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AFFILIATED WITH THE 
A. F. of L. 

"SCHEDULE WITH SAFETY"

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

TELEPHONE 
GROVEHILL 2200

473[[image-logo]]

September 13, 1948
Blind cc: All NAL Pilots
All Chairmen & Officers 

Mr. James F. O'Neil, National Commander
American Legion
777 N. Maridian St. 
Indianapolis, Indiana

Dear Commander O'Neil:
As a veteran of two world wars and with nearly 30 years in the Reserve, and long a member of American Legion Post #651, located in Chicago, Illinois, I would like to make you acquainted with a certain situation and ask your cooperation. 
The Air Line Pilots Association, of which I am president, is waging a strike against National Airlines. To give you some idea of where this air line operates, attached is a strike leaflet on one side of which appears the air routes of National Airlines. 
I have noted that this year your Convention will be held on October 25 in Miami. I am wondering if you will be so good as to notify your various post commanders not to fly National Airlines to the American Legion Convention. This air line is being operated by strike breakers, the air line flying experience level of whom is much below that of the National pilots on strike. 
To bring you quickly up to date on what this situation is all about, President Truman appointed an Emergency Board on May 15, 1948. This Board held hearings beginning on May 25 and ending on June 4 and went into all the facts and circumstances of the National strike situation. On July 9, the Board came forth with a decision and in their findings were the following paragraphs:
"Failure to afford an impartial determination of the propriety of a pilot's discharge caused the strike AND RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE STRIKE RESTS WITH THE CARRIER. 
"The story revealed by the evidence is one of disregard for statutory and contractual obligations on the part of the Carrier. IT INDICATES AN IMMATURITY AND LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY WHICH IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE DUTIES IMPOSED BY CONGRESS UPON CARRIERS IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE."