), V. E. Vandenburg (CIO Council), Peter Fagan, Adrian 
Jensen (Olofsson 728), Arthur Chappell (Dairy 93), James W. Roberts, Dean Reed 
(SCMWA 276). ASSOCIATE MEMBERS—Mrs. Robert Atkinson (Olds Aux.), Mrs. 
Harold Wilson (Olds Aux.), Mrs. William McCurdy (Fisher Aux.), Mrs. J. B. Eno 
(Fisher Aux.), Mrs. Evelyn Moss, Mrs. Etta Kenyon (Local 93 Aux.).

EDITOR — V. E. VANDENBURG

SUBSCRIPTIONS — Included in the dues of participating locals. Individ­
ual subscription, $1.50 per year by mail.

CONTRIBUTIONS—Should be typed double-spaced on one side of paper and 
signed with author’s name, phone arid address. Name will not be used if requested. 
Privilege of rewriting to fit news style of paper is reserved, but facts will not be 
changed. Interesting news about people in shops or in service is solicited. 
Notes on news not written up but containing complete names and all the facts 
are acceptable too. Mail all contributions to Lansing Labor News, P. O. Box 657, 
Lansing 3, Mich.

Did Wohlert Employees Vote to 
Handle Their Own Affairs?

An anti-union argument apparently enjoying favor among 
local firms attempting to prevent organizing was used again 
by the president of Wohlert’s in a letter sent to employees a 
few days before the election Monday. This statement appeared 
in the letter:

“This election will determine whether you want the union 
to represent you or whether you desire to continue to handle 
your own affairs.”

Then, after claiming an interest in steady work, fair wages 
and improved working conditions, this smash climax was used 
for the conclusion:

Don’t you feel that the fair treatment you have received 
from the present management indicates your own ability 
to handle your own affairs?”

The theme of this type of argument is that in selecting a union 
and electing from among themselves fellow workers best able 
to do collective bargaining for the entire group the employees 
are not handling their own affairs.

The fact of the matter is that not only would they be “hand­
ling their own affairs” when they vote for the union and later 
for their own associates as bargaining committeemen, but they 
would be handling the affairs far more effectively and demo­
cratically than they could by any other possible method — in- 
eluding any other method the Wohlert president might suggest.
But their president didn’t outline any method of employees 
handling their own affairs. That, of course, is just what the 
company doesn’t want. Regardless of how well meaning man­
agement may be at Wohlert’s, they have their heart set on doing 
all the handling of employee affairs themselves — or at least 
on not dealing with more than one employee at a time, if they 
can help it.

LIKE MOST EMPLOYERS, THEY BELIEVE IN COOP­
ERATIVE EFFORT IN WAR, IN GOVERNMENT, IN PRO­
DUCTION AND IN PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING EXCEPT 
IN BARGAINING WITH EMPLOYEES.

Are American Newspapers Covering Up 
For the Real German War Criminals?

There is much for suspicious meditation in the frantic cam­
paign to indict the German people for the Nazis war crimes. It 
is now pretty obvious that there has been a maximum of journal­
istic indicting based upon a minimum of printed evidence.

Give the German people a chance to again become decent citi­
zens by enslaving them to rebuild Europe, rave the editorials— 
thereby finishing off months of unsupported indictment by pass­
ing sentence without trial. And what a sentence! Just the beat 
the hell out of them until they love us again!

But where is the evidence that the German people planned 

the Nazis regime and plotted the war?

These self-appointed publisher courts have given but little 
attention to evidence, though to us it seems rather fundamenal 
and important.

IT SEEMS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE FIRST VICTIMS 
OF THE NAZIS WERE GERMAN CITIZENS; THAT HUN­
DREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GERMANS WERE THE FIRST 
TO SUFFER DELIBERATE STARVATION, ROUTINE 
BEATINGS AND OTHER SADISTIC TORTURES; AND 
THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LABOR UNION LEAD­
ERS WERE MURDERED.

And now it is proposed that we get these German workers 
-—those still alive—out of the concentration camps and enslave 
them some more in factories which turn out products "to rebuild 
the Europe their Nazis destroyed,” the wages and working con­
ditions no doubt to be decided by the owners of the factories.

