EXHIBIT 1502 13 State any special qualifications not involved in your present position (for instance, lawyer, physician, civil engineer, knowledge of foreign language, etc.) Chairman, Nat'l Labor Relations Board, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: I have a letter from Mr. A. L. Wirin requesting permission for the release by the Board of my name, as one of the persons who have certified to Mr. Wirin's ability. The request comes rather late in view of the fact that some one in the department has released the names, not to the press at large, but to a Mr. Thomas W. McManus of Bakersfield, who gave the names in a radio address over Station WSXAI-Bakersfield. Mr. McManus' address as reported by the local newspapers who have been active in agitating through the American Legion against Mr. Wirin, gave Mr. Benedict Wolf, Assistant General Counsel and Executive Secretary of the Board, as the source of the information. I have no objection to have my name mentioned, as is evidenced by the fact that I gave to the press when asked, the enclosed statement which appeared in the Los Angeles Examiner and in the Herald-Express, both Hearst newspapers, on December 18, 1935. I think, however, that in view of the fact that the request for the recommendation stated specifically "contents your wire confidential use of Board", Mr. Wolf should have consulted me before releasing my name. Not that I desire to withdraw anything that I said about Mr. Wirin, but I then might have been in a position to give the statement to the newspapers myself rather than have the matter come through a radio broadcast in a city where I am not well known and where there is likelihood of misinterpretation of one's actions. This was much more important in my case because I am a member of the American Legion and among the first Legionnaires to be appointed to the Federal bench by President Roosevelt, and could, no doubt, have avoided the implications which the speaker sought to draw from the facts, as is evidenced by the excerpts published in the newspapers which I enclose. I write this not as a criticism of the Board, but to express my thought that, in view of the position I occupy and in view of the fact that I seldom endorse anyone, but am always glad to express my view as to the standing of a lawyer, and of the promise made that the matter would be treated confidentially, I should have preferred to be consulted. However, I repeat to you what I said to the reporters of the Hearst newspapers who called me up, that the agitation that has been carried on against Mr. Wirin does not in any manner alter the expressions I gave to you in my telegram of October 5th, concerning his qualifications. Yours very truly, LRY: ho enc. LEON R. YANKWICH, Honorable LEON R. YANKWICH, DECEMBER 23, 1935. United States District Court, Southern District of California, Los Angeles, California. DEAR JUDGE YANKWICH: I appreciate very much your letter of December 19th and the newspaper reports contained in it. It seems that our Secretary furnished the names of Mr. Wirin's endorsers, together with the language of the endorsements, to Congressman Stubbs, of Santa Maria, and that Congressman Stubbs supplied the information to Mr. McManus. The Board was not aware that Mr. Wirin had in his request for your endorsement stated that it was for the confidential use of the Board. I agree with you that the making public of the names of these endorsers might have been done in a more effective way. However, that does not detract from my great appreciation of your willingness to stand by the endorsement when it is under fire and to make the fine statement which appears in the newspaper which you sent. Mr. Wirin is doing excellent work for us, and the criticism of him seems to be quite mistaken. Chairman, National Labor Relations Board, 1010 Vermont Avenue, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR Referring to inquiries concerning the appointment of Mr. A. L. Wirin, I beg to say that you are quite at liberty to quote me as having sent you the telegram of September 27, 1935. That telegram correctly and accurately represents the information I have about Mr. Wirin and my opinion of his ability. DEAR. MR. HART: I appreciate very much your letter of December 23d relating to Mr. A. L. Wirin and your consent to our use of the endorsement which you gave us at the time Mr. Wirin was appointed. Chairman, National Labor Relations Board, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Mr. Wirin of your staff has written me suggesting that I write you and give you permission to use my name as one of his endorsers. I am pleased to do this and I think that all of Mr. Wirin's endorsers take a similar position. DEAR JUDGE KENNY: I appreciate very much your letter of December 26, 1935 relating to Mr. A. L. Wirin and your consent to our use of the endorsement which you gave us at the time Mr. Wirin was appointed. Sincerely