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AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL
3145 WEST SIXTY-THIRD STREET
CHICAGO 29

P.O. Box 45, Boeing Field, 
Seattle, Wn.

AFFILIATED WITH THE A. F. of L.

"SCHEDULE WITH SAFETY"

TELEPHONE GROVEHILL 2200

August 26, 1948

Mr. David L. Behncke
President, Air Line Pilots Association
3145 West Sixty-Third Street
Chicago 29, Illinois

Dear Dave:

Enclosed herewith is my ballot as Chairman of Council 27, relative to the ratification of the proposal to poll all ALPA members on the Air Line Pilot's Retirement Bill. To indicate that I am in favor of polling the entire membership on this measure is certainly a masterpiece of announcing the obvious. We bourgeois folk out here in the hinterlands have watched this plan take shape a few thousand miles away, and, in total ignorance of the complete ramifications of the plan have observed with mingled fear and mistrust the impelling force of a small minority group ramming it to an attempted passage. We want to make our feelings known from the outset, Dave. We are not committing ourselves as being opposed to this plan or any other plan, but we do resent deeply the methods used thus far in promoting activation of this plan. We have received, to date, a scattered and inconsistent welter of information on the proposed plan of two types. One type of information emanated from apparently well meaning pilots who seemed to have a private source of information relative to the plan, and who were eager and enthusiastic in pointing out its weakness and dangers, all of which allusions to soft spots were bolstered with good sound reasoning and information. The other source emanated from the various executive groups concerned with the plan's passage, all of whom indicated that the plan was the panacea for all pilots' insecurity ailments. Among these communications was the blue propaganda booklet which purported to "explain" the plan, but which was so patently biased that even a misguided misanthrope could determine by "scanning" the booklet that it was worthless as a fair analysis and comparison with current company plans. This tended to bolster the position of the sincere individuals who have opposed the plan via circularized letters.

It is further true that this plan, had it been dumped on the 80th Congress as planned, would virtually have destroyed ALPA. It is likewise true that due to the involuntary holding over of the plan, it has been immeasurably improved (as far as we can learn) and this, Dave, should be our cue. Dave, our boys want to know specifically, just what in the hell is the big rush on this thing.