Conspicuous by its absence in the large publications which 
are settling the war guilt issue for us is any conideration of in­
dustrialists or bankers—the people actually able to finance 
Fascim and promote Hitler and who in any country have the 
most influence in government.

 .Hitler’s system started with expensive propaganda, expen­
sive bribes and a privately owned and paid army. This required 
money—hundreds of thousands of dollars.

WHO FURNISHED THAT MONEY?

Hitler’s system required even in the beginning hundreds of 
thousands of impressive uniforms, blackjacks, guns and plenty 
of ammunition.

WHO MANUFACTURED THAT MATERIAL FOR HIM?

It should not be too difficult to learn who was directly re­
sponsible for Hitler and his gangsters. Nor would it be difficult 
for our big-time publishers to figure out a motive—since about 
the first thing the Nazis did was to destroy organized labor and 
end its fights for better wages and working conditions in Ger­
many,

The industrialists and financiers behind the scenes who

WASHINGTON
(Continued from Page 1)
against the spectre of inflation 
and said the socialists would 
permit the people’s savings to 
"shrivel before their eyes.” He 
asked for reelection and ad­
vised the people of Britain to 
wait till another day ... to 
"leave these socialist dreamers 
to their Utopias or their night­
mares.”

All of Churchill’s speech, 
transformed into Americanisms 
would make a true-to-form 
Hoover Republican war-cry. It 
would fit the GOP program of 
Sen. Robert A. Taft, the Ohio 
tory if we here were suddenly 
faced with a national election 
campaign.

Churchill’s words are just 
what Taft, Hoover and Vanden­
burg would choose to fight the 
New Deal policies of the late 
Pres. Roosevelt and their im­
plementation by Pres Truman.

There is not too much hope 
that the British Labour Party 
can win the election. But Brit­
ish workers will learn a valu­
able lesson in the fight and Am­
erican workers can do worse 
than read and observe the 
truths being laid bare during 
the ruckus.

Tories, however much they 
may work for a comon cause 
during the fight against a com­
mon peril such as fascism, re­
main tories forever. All the 
Churchill oratory about free­
dom, democracy, and the rights 
of man might have been so 
much hog-wash so far as his 
party’s domestic political pro­
gram is concerned.

Here in America we have our 
share of tories in the federal 
government. They include that 
white-haired, toothy spokesman 
of the House of Morgan, Sec. of 
State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. 
and Asst. Sec. James C. Dunn.
Stettinius, a sophomore in 
the international political ar­
ena, is by law, the next in line 
to succeed to the Presidency. 
Not only is he an inexperienced 
cabinet oficer, but he is a pos­
itive menace should anything 
happen to the 60-year-old Pres. 
Truman. Truman, fortunately, 
is hale and hearty today. But he 
has almost four years of heavy 
duty ahead and the job has 
killed other men with lesser 
loads.

We could well be rid of Stet- 

tinius & co.

Cigarettes
WASHINGTON (LPA) — 
You can stop saving cigarette 
butts now. Army requirements, 
lessened during May, June and 
July, will make available for 
national distribution about 
200,000,000 packages of cigar­
ettes, according to the War 
Dep’t.

FIGHTING PRICES
(Continued from Page 1)
would build up pressure to end 
price and rent control before 
danger of inflation has passed. 
Meanwhile, speculators would 
hold goods off the market, and 
industry would take its time re­
converting to civilian goods, in 
anticipation of higher prices.

We met with Senator Wagner 
of New York at 10 :15 a. m. at 
his office.

Senator Wagner has in the 
past proposed and suported 
legislation favorable to lab­
or; but we got the same im­
pression with him as with 
others, that, with the strong 
and friendly hand of Roose­
velt no longer there to guide 
them, many people in Wash­
ington are confused as to just 
what policy to follow in these 
troubled times.

However, he did assure us 
he was interested in main­
taining price control.

At 11:00 a. m. we met with 
Democratic Congressmen, John 
Dingell, Louis Rabout, George 
O’Brien, George Sadowski, 
Frank Hook, and John Lesin­
ski in Mr. Lesinski’s office on 
the second floor of the Old 
House office bldg.

