Letter from H. C. Fechtmeyer to President Harry S. Truman

1/16 stue 407-B Seague con 7 April 14, 1952 President Harry Truman White House Washington, D. C. Dear President Truman: In all the hue and cry raised in the steel crisis and your handling of the situation, some very important considerai tions have been overlooked. First - There are millions of workers who do not have a Phil Murray to run to the President in their behalf. These people, by and large, do not have earnings even approaching those of steel workers. These people are restricted in wage increases by the very rules your fact finding (?) board prostituted. Second - There are tens of thousands of employers who, if they wished, could not grant increases comparable to those given steel workers because their prices wouldn't permit. Price control regulations don't allow adjustments for cost increases after July, 1951. The simple truth in this case is that stabilization rules would have permitted but 9 to 12c per hour plus fringe benefits of about 2 or 3c. Your packed board gave preferential treatment to White House friends over that given millions of honest patriotic people. These ordinary citizens wouldn't strike in a time of need nor are they in a position to seek special favors. Your speech of April 8th, attempting to justify such action was an insult to all intelligent people. It was a shameful betrayal of public trust. The treatment given the steel companies and their stockholders was equally shocking. However they are well able to defend themselves in the courts and are undoubtedly going to do just that. I am writing to my representatives enclosing a copy of this letter. I am asking them to oppose the Defense Production Act which I previously supported. The reason for this is my earnest conviction that SO long as you are in the White House, the power given by this Act will be abused. Our country will be far better off if left to its own devices rather than political manipulation. Very truly yours, Hc H. C. Fechtmeyer 1925 Pleasant Street Wauwatosa, Wisconsin HCF/is