Jurisdictional disputes in the motion-picture Industry : hearings before a special subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first-session, pursuant to H. Res. 111 (1948)

420 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES if it would make him and the rank-and-file feel better if I had at least made the effort, I would be willing to take the time and trouble to do so. So he then api^arently suggested this to the Conference of Studio Unions' strategy committee, so they telephoned me and asked me if I would be willing to do it. I made the same reply, that I thought it was a waste of time, that so many efforts had been made I doubted very much if I could prevail on Mr. Green to do any more than he had done. If they would feel better, my having done so, I would do so. I asked permission of my own superior to undertake this commission, and received it. I met with the strategy committee of the Conference of Studio Unions and I, for the third time, reiterated I thought I was wasting my time and their money. I think Mr. Sorrell was sort of inclined to agree with me, that I would not succeed in accomplishing anything with Mr. Green, but if the strategy committee would like to have it done and the membership would like to have it done, he would submit to it. They voted on a resolution to ask me to go and pay my expenses. So I went east. Before I went I asked what people they thought I should see. They said Mr. William Green was the main objective of my visit. They also suggested I talk to Mr. George Meany and Mr. Harvey Brown, the head of the machinists' union, and anybody in the A. F. of L. headquarters, or witli jNIr. Bill Hutcheson and Mr. Lindelof. They were under the impression there was a meeting at this time of the A. F. of L. executive council and they would all be there when I arrived. They hoped I would be permitted to go in and talk to the executive council. They were mistaken in this impression. When the strategy committee decided I should go east, then Mr. Sorrell, in suggesting names, also added the name of Congressman Kearns, suggested I see Mr. Kearns. He didn't say why. He didn't make any suggestions at all. He simply put his name on the list of people he suggested I see. So I went back east and to Washington. I talked with Mr. Coakley first, of the A. F. of L. headquarters, who is not an official of any importance, I don't believe, in the picture. He is simply an organizer of tlie A. F. of L., and in the absence of Mr. Frank Fenton, their chief organizer, Mr. Coakley talked to me and said he would see if I could see Mr. Green. I eventually saw Mr. Green. It took some time. He was out of town. There seemed to be some reluctance to permit me to see him, on the part of Mr. Fenton. I don't know that that is true. But I had that impression. I had a long talk with Mr. Green's secretary and a talk with Mr. Fenton. My talk with Mr. Green simply confirmed me in the view I had taken that there was to be gained nothing in my talking to Mr. Green. It seemed to me Mr. Green was in a state of rather general confusion himself about the situation in Hollywood. I was entirely unable to clarify that apparent confusion. He kept insisting that — deploring the situation which, of course, I deplored, too. It did not seem to be clear in his mind, and he kepi: insisting — first of all, he seemed to think the various groups were