Letter from J. F. Derr to President Harry S. Truman

FILED BY DR. STEELMAN 407-73 July 11, 1952 1952 Steel Stake Mine I John R. Steelman, Director Wage Stabilization Board Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Steelman: The uncalled for steel strike is now depriving hundreds of thousands of workers outside the steel industry their weekly pay check. It is estimated the steel workers alone have already lost, in wages, some Two Hundred Seventy Five Million Dollars, which will take them years to make up, re- gardless of the amount of increase they may receive. In the meantime, they are temporarily depriving others the right to earn a living, and in the long run will hurt everybody through higher prices. It appears the only way you can bargain with the big unions is to give in to their every wish. They should be happy to go back to work immediately for a nominal pay increase without any increase in steel prices. This strike, once settled, the Government should here- after adopt a hands off policy, and let the companies and unions bargain. Very truly yours, J J. F Derr 3609 Stringtown Road Evansville, Indiana JFD/rw CC: Philip Murray Benjamin Fearless