Document Evjrrxz3KoaNQqR4BpgaMkE34

Confidential Mellon Institute of Industrial Research University of Pittsburgh PROGRESS REPORT for the__ weekended August. P.fi, 1939 -----------AIB.-EIGIEME, FOUNDATIONIndustrial Fellowship No.__259-5 Subjects under ) l uSiU1* r 3 copies made: 1 _ Mellon Institute 2 -Mr m* Dr. Heller and I risited Washington during the week where we had a con ference with V.P. Ahearn, a member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees. The meeting concerned Foundation affairs in general and the plans for the annual fall meeting in particular. Ur. Ahearn is to preside at our forum on industrial and public relations. Details for the forum were carefully discussed and a plan of procedure agreed upon. We are to approach John Hill of the Iron and Steel Institute, C.C. Carr of the Aluminum Company, and Frank Rising of BUSINESS WEEK, inviting them to be the principal participants. Mr. Ahearn proposed that inasmuch as the Foundation's efforts were in behalf of the health of labor, and since a representative of labor has never been heard from at the Foundation's meetings, that he felt it was time we obtained an expression from a responsible and respected leader of labor. This suggestion con formed with feelings which Dr. Heller and other Foundation officers have held for some time. Accordingly, it was agreed that Robert J. Watt, International Labor Representative of the American Federation of Labor, would be an excellent choice. It was further agreed that Mr. Ahearn should approach Mr. Watt. Word was received late in the week that Hr. Watt had accepted the invita tion. He advised Hr. Ahearn that, "I shall be glad indeed to be with you on that occasion." Mr. Watt represents the TJ.S. Department of Labor at the International Labor Office in Geneva. He addressed the International Management Conference in Washington last December, appearing on the program with Lewis H. Brown of JohnsManville, and William Allen White, publisher. He is also friendly with the C.I.O. Mr. Ahearn also advised us of a new approach to General Motors regarding Foundation affiliation. This is through Frederick C. Horner, Assistant to tbs Chairman (Mr. Sloan). Mr. Ahearn has been having friendly relations with Mr.Horner on another matter, serving with him on a committee. He (Mr. Ahearn) has written Mr. Horner requesting an interview for Dr. Meller and myself. It is hoped that this interview can be arranged during the first or second week of September. Mr. Swine hart of the Carl Byoir Associates acknowledged our recent letter and promised to check che possibilities of our suggestion that Mr. Biggers, Presi dent of Libbey-Owens-Ford, might be interested in appearing as a "keynote" speaker on the Foundation's program for the November meeting. Air Hygiene Foundation I.F. 259-5 2. Week ending August 26, 1939. C.F. Ralston, chairman of the Membership Committee, advised that he has received responses from members of his committee regarding the latest prospect list -which was sent out last week. Mr. Goodwin advised that he would approach U.S. Gypsum, and Mr. Lindsay said he would continue negotiations with Bakelite, explaining that he would see a vice president of that corporation soon. Meanwhile, Mr. Pring, another member of the Membership Committee, advised us direct of reactions received in approaching the Western Precipitation Corporation and Tintic Standard Mining Company. We replied to Mr. Pring, giving him further pertinent data to present to the Precipitation Corporation. Henry D. Sayer, formerly of the Foundations Board, and now an official of the New York State Insurance Fund, advised us of an interesting legal case in which they are interested and which has been carried to the U.S. Supreme Court. Import ant implications are involved respecting the whole subject of compensation. We re layed copies of Mr. Sayer's letter to all members of the Foundation's Legal Committee. ENGINEERING & MINING (August) carries an article on the health activities of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining Company. In the introduction it is stated that when the company decided to embark on the program they sent an engineer "to the Air Hygiene Foundation in Pittsburgh for specialized training..." This was an excellent piece of indirect publicity. Some of the local papers including the PRESS and SUN TELEGRAPH carried stories during the week announcing the date of the Foundation' a annual meeting and the election of new trustees-----the material contained in our recent news letter. The Westborough, Mass. CHRQNOTYPE and the Laconia, N.H. CITIZEN carried brief features describing the purposes of the Foundation and its activities. R: August 30, 1939 T: September 1, 139 R: MELLON INSTITUTE GSEiKDuM ECU, rJohn F. McMahon Industrial Fellow 000074