This meeting was rather long 
and produced better results. All 
the Democratic Congressmen 
were for strict price control, but 
were of the opinion that the 
OPA had not been too well man­
aged, and of course this is true, 
partially because sufficient 
funds were never made avail­
able to do a proper job and some­
what as a result of the per- 
sonell selected to do the job.

However, everyone admit­
ted that with all its mistakes, 
price control had done a fair 
job—especially on rents — 
and could have done better 
if there had been sufficient 
funds made available and if 
the OPA had received better 
support from everyone.

The Democrats stated that 
they were also in favor of con­
tinuing price control after the 
war for as long as was neces­
sary.

We adjourned the meeting 
(to permit the Congressmen to 
get back and answer a House 
roll call) convinced that at least 
some of them believed as we did 
in the necessity of and effective 
price control program.

At 3:00 p. m. we met with Mr. 
Chamberlain, Secretary to Sen­
ator Ferguson in the Senate of­
fice bldg.

The Senator is in Europe, do­
ing some special work for the 
Government. We spent little 
time there as Mr. Chamberlain 
couldn’t tell us the Senator’s 
position.

He, however, informed us

sought to fight union and social democracy by backing the Nazis 
are the real Fascists. In their aims they have the sympathy— 
yes, and cooperation—of Fascist minded people in America, in­
cluding the publishers of large newspapers and magazines who 
print articles implying that the criminals who started this war 
against the people are the German people themselves.

AN OPEN LETTER

To Kenneth McCreedy and John Knight

Recently John S. Knight in his Detroit Free Press editorial­
ized that $25 a week was too much social security for President 
Truman to recommend for unemployed workers because it 
would destroy incentive, initiative, etc. It was a long editorial.

Last week Kenneth McCreedy of the Lansing Labor News 
board of directors wrote another edtorial on the subject, effec­
tively answering Mr. Knight’s rationalizing. That, too, was  
long editorial.

It somehow seems to us that one big point was missed by 
the mass of words in both articles. With all the excellent lines 
and phrases for and against the proposed stipend as a means of 
security, no one thought to point out that even if it were passed—

TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS A WEEK WOULD NOT 

MEAN SECURITY.

Just try supporting a family on it for a few months, making 
current payments and meeting present-day prices for every day 
necessities. However, it would help. But Mr. Knight obviously 
is opposed even to that much help to workers who must await 
reconversion as millions of them- will have to do.

Eagles Support
Annual Wages
Washington (LPA) — The 
Fraternal Order of Eagles, with 
a national membership of more 
than 875,000, is solidly, behind 
organized labor’s drive for a 
guaranteed annual wage, John 
W. Young, president of the or­
ganization, announced last 
week. "The guaranteed annual 
wage,” he declared, "will en­
courage employment and . . . 
remove from the American 
worker the daily irritation of 
not knowing what his income 
will be next week or next 
month.”

that the Senator had expressed 
himself in favor of price control 
until the end of the war. He 
also told us that every other 
group besides Labor had re­
quested certain amendment to 
benefit themselves regardless 
of the effect on the nation as 
a whole.

He said he felt price con­
trol should be maintained, 
but to get the funds would 
be another matter.

He also felt the amendments 
we felt undesirable would not 
pass, and he expressed the 
opinion that the Postmen would 
receive their raise.

At 4 p. m. we met with the, 
Republican Congressmen Ray 
Woodruff, Earl Michener, Wil­
liam Blackney, Albert Engel, 
Bartel Jonkman, Paul Shafer. 
Fred Bradley, Jesse Wolcott, 
Fred Crawford and George 
Dondero.

We didn’t expect quite the re­
sults on the reception from the 
Republican as we did the 
Democrats. However, everyone 
attempted to bring home to 
these Congressmen the import­
ance of maintaining price con­
trol and of obtaining sufficient 
funds.

Our delegates from the ladies’ 
auxiliary being closer to the 
food problems, gave some very 
good examples of the present 
conditions of the food and 
clothing markets, etc.

We had to leave this meeting 
a little early to catch the 5:10 
p. m. train for Detroit.

These meetings brought 
home the fact to the dele­
gates who made the trip that 
unless organized labor is a- 
live and active in the days 
and months ahead, we shall 
pay very dearly for our in­
activity.

