March and, 1947 44 L SAYS ALLIS ISSUE company" to bargain collectively. Mr. Thomas tangled verbally with Representative Hoffman, Re- IS NOT COMMUNISM publican, of Michigan. Once when Mr. Hoffman cut his answer short Mr. Thomas said loudly: "It seems to me an ordinary citi- Thomas, UAW-CIO Vice Presi- zen of the United States is en- dent, Has Sharp Tilt With titled to some courtesy." House Labor Committee Mr. Thomas had strong language for a statement distributed today by a publicity representative of WASHINGTON, March 1 (AP)- R. J. Thomas, vice president of the Allis-Chalmers. This statement CIO United Auto Workers, told the quoted H. W. Story, vice president House Labor Committee today he of the company, as noting that Mr. has been in charge of the Allis- Buse's testimony made no refer- Chalmers strike since November ence to the statements of two and "believe me, the issue is not Allis-Chalmers employes before the communism." House Un-American Activities Earlier, Robert Buse, president Committee "that prolongation of of UAW Local 248 which has been the strike will give R. J. Thomas on strike against Allis-Chalmers at a large block of votes to further Milwaukee for ten months, testified his ambitions to regain the UAW that he signed a Communist nom- presidency.' inating petition last year but de- Mr. Thomas told the committee nied that he is a Communist or that story was "stupid" to say that the local is "communistically that, led." Committee members showered Mr. Buse said that he, fellow- him with questions about Commun- officers of the union and "every- ism and its aims. To Represents- body else on the picket line" signed tive Kersten, Republican of Wis. the petition in behalf of a Commu- consin, Mr. Thomas said: nist candidate for Governor of "Look! Maybe you're closer to Asconsin. being a Communist than I am. Be. Mr. Thomas contended that the lieve me, I've never even read a strike-which the company says book by Karl Marx or Lenin." has cost about $70,000,000 plus Mr. Buse is not a Communist $18,000,000 in lost wages-is a sympathizer and he did not vote "straight labor-management dis- for the communist for whom he pute" caused by the meailure of the signed the petition, he said.