Ferguson: America
By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
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Perkins: Steel pay revision poses real problem
Bosses back Roosevelt on policy, unions oppose him – everything hangs fire
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
Washington –
Here is an apparently cockeyed situation: Industrialists who are going to vote against Mr. Roosevelt will be arguing here this week for maintenance of one of the President’s important policies against the attacks of his political friends in the labor unions.
The policy concerned is the one intended to hold wages to the Little Steel formula. The labor leaders, with constituencies in the millions, have been trying to break this yardstick ever since it was established by the War Labor Board in July 1942. They are now moving in for “the kill,” in the closing weeks of a campaign in which the only man who can change it is a candidate for reelection.
There is more to the cockeyed character of the situation.
The industrialists defending a Roosevelt policy against the President’s labor friends are mostly Republicans, and this year’s platform of their party condemns “the freezing of wage rates at arbitrary levels.”
What a setup
Philip Murray, president of the CIO, which has a Political Action Committee campaigning for Mr. Roosevelt, complained in a WLB hearing over delays in the disposition of the case initiated by the CIO United Steel Workers in December of last year. He said that “delays, postponements, briefs and briefs, repetition and repetition, have been the order of the day.”
Mr. Murray made his statements in presenting the union’s case before WLB hearings on modification of the “Little Steel” wage formula; AFL gave their arguments for wage raises yesterday and industry presents its opposing case tomorrow.
Mr. Murray’s mention of possible war-end changes in the stabilization program was a reference to an assertion by WLB Chairman William H. Davis that the end of the war in Europe was “certain” to bring changes in the nation’s wage policy.
Would reverse OPA study
Mr. Murray said that in arguing the case for steel wage raises, he would “take the liberty of making public” an OPA study of the steel case which Price Chief Chester Bowles has termed “preliminary and confidential.”
Stating that the steel industry had requested a general price increase of 10 percent, Mr. Murray said the OPA study concluded that:
There is at the present time no ground for an overall increase in the price of steel, and even in the event that the wage increase requested by the union were granted in full, the case for a price increase would not be persuasive.
Great advances made
Harold J. Ruttenberg, research director of the union, departed from the familiar cost-of-living argument to urge raises to allow wages to “catch up with the constantly rising productivity of American industry.” In the past two years, he said, the steel industry has made technological advances so great that production increased seven percent while manpower was reduced by 12½ percent.
Governor Dewey, campaigning against Mr. Roosevelt, and opposed vigorously by the CIO Political Action Committee, said in his labor speech at Seattle:
This policy of delay, delay and more delay serves only the New Deal and its political ends, It puts the leaders of labor on the spot. It makes them come hat in hand to the White House. It makes political loyalty the test of a man getting his rights.
An important decision
Thus, Mr. Murray and colleagues agree with Governor Dewey on the delay subject, but won’t vote for him. The industrialists agree with President Roosevelt on maintenance of the stabilization policy, but won’t vote for him!
Political implications of highest voltage are involved. Mr. Roosevelt, through acts of his own and of Congress, has come into position where he can order a raise for several million workers.
Nothing like this ever has been known in American politics. What Mr. Roosevelt does about it may turn out to be an important chapter in this country’s political history.
Mr. Murray, before the War Labor Board, emphasized that the steel union had not been responsible for delaying the dynamic wage question until the presidential campaign. He pointed out that since the War Labor Board assumed jurisdiction of the wage dispute last February, his union had used only 3½ days for its testimony. The union also used a week while its officers were at their convention, and the balance of the seven months was charged to the steel companies and the procedures of the War Labor Board.
Was it planned?
Mr. Roosevelt can make a decision just before election, but according to the evidence there is no proof that anybody planned it that way.
Mr. Murray hopes for presidential action before election, according to his statement:
I raise the question whether we are going to obtain a decision quickly and on the merits of the case; or whether this case is going to be treated as a political pawn, kicked around hither and yon, because courage is lacking to determine the issue.
