The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-17
A. F. OF |. IS
BEHIND Lewis
IN Mine war
Green, as Labor'S Overload,
Indicates Punishment for
Illinois Rebels.
PLEDGES FIRM SUPPORT
Delegates Swarm to Feet,
Cheering Wildly at
PronounCement.

THE American Federation Of La
Dor regards this United Mine
Workers of America as the one and
sole organization having jurisdic-
ton over coal miners
With this statement William
Green, president of the American
Federation of Labor. placed the A.
F. of l.. directly behind John L.
Lewis, international president. and
other officials of the International
Mine Workers of America, in an adj
dress before the Tomlinson hall con~
vention of miners here this morning.
Green was given rousing ovation
on his arrival and, on assurances OF
support of the organization,
delegates leaped to their feet to
cheer wildly.
1.-The American Federation OF
Labor executive board is dealing
with John H. Walker, Illinois state
federation of labor president, and
will conduct it's cause under the
policy have outlined here" Green
declared in answer to a question
from the floor.
Hints at Discipline.
This announcement indicated that
the A. F. of L. will take disciplin-
airy action against Walker, one Of
the inSurgent leaders who have or
gained a dual miners union at a
Springfield Ull) convention. Walk
er, elected secretary treasurer of the
new organization, already had an
nounced his proposed resignation as
Illinois Federation of Labor head.
Lining the American Federation
of Labor directly behind Lewis and
the international here, Green never
theleSs extended the palm of pro-
posed mediation in the mine union
division.
Perhaps it is possible for the Of
f1cers of the American Federation
OF Labor to look at this entire con-
troversy in a light to gain a better
prospective" he told the delegates
here.
I'VE must look upon the situation
with feelings of concern and, in a
broad sense, may I say that if we
can be of help in bringing about
SOLITARY, we will help. But we will
not inject the A. F. Of L. into your
family quarrel"
Green opened his address with a
direct promise to the union here Of
the A. F. of L. support. He said:
Deeply Concerned
81 come to you deeply concerned
over the situation that has arisen
in this great organization of which
l have been a member all my life. I
am glad to come here in my official
capacity and show you and the
world by my presence here that this
is the one and only miners union
recognized by the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor as having jurisdic-
ton over the miners of America and
Canada.
you will interpret my presence
here as evidence of that solemn
fact"
Reviewing granting Of a charter
to the mine union by the A. F. of
L. Feb. %, 1890, Green declared ii
constituted a solemn covenant un-
der which the A. F. of L. agreed to
give 1t sole Jurisdiction over miners,
To Lose Confidence
ut seems to me any man who
allies himself with any movement
that tends to detract from the
strength Of the workers assumes a
tremendous responsibility" he de-
clared. When leaders ard de-
nounced as traitors unworthy of
confidence, the union members are
certain to lose heart and con-
fidence.
The charter of the U. M. w. A.
has not been Withdrawn by the A.
F. Of L. The U. NJ. w. A. is in good
standing.
We are conscious that out of this
will arise difficulties we must DEAL
with. We will meet them, without
Sinking. in accordance with the
policies I have stated here"
Because of use of Tomlinson hsK
tonight for a st. Patrick's day bali,
the convention adjourned at noon
today until Tuesday morning.