September 23, 1974

NYS organized labor seen swinging behind Dem gubernatorial candidate Repr Hugh L Carey, with formal endorsement by state AFL‐CIO possible at orgn's upcoming conv; endorsement would be blow to Gov Wilson, who has enjoyed friendly relations with state AFL‐CIO group's head Raymond R Corbett and union leaders in bldg trades; orgn endorsed Rockefeller and Wilson after bitter conv battle 4 yrs ago; labor officials emphasize endorsement gets public attention and generates enthusiasm among members for ‘nitty‐gritty’ work of registering voters and getting them to the polls; Carey's recent endorsements by NYS United Teachers and CWA Dist 1 noted; others expected to support Carey are ILGWU, IBEW and State County and Municipal Employes; scattered unions may support Wilson; new Carey endorsements are expected Sept 24 after NYC meeting to plan labor role in Carey‐Krupsak campaign; unions already supporting Carey listed; Dept Store Workers local pres Sam Kovenetsky and TWU local pres Ellis Van Riper see Carey getting AFL‐CIO nod; NYS Bldg and Construction Trades Council pres Arcy Degni says bldg trades will stick with Wilson at conv (M)

NYC Mayor Beame says he is drawing up proposal under which Port Auth would contribute money to help keep subway and bus fare at 35c, int, WCBS‐TV Newsmakers program; says plan will be presented to NYS Gov Wilson and NJ Gov Byrne; will go to Washington on Sept 25 to head ‘all‐out natl effort’ to plead for increased Fed subsidies; says without subsidies NYC will be in great difficulty in maintaining fare (M)

Defense Dept begins study of reducing large stockpile of US nuclear weapons in W Eur; sr officials, including Sec Schlesinger, assume that study will lead to conclusion on strictly mil grounds that some weapons should be withdrawn, but Defense and State Dept officials regard problem as more pol than mil; US has about 7,000 nuclear warheads in W Eur; all, by official definition, are ‘tactical’ weapons; 20% are strictly defensive weapons; majority have apparently been assigned to allied forces for use in event of war; Eur officials have come to view reduction in stockpile as weakening of Amer nuclear deterrent in Eur; Defense Dept officials hold that concept that virtually all warheads would be used at same time to halt Soviet invasion is outdated; Schlesinger has been trying to shift to strategic concept of selective use of warheads against mil targets to demonstrate allied determination without provoking all‐out Soviet retaliation; Cong has also become concerned over physical security of warheads; new study is result of Sen Sam Nunn amendment to mil authorization bill which freezes nuclear stockpile at present size while rev is carried out; amendment also asks restudy of over‐all concept of tactical weapons use in Eur; Nunn comments (L)

Met Opera, under agreement with NYC Comm on Human Rights, accepts 3‐yr plan to improve minority job opportunities in all categories, onstage and backstage; gen mgr Schuyler G Chapin says applicants will come to Met to be heard rather than through use of talent searchers; notes that some black musicians will be auditioned for positions in orch; Comr Eleanor Holmes Norton announces agreement; comm initiated complaint and probe of Met's hiring practices Feb 2, ‘72; Chapin says Met has ‘very good record’ in respect to blacks (M)

William Blake shot in eye by NYC police officer in apparent case of mistaken identity as he sat in car in Washington Hgts on Sept 22 with 3 other unarmed men; 5 officers who allegedly took part in shooting ordered reassigned; Manhattan Dist Atty's office to study evidence before deciding to present it to grand jury; incident occurred after police recd tips that 4 black men with shotguns were sitting in car on W side of St Nicholas Ave; Blake's car was on E side of street; 13 shots were fired at car by 5 ptl when occupants of car refused to get out and attempted to drive away (M)