Union Label Can't 
Be Used Without 
Consent of Union
Washington (LPA)—A union 
label is the property of the 
union and may not be used by a 
manufacturer without the 
union’s consent, the War Labor 
Board ruled last week.

The decision was handed down 
in a dispute between the General 
Cable Corp., St. Louis, and the 
Int’l Brotherhood of Electrical 
Workers-AFL. The company 
asked the WLB to retain in a

new contract a clause permit­
ting the management to use or 
not to use the union label when­
ever it wished. The Regional 
WLB approved the company’s 
demand but was reversed last 
week by the national board.

The union contended that 
since the WLB refused to order 
the union shop, asked by the 
IBEW, it should not order the 
union to furnish its trademark 
to products produced by non­
union employes, who have no 
obligation to fulfill duties re­
quired of members.

Poor Fella!

buy war bonds

What Will Your Dollar Buy?

Around The Shops

By George Nader

This past week has been a 
week of announcements. Nash 
management has announced 
that both Nash plants will be 
continued in operation, despite 
the cutbacks already made or 
any that might be made.

That is swell — but it is my 
opinion that they should get 
busy so that both plants can be 
in full operation. I feel that 
the case at Nash as any other 
plant, where we’ve had cutbacks, 
is a test of what and when — 
what we are going to do to as­
sure full employment, and 
when we are going to do it.

If industry is to fulfill it’s ob­
ligation of contributing to full 
employment on conversion and 
in the post-war period — then 
it must show a desire to utilize 
its plants and the available man­
power.

Reo has announced that 900 
employees will be laid off — 
that doesn’t look too bad, if 900 
is all. I hope so. That amount 
of employees can be used in 
other plants. Reo has done a 
good job of increasing their 
employment and if they con­
tinue that policy, will get con­
tracts to assure continuous full 
employment.

Some small plants such as 
Duplex have had to lay off due 
to contract cancellations. Oth­
ers like Novo, Hill Diesel, Kold 
Hold are in need of more em­
ployees to fill jobs brought a- 
bout by new contracts or by 
expansion.

Labor is going to have to 
watch the events of the next 
few weeks, for these will deter­
mine the picture of the future. 
Labor is going to have to insist 
that contracts be let up to al­
low the use of available men and 
women employees, who, through 
no fault of their own, are un­
employed.

I see where Fisher Local 602 
is protesting the award to Fish­
er Corporation, and I Want to 
congratulate the boys, and girls 
for doing it, when they feel that 
all that could have been done 
wasn’t done. A good example 
of it is the lay-offs anticipated 
at Fisher. Why a big Corpora­
tion can’t keep a large modern 
plant working is a joke. I cer­
tainly think they could — if 
they wanted to. Let’s hope their 
plans for the future are for a 
better use of facilities available 
here. The was a case of 
presentation without participa­
tion.

Got Novo Engine case back 
With an increase for all tool 
grinders, tool room machine op­
erators and tool and die men, 
retroactive back to December 
29, 1944.

Sent in a Form No. 10 on an 
increase for maintenance, and a

change in the vacation bonus for 
Lampico Chemical Company.

The Lansing Drop Forge elec­
tion date has not as yet been 
set — but NLRB representa­
tives are in town today to try to 
set a date. Charles Cummings 
is contributing to his unpopu­
larity with labor by being one 
of the obstacles. Some day 
Charlie Will get Wise.

Abrams renewal should be 
done by the time you read this.
Meeting on a boost — will be 
held at Chaard this Week. It’s 
a desire of the parties to make 
adjustments which are heeded 
due to facts brought about since 
the original Form No. 10, Which 
the parties had approved.

It’s a joke when President 
Truman remarks that members 
of Congress and Senate should 
vote themselves $15,000 or $25,- 
000 salary, and that he would 
sign it, yet says the Little Steel 
Formula must stand. No doubt 
his having been one of them is 
his reason and the fact that he 
never was (or so I’m told) a 
factory worker. He can’t see 
the other side. He should know 
the lawmakers’ absentee records 
also, especially on hot issues.