George Meany, secretary of the American Federation of Labor, conducted a long list of AFL officials to the witness stand against the Little Steel Formula. He ended by saying, “We are asking this board for a chance for the workers of this country to enter a high-wage economy after the war.”
After the war, it is presumed that workers will go back to the 40-hour week, with no allowance for the overtime pay that now boosts their incomes, unless hourly wage rates are raised in the meantime – a problem for either Mr. Roosevelt or Mr. Dewey.
In Alcoa dispute –
Living costs soaring, WLB panel finds
Wages inadequate, agency announces
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Dorsey will tell it all at trial set for Nov. 14
By Frederick Othman, United Press staff writer
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37–1 victory won by Yanks in big dogfight
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Stokes: Mrs. Dewey’s day
By Thomas L. Stokes
Sapulpa, Oklahoma –
“You know where she’s from, don’t you? She was born in Sherman – she’s a Lone Star girl.”
He was a tall, rangy fellow, with a big hat and a drawl Texas pride would out, just like Oklahoma pride. And Oklahoma pride bubbled through the crowd that jostled about, under a hot sun, around the flag-draped stand in front of the courthouse, men, women and children, thousands of them.
She sat quietly on the stand, her head just showing over the rail, with that strained, suppressed look she always wears on public occasions, whenever her husband speaks. But today she had more occasion to look that way, as if holding herself in tight, for this was her day among the homefolks of Sapulpa. There was a smile, a cover for the strained, intense look.
She had ridden through the streets of her hometown in an open auto, smiling graciously upon the throngs which had come from miles around to pay her homage – and, of course, to see her husband. She had ridden under a great banner stretched across Dewey Avenue, the main street named for Adm. George Dewey.
It reminded her of girlhood days, of high school, and the eager thrill that came the day she left here to go to New York to study voice, with visions of a career on the concert and operatic stage.
Career diverted
That career was diverted into a different channel that brought her here today in the role she could never have imagined then – the wife of a handsome man running for President of the United States.
The tall Texan spoke again: “He wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth and he ain’t money-made.”
“He” sat at his wife’s side on the stand, When he was called to the front to speak, he thanked the people for taking in the little girl who had come from Sherman, Texas, to live with them at the age of 11, for bring nice to her, and most of all “for letting her go to New York where I met her.” She had been going around for many years as Mrs. Tom Dewey, he explained, and this was his first experience as “Mr. Frances Hutt.” He seemed to be enjoying it.
Her high school mates were there, sitting on a special stand to the left – the class of 1921 – rising one at a time as their names were called, a little awkward under the public gaze,
There was, too, to introduce Mrs. Dewey, a short, plump, nervous woman, the efficient arranger type known to every community. She presented Mrs. Dewey with a bunch of orchids, stepping over to where the guest of honor sat. But Mrs. Dewey did not come to the front. She kept in the background throughout.
A fine-looking couple
Later she and Governor Dewey went to the high school and had their pictures taken together on the steps, as fine looking a couple as you’ll see.
As they drove up to the school, two young girls – free from high school for the event – ran along, shouting shamelessly, “We want Roosevelt.” And when two high school boys tried to shush them, they shouted back, “This is America, a free country, isn’t it?" And one of the boys said to the other, “That’s a woman for you.”
It was Mrs. Dewey’s day, but it was like so many. Patiently she goes through the routine of campaigning – appearing with her husband on the back platform of trains, on the platform at meetings, at the receptions held for her at every stop, at press conferences where she is always asked the same questions by excited lady reporters.
Her face lights up when they ask about her two boys. That’s where her heart is, there at home, with her husband and the boys.
But she goes cheerfully through the show, like the trouper she might have been, had she not met another singer in New York who decided to study law as a backstop and found himself eventually in that profession.
Gracie Allen Reporting
Hollywood, California –
I see where Hitler has decreed no more sweets and practically no beer for the German people. This will make figures like Goering’s very rare.
