Evening star., 1926-10-07
A.F. OF |. CLOSES
PULPIT DISPUTE
President William Green
Urges Matter Be Dropped to
Facilitate Convention.
BY the Associated Press.


DETROIT. October = - Following
the recommendation of President Vii
ham Green, the American Federation
OF Labor Convention resumed the reg
ular order Of business soon after the
opening Of the morning session today
without approving formal action upon
the withdrawal by Detroit churches Of
their invitations to labor speakers.
After two addresses from the floor
deploring the action of the Detroit
clergymen, President Green recon-
mended ending the discussion without
a formal expression Of the convention.
1T is the opinion Of the chair that
this unfortunate situation already has
made greater demands upon our time
than our business program can well
afford" Mr.. Green said. The dele
gates are acquainted with the facts. SO
far as known to the chair. We feel
that our organization has not been in
tured by reception of the convention
here and now earnestly recommend
that the matter be considered closed. y
Planned "Emphatic" Action.
The convention assembled today
with a recommendation to answer in
a very emphatic fashion the action
of the churches and Y. NJ. G. a. as
the special order of business.
Possibility of an amicable ADJUST
ment Of a situation defined by Mr..
Green as extremely regrettable" was
seen by some delegates in the record
0f Yesterdays afternoon session in
which the statement Of labor delegates
that the action of the Detroit churches
and Y. NJ. G. A. did not reflect the
attitude of the Christian Church
throughout the country" was heard
also in the address Of Rev. James
Myers, industrial secretary of the
Federal Council of Churches of Christ
in America.
Mr. Myers received unanimous con-
sent to address the convention just
before adjournment last night.
a few hours after the fiery session,
President Green declined the invita-
ton of the Federal Council Of
Churches to speak Sunday afternoon
at mass meeting in the First Con-
gregational Church on the Ideals of
Labor and the Church"
Mr.. Green gave no reason for his
declination, which was announced
after formal notification by c. Nj. Van
Dusen, president Of the board of con-
troll of the Detroit y. NJ. c. A, that
the DOdTO ndu NOC6u MONDAY u Will
draw the invitation extended to the
labor president in July to address
progressive mems rally in the y. NJ.
c. A. auditorium next Sunday.
Cites Building Program.
"He stated" President Green told
the convention. "the board Of control
was Of the opinion that the building
program could be better advanced
through the cancellation Of the invita-
tion."
George l.. Berry. president Of the
international Printing Pressmen's and
Assistants Union of North America
and former vice commander of the
American Legion, defiVed the action
If the Detroit clergymen as an insult
to organized labor. and denounced the
Detroit Board Of Commerce. which he
charged inspired their action. for hav-
Ing published letter to ministers
characterizing the labor speakers
named for Sunday engagements as
''men admittedly attacking our Gov
ernment and our American plan of
employment"
James p. Frey. president Of the
Ohio State Federation of Labor,
warned the convention against ill.con-
sidered action.
Officers of the Detroit Board Of Com
merce and the Y. NJ. c. \. offered no
comment on the action of the Conven-
ton.