The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-09-03
WHY DOES GREEN INVESTIGATE?
Left Wing leadership Wins Attack Workers Fyn

THE DAILY WORKER has pre-
l. viously published the letter of the
New York Joint Board OF the Furriers'
Union to William Green, president of
the American Federation of Labor,
expressing surprise and protest
against the so-called investigation"
ordered by the A. F. of L. executive
council of the successful general strike
conducted by the Joint Board against
the employers, in which the union won
a remarkable number of demands,
among them the 40-hour week, by mil
liant strike action.
We now give in continuation the fol
lowing correspondence, the letter of
Green to the Joint Board and it's re-
ply, again protesting the unprecedent-
ed action of the A. F. of L. proceed
ing upon a hostile investigation be-
cause the union won a strike. Green's
letter follows:
Mr.. Ben Gold, Manager,
Joint Board Furriers' Union,
New York, New York.
Dear Sir and Brother: herewith
reply to your letter of August 5. 1t
is difficult to reconcile your expression
of surprise and establishment over the
appointment of a committee, by
authority of the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor, for
the purpose of making an investiga-
ton into the internal affairs of the In
ternational Fur Workers Union, when
you take into consideration the fact
that you knew that such an investiga-
ton would be made.
AT a conference held at the Cadillac
Hotel on or about April Is, at which
the officers of the International Fur
Workers Union, yourself and others,
representing the general strike com
mittee of the Fur Workers Union, my
self and Brother Hugh Frayne, rep
resenting the American Federation of
Labor, were present, it was definitely
understood that after the strike which
involved thousands Of fur workers in
New York City was over an investi-
cation into the internal affairs of the
International Fur Workers Union
would be made by a committee repre-
senting the American Federation of
Labor.
The representative of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor participated
in this conference to which l have
just referred upon the request of you,
as member of the Joint Board of Fur
riers' Union, and the officers of the In
ternational Fur Workers Union. 1t
was my understanding that you and
your associates, as well as the Of
ficers of the International Fur Work
ers' Union acquiesced in the proposal
that an investigation be made.
1t is obvious that you knew that
after the strike was over this investi-
CATION would be made; that it would
be made by committee representing
the American Federation of Labor and
that all the allegations and charges
made by the contending factions with
in the International Fur Workers
Union regarding internal dissension,
faith would be proved and investi-
gated.
You did not express surprise when
the question of an investigation being
made was discussed, consequently it is
difficult to understand why you would
express establishment now when the
original understanding is being car
ried out.
international officers Favored II.
The international officers of the Fur
Workers Union understood this mat
ter quite we'll. They looked with ia
vor upon the proposed Investigation.
It is true that the American Fed
Grafton of Labor delegates to inter
national unions broad powers and wide
authority and, under ordinary circum-
stances, the American Federation of
Labor does not interfere in the exer-
else of autonomous authority by inter-
national and national unions duly char
tered by the American Federation OF
Labor, but the situation in the Inter
national Fur Workers Union is extra
ordinary and because of this extraOr-,
binary situation the American Fedora
ton of Labor, which granted the char
ter of the International Fur Workers
Union has full authority to institute
an inquiry into its internal affairs.
Furthermore, the American Fedora
ton of Labor was called upon by the
officers of the International Fur Work.
ers' Union to assist in the negotia-
tons between the striking fur work.
ers and the manufacturers for the pur-
pose of arriving at settlement. We
rendered such service as we could
give, under the circumstances, upon
The request of the representatives OF
the International Fur Workers Union
and the Joint Board Furriers' Union.
Accusation "Not Necessary"
IL is not necessary to make any di-
rect accusation against either the Of
iicers of the International Fur Work
ers' Union or the representatives Of
tho foT1f7 Hoard Eurriarq' Tfufou nriOr