They are false. The company never had any tear gas. It owned only one n, which it kept under lock and key. It never authorized employees to carry ns or instructed them to use guns. On the contrary, it instructed them reatedly to avoid having any trouble with strikers, and warned them against y attempts to retaliate against the strikers. The sheriff of Hamblen County, mediately after the shooting on June 22, deputized, among others, a few work3 to help him and the highway patrol round up strikers who took part in the ooting. As soon as possible, the company asked the sheriff to revoke these pointments, which he did. The history of the Textile Workers Union of America is studded with brutality d lawlessness. The union seems long to have regarded itself and its members being above the laws that apply to all other citizens, and to think that strikers joy immunities that other citizens do not have. Even under the Wagner Act, bor's Magna Carta, which so thoroughly protected the legitimate aims and tivities of labor organizations, and under the Taft-Hartley Act, which continues at protection, members of the TWUA frequently have gone outside the law and ve violated the law, even to gain unlawful ends. And at Enka, as at other ants, they have flouted those clauses of the Taft-Hartley Act that, to a limited tent, purport to protect the rights of employees who do not wish to engage in llective activities, or who do not wish to do so through a tyrannical, brutal, nd irresponsible bargaining agent. It should be that, in due course, even unions that have long-standing habits of ing harsh and violent methods can become law abiding and attain the same egree of responsibility that we expect of other citizens and organizations. But is will not come to pass so long as even a few people condone such unions' violent nd lawless habits, side with them in their outrages and seek to put upon others esponsibility for their excesses. SUBCOMMITTEE EXHIBIT S-3 NOVEMBER 13, 1950. Ir. EUGENE HODGE, Chief of Police, Morristown, Tenn. DEAR MR. HODGE: Enclosed is a copy of an affidavit and statement pertaining o the strike at American Enka which took place earlier this year, submitted y the Textile Workers Union of America, CIO. Portions of this document make eference to the activities of your office during the strike. If you wish to make any comment, please submit a statement to the subcomittee before December 1, 1950. Counsel, Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. MURDOCK: Our firm represents Mr. Eugene Hodge, the chief of police of Morristown, Tenn., with reference to a suit filed against him by certain mempers of the Textile Workers Union of America, arising and growing out of the recent disturbance at the American Enka plant at Lowland in Hamblen County, Tenn. Mr. Hodge has filed an answer in the Federal court at Greeneville, in which he fully set forth his position with reference to the various matters and things with which he is sought to be charged. In his answer he takes the position that as chief of police of the town of Morristown, he acted under the valid ordinances of the town to prevent civil commotion within the corporate limits. He further avers in his answer that the action taken by him was in the nature of emergency measures, and that by reason of his diligence there was no serious civil commotion within the corporate limits of the town. In his answer he avers that he, on no occasion, violated the civil rights c anyone; that all his actions were in line of duty; that there was adequate cane for each of said actions; and that he is not guilty of violating any municipai State, or Federal law. Of course, Mr. Hodge denies the many specific allegations of misconduct set forth in the very voluminous material presented by the Textile Workers Union of America. However, in view of the pendency of this suit, he does not deem i advisable or necessary to make a detailed denial before the subcommittee at this time. In the event you or the subcommittee should request an additional or more detailed statement, Mr. Hodge will be quite happy to cooperate with you or the subcommittee in this respect. Yours very truly, MCCANLESS & TAYLOR By EARNEST R. TAYLOR. NOVEMBER 13, 1950. Mr. SAM K. NEAL, Commissioner of Public Safety, Nashville, Tenn. DEAR MR. NEAL: Enclosed is a copy of an affidavit and statement pertaining to the strike at American Enka which took place earlier this year, submitted by the Textile Workers Union of America, CIO. Portions of this document make references to the activities of your office during the strike. If you wish to make any comment, please submit a statement to the subcommittee before December 1, 1950. Sincerely, Mr. RAY R. MURDOCK, RAY R. MURDOCK, Counsel, Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations, STATE OF TENNESSEE, DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY, Nashville, November 16, 