I guess Hitler heard the same thing we’ve been hearing – that Germany is going to “pot.”
Apparently, the Nazis still look to Hitler to save them, but it seems to me he’s the wrong man to help them now. After what our fliers have done to Berlin they need a bricklayer – not a paperhanger.
Incidentally, I’ll bet it makes the Germans very unhappy to hear that Marlene Dietrich, who was born in Germany, is now in Europe entertaining the Allied soldiers. She’d certainly be out on a limb if the Germans caught her. But I can’t imagine a prettier limb to be out on than Marlene’s.
War contract ruling revised by Treasury
Policy to increase tax bills
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U.S., business urged to get together
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Millett: Ban on married students handicaps youthful wives
They need education to make better wives for soldiers who return
By Ruth Millett
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Tension mounts in Junior Loop race
Browns, Tigers issue may be won by ‘nerve’
By the United Press
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Second place virtually won –
Pirates send Strincevich against Braves in finale
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Völkischer Beobachter (September 28, 1944)
Ribbentrop, Mussolini und Shigemitsu zum Jahrestag des Dreierpaktes –
Kampf und wieder Kampf unsere Losung
…
Führer HQ (September 28, 1944)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Im Kampfraum von Westholland wurde ein stärkerer feindlicher Angriff über den Antwerpen-Turnhout-Kanal im Gegenangriff aufgefangen, ein feindlicher Brückenkopf nördlich Turnhout zerschlagen. Alle Versuche des Gegners, seinen Einbruchsraum Eindhoven–Nimwegen nach Westen zu erweitern, schlugen fehl. Auch nordöstlich und südöstlich Nimwegen wurden starke feindliche Angriffe, unterstützt durch eigene Jagdfliegerverbände, abgewiesen, eingebrochener Feind im Gegenangriff zurückgeworfen.
Im Abschnitt von Aachen, an der Eifelfront und vor Metz nahm die beiderseitige Artillerietätigkeit zu. Aus dem Raum Nancy nach Norden mit Panzern geführte starke Angriffe des Feindes wurden abgewiesen. Dagegen ist der Angriff unserer Panzerverbände im Raum bei und südlich Château-Salins weiter in gutem Fortschreiten.
In den auch am 27. September im Raum Épinal–Remiremont anhaltenden schweren Kämpfen wurden mehrere mit starker Artillerievorbereitung und Panzerunterstützung geführte Angriffe des Feindes abgewiesen, zunächst verlorenes Gelände im Gegenangriff wieder genommen. Die Kämpfe sind noch im Gange, östlich Lure gingen in schweren wechselvollen Kämpfen mit überlegenem Feind einige Ortschaften verloren.
Das starke Artilleriefeuer und die rollenden Angriffe der feindlichen Luftwaffe auf unsere befestigten Stützpunkte im Westen dauern an. Die tapfere Besatzung von Calais schlug mehrere feindliche Angriffe zurück. Von La Rochelle und Festung Girondemündung werden erfolgreiche eigene Stoßtruppunternehmen gemeldet.
Während der Gegner im Westabschnitt der Italienischen Front nur erfolglose örtliche Vorstöße durchführte, setzte er im Raum Firenzuola seine starken, mit überlegenem Materialeinsatz geführten Angriffe während des ganzen Tages fort. In den schweren Abwehrkämpfen, in denen zahlreiche Angriffe unter hohen Verlusten des Feindes abgewehrt wurden, gelang dem Gegner die Wegnahme einer beherrschenden Höhe. Gegenangriffe sind im Gange. An der Adria scheiterten mehrere starke Angriffe des Feindes an der eigenen Abwehr. Ein örtlicher Einbruch wurde abgeriegelt.