yours, jwi/mp Hon. WARREN MADDEN, EXHIBIT No. 1508 [Postal Telegraph] LOS ANGELES, CALIF., Sep. 27, 1935. Chairman Labor Relations Board, 1010 Vt. Ave. While I was chairman Constitutional Rights Committee, Los Angeles Bar Association, the trustees at my request appointed disinterested lawyer to argue constitutional guaranties, freedom of speech and assembly, in case brought by A. L. Wirin, who presented case brilliantly and successfully Stop Wirin won respect of courts in many cases by his devotion and forcefulness. As a judge been acquainted with A. L. Wirin Stop And have confidence in his ability and integrity and believe that his experience with labor problems would make him valuable addition to any legal department dealing with such problems. LEON R. YANKWICH, United States Dist. Judge. EXHIBIT NO. 1510 NOVEMBER 23, 1935. LONG BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Long Beach, California. (Attention: Carl L. Hyde, Executive Secretary.) GENTLEMEN: On November 14th you wrote Secretary Frances Perkins of the Department of Labor concerning the appointment of Mr. A. L. Wirin to the Legal Staff of the National Labor Relations Board. Secretary Perkins transmitted your letter to this Board, and I am glad to reply to it. Mr. Wirin applied for a place on the legal staff of this Board in September. He presented endorsements from Judges of the United States District Court, the Superior Court of California and the Municipal Court of Los Angeles, from officers of the Los Angeles Bar Association and from a United States Senator, all of whom purported to know him well and who praised his ability, integrity and courage in the highest terms. I enclose a copy of these endorsements for your information. On the basis of these endorsements, the Board gave him a place as one of a considerable number of attorneys on our staff. His work is of a technical nature and he has done it diligently and well. His conduct has given us every reason to believe that the distinguished gentleman who recommended him to us had made accurate estimates of the man. Very truly yours, jwm/P. J. WARREN MADDEN, Chairman. Mr. JOSEPH WARREN MADDEN, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Chairman, National Labor Relations Board, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. MADDEN: I am enclosing herewith a letter from the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce with reference to the appointment of Abraham L. Wirin, together with copy of reply. Very truly yours, Enclosure. FRANCES PERKINS. Mr. CARL L. HYDE, NOVEMBER 19, 1935. Executive Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach, Calif. MY DEAR MR. HYDE: Your letter of November 14 enclosing a copy of resolution adopted by your organization has been received. The National Labor Relations Board is not under the Department of Labor. It is a separate body and all appointments of personnel are under the sole jurisdiction of the Board itself. The appointment you refer to was, therefore, not made by me. I am bringing your letter and the resolution to the attention of the chairman of the National Labor Relations Board. DEAR MADAM SECRETARY: It is with deep concern that the attached resolution is dispatched to you for your information and, we trust, immediate attention. It is the conviction of this organization that the charges contained in the resolution cannot, of course, be a matter of conscious knowledge to you; otherwise the individual named therein certainly would not have been appointed to the National Labor Relations Board. We feel confident that the expressions contained in this resolution bespeak the sentiment of all genuine Americans, and especially the recognized agencies of American labor. We will be grateful for your acknowledgment in this matter and advice as to action which your office may take. Very sincerely yours, WHEREAS, It has come to the attention of the Chamber of Commerce of Long Beach, California, that Abraham L. Wirin has been appointed as Counsel to the National Labor Relations Board by Secretary of Labor Frances L. Perkins; and WHEREAS, It is common knowledge in Southern California that said Abraham L. Wirin has been active in communistic movements and in defense of Communists charged with subversive movements against the United States Government; and WHEREAS, The activities of said Abraham L. Wirin have extended to this City where he is recognized as a Communistic agitator and defender; and WHEREAS, As such he is considered a menace to the industrial and commercial life of any community with which he may come in contact; and WHEREAS, This organization feels that his appointment as Counsel to the National Labor Relations Board is an insult to the laboring men of this country; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Long Beach, California, in regular meeting assembled, that they protest the appointment and demand the removal of said Abraham L |