I feel either he is going to be 
a great President, by coming 
through in most critical period, 
or he is going to be influenced 
by who can do the most shout­
ing.

I feel he is trying to take the 
middle road and I feel it won’t 
work. He is going to have to 
let us know. Is he sympathetic 
to our cause, or isn’t he. He 
came in at a most critical pe­
riod — I Wish him the best of 
luck. So far, he hasn’t done 
too badly, but the future will 
tell.

He is not a Roosevelt, but he 
could carry on the policies that 
made Roosevelt unbeatable at 
home and a saint abroad.

If industry is able to sell Tru­
man its bill of goods, then labor 
is going to have to fight as 
never before.

Eager Beaver

ARMY CUTBACKS
(Continued from Page 1)
that action is served by the De­
troit Ordnance District on this 
date.

Commends Employees

Col. R. F. Whitworth, con­
tracting officer of the ordnance 
district; Brig. Gen. Quinton Jr.; 
Carsten Tiedeman, regional di­
rector of the War Production 
Board and Edward L. Cush­
man, state director of the War 
Manpower Commission, asked 
that the employees of the com­
pany be informed of the vital 
contribution they have made to 
the Winning of the first phase 
of the War by supplying the 
army With these trucks.

Also that your Work in this 
program has been outstanding, 
and you are congratulated on 
your production record, and 
that they further extended you 
their whole-hearted thanks for 
your cooperation.

We’ve Just Begun

Because the end of the war 
against Germany is really only 
the beginning of the war ag­
ainst Japan, it is hoped that 
those whom it becomes neces­
sary to lay off through the ter­
mination of this contract, will 
seek new employment in other 
War industries.

Weapons of war are needed 
to fight the Japanese just as 
badly as before the collapse of 
Germany.

Management claims lay-offs 
are to be gradual, and I can as­
sure you that they will be pro­
cessed according to your sen­
iority rights. Approximately 
900 employees will be affected 
by the termination of this con­
tract.

The termination of this con­
tract may not mean that all 
production on this type of truck 
will cease June 30. According 
to management, an order is be­
ing prepared for a number of 
these same units by another 
government agency.

WHAT TO DO IF
YOU’RE LAID OFF

All those whom it is nec­
essary to issue lay-off slips 
to are requested to report to 
the United States Employ­
ment office on North Larch 
St., to determine if you are 
Qualified for any of the 1100 
to 1200 war job openings they 
claim are available.

Before you report to the 
U.S.E.S. office on Larch St., 
if there is anything you don’t 
understand about your eligi­
bility for unemployment in­
surance, call at your Local 
Union Office for informa­
tion. We have an Unemploy­
ment Compensation Commit­
tee set up to help you in such 
problems.

I wish to take this opportun­
ity on behalf of the officers of 
Local 650 and myself, to con­
gratulate all of you on the out­
standing production record you 
Have achieved.

Why Local 602 
Opposed Award 
To Fisher Co.
Following are the union’s 
reasons for protesting the 
awarding of the Army-Navy 
“E” flag to Fisher Body, ac­
cording to President Chester C. 
Cowan:

1—Indifference if not reluc­
tance of the company to get in­
to war work, which finally was 
forced by the union with a 
downtown mass meeting which 
focused public attention on 
Fisher. The company built cur 
bodies for two months after 
Pearl Harbor then stalled on 
conversion for another two 
months.

2—Attitude on a labor-man­
agement committee. The firm 
set up the commttee, appointed 
a member of management chair­
man — then invited labor to 
“sit in”.

3—Lack of full participation 
in war work. The plant had 
4,700 prewar employees. Since 
finally getting into war work 
they ranged between 300 and 
1,600 most of the time, though 
for a short period they did have 
2,300. Thousands of square 
feet of floor space are unused 
for war work.

4—It took more than two 
years for the firm to find a con­
tract which they said was suit­
able for the approximately 400 
Fisher women with seniority. 
Then they were called back on 
jobs paying less than the ones 
they had found elsewhere.

5—During the entire war pe­
riod Fisher workers have had 
little job security. Several times 
employees were laid off, only 
to be called back—then if they 
failed to come their seniority 
was cancelled. Two years ago 
when other plants were receiv­
ing "E", Fisher was laying off 
men.