Im Donaubogen herrschte zu beiden Seiten des Eisernen Tores weitere lebhafte Kampftätigkeit. Von Orsova nach Süden vorgedrungene sowjetische Kräfte wurden zurückgeworfen, über die Donau gesetzte feindliche Verbände zerschlagen. An der ungarisch-rumänischen Grenze zwischen Szeged und Großwardein drängten unsere Truppen den weiter angreifenden Feind an mehreren Stellen zurück.
In Siebenbürgen zwischen Torenburg und den Ostkarpaten haben deutsche und ungarische Truppen in der Zeit vom 15. Bis 26. September den Ansturm von über 30 Schützendivisionen und mehreren schnellen Korps der Bolschewisten und Rumänen in harten Kämpfen abgeschlagen und den vom Gegner erstrebten Durchbruch vereitelt. Der Feind erlitt schwere blutige und materielle Verluste und verlor seit dem 1. September 134 Panzer und Sturmgeschütze, 112 Geschütze, 51 Granatwerfer und über 550 Maschinengewehre. Außerdem fielen über 1000 Gefangene in unsere Hand.
An den Nordhängen der Waldkarpaten wurden zahlreiche bolschewistische Angriffe in harten Kämpfen abgewiesen oder aufgefangen.
In Warschau kapitulierten gestern unter der Wirkung unserer Waffen ein weiterer Stadtteil und in dem alten Fort Mokotow zusammengedrängte Reste der Aufstandsbewegung. Es wurden mehrere tausend Gefangene eingebracht und außerdem über 5000 polnische Zivilisten evakuiert. Damit ist ein Erfolg erzielt, der zu der Hoffnung berechtigt, den gesamten Aufstand in nächster Zeit völlig niederzuringen.
Bei Sudauen blieben weitere örtliche Angriffe der Bolschewisten erfolglos. Zwischen der Düna und der Rigaer Bucht scheiterten zahlreiche feindliche Angriffe am zähen Widerstand unserer Truppen. An der Eismeerfront verloren die Sowjets in Luftkämpfen sowie durch Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe 24 Flugzeuge.
Feindliche Fliegerverbände führten Terrorangriffe gegen Kassel, Köln, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen und Mainz sowie mehrere Orte im rheinisch-westfälischen Gebiet. In erbitterten Luftkämpfen schossen unsere Jäger 72 Flugzeuge, darunter 65 viermotorige Bomber, ab. Drei Flugzeuge wurden durch Flakartillerie zum Absturz gebracht, über dem holländischen Kampfraum wurden weitere 18 anglo-amerikanische Flugzeuge vernichtet.
In der vergangenen Nacht warf der Feind zahlreiche Sprengbomben auf Kaiserslautern.
Bei den harten Gebirgskämpfen in den Karpaten hat sich die schwäbisch-bayrische 4. Gebirgsdivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Breith durch hervorragenden Angriffsgeist und Zähigkeit bewährt.
In den Kämpfen im baltischen Raum hat sich die ostpreußische 21. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalmajors Götz in Angriff und Abwehr besonders ausgezeichnet.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (September 28, 1944)
FROM
(A) SHAEF FORWARD
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
281100A Sept.
TO FOR ACTION
(1) AGWAR (Pass to WND)
TO (W) FOR INFORMATION (INFO)
(2) FIRST US ARMY GP
(3) ADV HQ 12 ARMY GP
(4) FWD ECH (MAIN) 12 ARMY GP
(5) AEAF
(6) ANCXF
(7) EXFOR MAIN
(8) EXFOR REAR
(9) DEFENSOR, OTTAWA
(10) CANADIAN C/S, OTTAWA
(11) WAR OFFICE
(12) ADMIRALTY
(13) AIR MINISTRY
(14) ETOUSA
(15) SACSEA
(16) CMHQ (Pass to RCAF & RCN)
(17) COM Z APO 871
(18) SHAEF MAIN
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
Communiqué No. 173
The withdrawal of our forces from the north of the Lower Rhine has been completed.