1950. Counsel, Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations, DEAR MR. MURDOCK: This acknowledges receipt of a copy of an affidavit and statement pertaining to the American Enka strike at Morristown, Tenn., this year. We, of course, deny vehemently that any "coercion and terror" were visited upon the strikers by members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. For your information and for the information of members of the committee I am advised that court action against Mr. Robert S. Cahoon and other leaders in the strike has resulted in convictions which have carried fines, and jail sentences and in at least one instance a 7-year penitentiary sentence. From this record I would judge that the "coercion and terror" were on the other side. Yours very truly, Mr. ROBERT MEDLIN, Sheriff Hamblen County, Morristown, Tenn. SAM NEAL NOVEMBER 13, 1950. DEAR MR. MEDLIN: Enclosed is a copy of an affidavit and statement pertaining to the strike at American Enka which took place earlier this year, submitted by the Textile Workers Union of America, CIO. Portions of this document make reference to the activities of your office during the strike. If you wish to make any comment, please submit a statement to the subcommittee before December 1, 1950. Sincerely, RAY R. MURDOCK, Counsel, Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations. MCCANLESS & TAYLOR, . RAY R. MURDOCK, Morristown, Tenn., November 17, 1950. Counsel, Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. MURDOCK: This firm represents Sheriff Robert B. Medlin, of Hamblen unty, Tenn., to whom you have recently sent the voluminous supplemental terial filed by the Textile Workers Union of America before the subcommittee. Various suits have been filed against Sheriff Medlin arising and growing out the recent civil commotion in Hamblen County incident to the American Enka ike at Lowland, Tenn. For these reasons Sheriff Medlin does not deem it necessary or advisable to ike a full detailed statement or denial of all the charges contained in the idavits. The gist of the complaint seems to be that on June 22, 1950, Sheriff Medlin used to be arrested and brought to the county jail a large number of persons no were held for questioning. On the morning of June 22, 1950, cars containing people going to work at the ka plant were fired upon from the Textile Workers Union of America picket e. Two of these workers were quite seriously wounded. This was considered Sheriff Medlin to be a direct challenge to the good order of this community, ad a challenge to the sovereignty of the State. He immediately called for ssistance and the same was dispatched in the form of a strong detachment of e Tennessee Highway Patrol. Numerous persons suspected of having engaged in this ambush and attempted urder were arrested and brought into the jail where they were questioned. amblen County is a small county and the sheriff has only three deputies. It ok some time for the suspects to be questioned, but all who were not to be arged with participation in this attempted murder were released before midight. It was impossible, due to the nature of the situation and the number of eople involved, for these suspects to be processed any sooner. Sheriff Medlin denies the violation of the civil rights of anyone in connection with his investigation of this outrageous and tragic incident. June 22, 1950, marked the end of a series of instances of violence which arose n connection with this labor dispute. The sheriff believes that the action taken y him in a vigorous investigation of this occurrence was responsible in a large easure, for the violence being brought to an end. Since June 22, there has een no further disturbance. Our client will be happy to cooperate with you or with the subcommittee in ny way, and if a more detailed statement is desired or thought to be necessary t is our request that you advise us to that effect. Yours very truly, MCCANLESS & TAYLOR, By EARNEST R. TAYLOR. NOVEMBER 13, 1950. Mr. GREY, District Attorney, Hamblen County, Morristown, Tenn. DEAR MR. GREY: Enclosed is a copy of an affidavit and statement pertaining to the strike at American Enka which took place earlier this year, submitted by the Textile Workers Union of America, CIO. Portions of this document make reference to the activities of your office during the strike. If you wish to make any comment, please submit a statement to the subcommittee before December 1, 1950. Sincerely, RAY R. MURDOCK, Counsel Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations. (No reply was received by the subcommittee from Mr. Grey.) NOV 30 50 HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE SECOND SESSION ON S. 2008 A BILL TO CONSOLIDATE CERTAIN HOSPITAL, MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION 74301 JULY 10, 11, AND 12, 1950 Printed for the use of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1950 |