6—Months after the govern­
ment said it was in desperate 
need of metal, Fisher had tons 
stored away which they didn’t 
bring out until forced to do so.

7—A new plant was built in 
Pontiac for a torpedo job that 
was excellently suited to the 
Fisher plant here.

8—Management always kept 
an excessive number of super­
visors, sometimes averaging 
about three workers to one fore­
men—an obvious waste of war­
time manpower.

9—A majority of workers in 
the plant fail to understand 
why Fisher should receive such 
an award at this time. As for 
themselves, they stayed on the 
job and did what they were 
told without stoppages, regard­
less of provocation and in spite 
of certain treatment. They are 
proud of this record but do not 
desire any reward for it.

28,500 Chiselers 
On Prices Caught

Washington (LPA) — More 
than 28,500 violators of price, 
rent and rationing regulations 
were penalized in the first four 
months of this year, OPA ad­
ministrator Chester Bowles re­
vealed here last week, in the in­
tensified nationwide enforce­
ment campaign.

Having worked with you as 
your committeeman during 
some pretty trying months, I 
want to thank you for your co­
operation and the way you con­
ducted yourselves at times when 
the going was real tough.

Your loyality and patriotism 
is one that we are all proud 
of. As for the termination of 
war contracts, I am sure we will 
all be overjoyed when all such 
contracts are terminated and 
our boys are all back home.

NAZI INDUSTRIALISTS

(Continued from Page 1)

ably two thirds of the plants of the biggest corporations— 
chemical trust, automobile, coal, etc. — are in shape to op­
erate with a little fixing here and there.

MOST FACTORIES NOT BOMBED

British flyers, bombing mostly at night, generally dumped 
their bomb loads in the centers of towns—and in most German 
cities, the factories are around the outskirts. American pre­
cision daylight bombing had its principal target not complete 
destruction of all factories, but carefully selected critical or 
bottle-neck plants. Destruction of one such«target might shut 
down a score of other plants that had been untouched by bombs.
Moreover, during years of air attacks, the general staff of 
German industry developed the art of quick repairing. I visited 
plants in Schweinfurt which had been precision bombed many 
times but each time repair crews had patched them up so. they 
could go on operating, even if on a reduced scale. Finally, many 
German plants were planted underground.

FORD AND FARBEN SUFFER LITTLE

Two small I. G. Farben plants in the Frankfurt area were 
damaged but not put out of operaton. Two of the company’s 
plants at Ludwigshafen and Leuna were substantially ruined. 
The Ford works at Cologne suffered little serious damage.

But two tremendous I. G. Farben plants in the Frankfurt 
area—with hundreds of buildings, sheds and big yards— 
escaped injury almost entirely. The central offices of the 
corporation, a mile from the center of Frankfurt, were al­
most untouched, despite widespread destruction of the city. 
Here was the major nerve center for the I. G. Farben inter­
national industrial empire—with its cartel links to Imperial 
Chemicals in England, duPont and Standard Oil in the U.S. 
and other affiliates and subsidaries in Latin America and 
elsewhere.

The director left in charge when the Americans entered the 
town complained bitterly about foreign slave workers trespass­
ing in these magnificent offices. His underlings refused to open 
doors until Yank soldiers threatened to blow off the locks, re­
fused to open safes until American dynamite was brought in. 
Even in Nazi defeat, Farben influence was strong in Frankfurt. 
What Farben directors wanted was done easily, what they didn’t 
want done the American military men had trouble getting done.

MONOPOLISTS THINK FUTURE ROSY

But the payoff is the true story of a card game in the com­
fortable bomb-proof basement of the I. G. Farben office build­
ing. The players were four directors of Farben. Three of them 
were fluent in English and in their ideas of the shape of things 
to come for them.

The future didn’t look gloomy to them they told a correspon­
dent who found them there. Whatever was ahead, the products 
of the Farben factories would be needed. And those factories 
were ready to start producing again. Yes, sir. They still had 
the 75% of their former working force who were German and 
they could manage without the 25% who had been foreign forced 
laborers.