Fighting continued throughout yesterday in the area north of Nijmegen where Allied troops made some progress to the northeast against stiff opposition. On the west of the salient, an advance was made south of Oss and the villages of Heesch and Nistelrode were freed.
Fighters and fighter-bombers attacked strong points and gun positions in the Arnhem–Nijmegen area and strafed road and rail transport behind the enemy lines in Holland. There were many combats and, according to reports so far received, 41 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Ten of ours are missing. To the east of the Allied salient, an attack was made by medium bombers on communications at Goch near the German frontier.
Last night, intruders attacked road and rail transport over a wide area in Holland and western Germany.
In northern Belgium, our ground forces have further extended the bridgehead over the canal west of Turnhout.
Active patrolling by both sides continues from north of Aachen to the Lunéville area.
Our troops are meeting stiff opposition from German pillboxes and strongpoints near Hürtgen, southeast of Stolberg.
West of Metz, an enemy counterattack was contained in the vicinity of Gravelotte. Other counterattacks were dispersed near Coincourt and Bezange, northeast of Lunéville, with heavy losses to the enemy.
In the Calais area, our troops closing in on the town across the flooded ground to the west, were given close support by fighter-bombers. A concentrated attack on fortified positions in the town was made by heavy bombers, one of which is missing.
Over 1,100 heavy bombers with a strong fighter escort attacked industrial targets and railway yards at Koln, a synthetic oil plant and railway yards at Ludwigshafen, a tank factory at Kassel, an ordnance factory and railway yards at Mainz. Strong fighter opposition and intense flak were encountered. Thirty-six enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat and five more on the ground. Forty-two bombers and seven fighters are missing.
COORDINATED WITH: G-2, G-3 to C/S
THIS MESSAGE MAY BE SENT IN CLEAR BY ANY MEANS
/s/
Precedence
“OP” - AGWAR
“P” - Others
ORIGINATING DIVISION
PRD, Communique Section
NAME AND RANK TYPED. TEL. NO.
D. R. JORDAN, Lt Col FA Ext. 9
AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/U.S. Navy Department (September 28, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 134
Carrier aircraft of the Pacific Fleet struck hard at enemy shipping and defense installations in the Visayas Group of the Philippine Islands on September 23 (West Longitude Date) attacking airfields on the Islands of Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Luzon and Mactan and all shipping found in adjacent waters.
A particularly heavy strike was delivered at Coron Bay between Busuanga Island and Culion Island in the Western Philippines, where a number of the enemy’s ships including two of his valuable fleet tankers were sunk.
Only seven enemy aircraft were shot down. Twenty‑nine enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground at the several fields which were thoroughly bombed and strafed.
The following damage was inflicted upon enemy shipping (including the two tankers at Coron Bay):
DAMAGED (including more than one probably sunk):
- One destroyer
- One troop transport
- Two large oil tankers
- Three large cargo ships
- One large cargo ship
- Three large oil tankers
- One medium oil tanker
- Six medium cargo ships
- Fifteen medium cargo ships
- Five small cargo ships
- One small transport
- Three destroyer‑escort type vessels
- Twenty‑one small cargo ships
- Two destroyer‑escort type vessels
In addition, between 20 and 30 small craft were sunk or damaged.
The following damage was inflicted upon enemy shore installations:
At Iloilo in Southern Panay, a warehouse and a Marine railway were set afire.
At Bacolod in the Northern part of Negros Island piers and barracks were bombed and strafed.
At Cebu Island warehouses and piers were heavily damaged.
At Mactan Island, East of Cebu Island, oil refining facilities and the airfield were bombed.
At Saravis in the Northern part of Negros Island, buildings and the airfield were hit.
At Legaspi in Southern Luzon a number of partially concealed aircraft were bombed and strafed on the airfield, but the number destroyed and damaged was not observed.
Near Ormoc on Leyte Island, oil storage facilities and barracks were set afire.
Our losses in these operations were 10 aircraft but only five pilots and three flight personnel are missing.