All that was necessary to get Farben chimneys smoking mer­
rily again was some coal, which the Americans could supply. 
They had some coal stored away, but not enough. In the mean­
time the American army, when it pulled out, could just leave 
behind its trucks to provide highway transport for the Farben 
Supplies and products. That would be the most efficient way 
to handle things. The main thing, they emphasized, was to let 
them restart production quickly. After all, thousands of Far­
ben workers in Frankfurt had to work or they couldn’t eat.

U. S. AND ENGLAND TO HELP?

The correspondent asked how they sized up their postwar 
prospects. Good, very good indeed, they told him. There was a 
great future in plastics. The world would have tremendous 
markets ready to absorb plastic products. Take India, for in­
stance. That would be a good market.

Of course, they pointed out, they were assuming that the 
Americans and English were really going to restore order 
and justice to Germany, as had been promised. And the one 
who acted most often as spokesman said that the Nazis had 
never dictated to them in policy matters. It was always 
they who told the Nazis what was wanted and what to do.

GLAD RUSSIANS NOT THERE

There was reallly much to be thankful for, much to build for 
in the future, if only there was a sensible cooperative attitude, 
they said. It could have been so much worse.

“Now if it had been the Russians who came in, there 
would have been no hope here,” one of them said, lighting 
a cigar. “We’ve got to stick together now, working to save 
the world from the bolshevist horde.”

The same song was sung for American ears in Cologne by 
Herr Robert Hans Schmidt, manager of the Ford plant. He 
received part of his production training in Detroit. He knew 
American methods and thought he knew Americans.

With a few tools and a few days time the plant could be at 
work producing as many as 50 finished cars a day—it was that 
little damaged . . . What a lucky break for Herr Schmidt and 
the owners...

UPPER-CLASS CIVILIANS UNWORRIED

My contact with civilian conquered Germany suggests strong­
ly that the absence of any sense of guilt is most marked among 
the upper classes — the professionals, officials, merchants, 
owners and proprietors of the Reich. They are the ones who 
speak English and who are usually in a position to make con­
tact with the incoming military government officers.

And among them all the most unrepentant, unregenerate and 
audaciously insolent — in a cultivated way — are the mouth­
pieces for big industry.

They are indeed receptive to orders. The kind of orders they 
expect soon to be receiving from India and elsewhere. Orders 
for the products of their spared or restored factories in which 
they fondly expect disciplined workers will once again be labor­
ing like eager beavers, while Allied military government supplies 
the forces to "keep order," silence agitators for higher wages 
and generally maintain justice, with an I. G. Farben label.

FISHER "E"

(Continued From Page 1)

This would knock out pres­
ent price freeze regulations, 
force many prices up, force 
none down. Result — wide- 
open break in present controls.

The telegram got action — 
THREE OR FOUR DAYS AF­
TER THE “E” PRESENTA­
TION IN DETROIT.

Chester Cowan, president of 
the local, said Major Hornsby 
telephoned Friday from Detroit 
and arranged a meeting for Sat­
urday at the Local 602 hall to 
discuss the protest.

As per arrangements, Cowan 
said that at 11 a.m. Saturday 
the union’s executive board was 
ready, but since at 11:30 the 
Major’s party had not shown 
up, he dismissed the board. He 
said shortly before noon Cap­
tain McIntosh and Captain 
Pearson arrived, saying they 
were uncertain about the time.
Cowan found Board Mem­
bers Stephen Gmazel, John Ul- 
rey and Intl. Rep. “Rocky” 
Stone still at the hall and the 
group granted the officials a 
hearing.

So impressed were they with 
the courteous bearing of the 
two officers that President Co­
wan issued this statement about 
it to the Labor News:

“I would like publicly to 
thank Captain McIntosh and 
Captain Pearson for the in­
terest and the manner in 
which they meet the union 
workers. They are certainly 
a credit to the Army Air 
Corps”

The officers, however, were 
apparently here only to try to 
talk them out of their protest 
at the “E” award, not to give 
consideration to the points in 
the protest, Cowan said.

The only effect of the pro­
test, the union learned, was to 
keep the presentation from be­
ing a public celebration and big 
ceremony.

Cowan said they told the 
group that the award was based 
on the following points:

1. At the time of nomina­
tion for the award, the plant 
had 51% Army Air Corp con­
tracts.

2. The past three months 
Fisher has met production re­
quirements and the B-29 
work was of good quality.

3. Regardless of the size of 
the plant or the number of 
people that could be employ­
ed, the award would be gran­
ted even if only 10 workers 
were required to complete 
the production requirements.

4. All other contracts in the 
plant were satisfactory.

However, it was pointed out 
to the Local, Cowan said, that 
if the Navy or some other 
branch of the service should 
have even as little as 10% of 
the contracts and refuse to 0. 
K. the award, it would not be 
granted.

But the union’s carefully 

studied opinion didn’t matter.

The oficers were told it was 
odd, if awards were made only 
on the basis of the above points, 
that Fisher hadn’t been granted 
one sooner for the outstanding 
job everyone conceded had been 
done on the 90 mm gun mount 
contract. They replied that pos­
sibly the work wasn’t good en­
ough.

Fisher Local officials told 
the Labor News they were still 
puzzled about the whole thing 
and disturbed about the arbi­
trary and undemocratic process 
of making this award.

Clothing Workers
Show Wartime Gains

Photo Flashes of the News

Anti-Labor Germans Caused These Crimes

Nonchalant

Hitler Backer

Whenever and wherever you hear of Fascism 

or Nazism, recall these gruesome scenes from 

Germany and remember that the ultimate aim of 

an anti-labor movement in any country, if it be­

comes strong, is this kind of mass brutality.

The only force strong enough to stop Fascism 

—or similar anti-labor movements by nobler 

names -— from destroying America is organized 

—Federated Pictures

labor. Let us keep our unions strong always and 

Alfred Krupp, scion of the Krupp 
family, seems unconcerned as he 
sits beside a machinegun, under 
British arrest.

never forget these cruel lessons.

—Federated Pictures

Fritz Thyssen, German steel 
magnate, was one of the financial 
backers of Hitler and the Nazi 
party, without whom Nazism could 
not have flourished.

Death Beat the Yanks

Horror at Dachau

The afternoon before the U. S. 69th Division captured Leipzig, 
SS troopers packed slave laborers into their barracks and set fire 
to them. This man, with oversized shoes on bony legs, didn’t quite 
reach the barbed wire as he fled under machine-gun bullets. (U. S. 
Signal Corps photo via Federated Pictures)

Tortured faces of the dead piled in the blood-stained anteroom 
of a creamatory testify to the horrors at Dachau, oldest and most 
infamous of the Nazi concentration camps, where many Germans 
found death. (U. S. Signal Corps photo via Federated Pictures)

Yanks Were Not Exempt

And Little Children Too

The Nazis were said to reserve their worst cruelties for Poles 
and Russians, but this American prisoner of war might dispute 
the claim. Little but bones, skin and a spark of life, he is the 
victim of a few months’ imprisonment. (U. S. Signal Corps photo 
via Federated Pictures)

Massacre at Leipzig

Left: Two children who died of starvation at Belsen find peace 
in death. Right: Face beaten by SS troopers, a civilian prisoner 
at Belsen takes his first drink in six days.

—Federated Pictures

Two Kinds of Women

Grotesque in death, the body of a slave laborer lies where it was 
felled at a Nazi concentration camp at Leipzig when SS troopers 
machine-gunned victims as they fled from their burning barracks. 
(U. S. Signal Corps photo via Federated Pictures)

—Federated Pictures

NEW YORK (FP) — The 
Amalgamated Clothing Work­
ers (CIO), in accordance with 
its established practice, April 
30 made public its financial 
statement showing net assets of

$4,857,940 as of Dec. 31, 1944.

ACW Pres. Sidney Hillman 
and Sec.-Treas. Jacob S. Potof- 
sky point out-that, some 32 new 
locals have been chartered dur­
in the past 11 months, 100 new

firms put under contract and 
that the union has gained in 
sze and strength while adhering 
strictly to its no-strike pledge 
and despite all war handicaps.

Top: Brutal-jawed women SS guards at the Nazi concentration  camp 
at Belsen. Bottom Polish wives and mothers 
weeping over  a death pit at the Lublin camp in Poland when the 
bones of their  relatives and children were disinterred.

—Federated Pictures