The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-07
Green POUNDS
AT DRESSER IN
BITTER TERMS
Brands NoveIlSt'S Remarks
As BaSeIeSS and
UntruthfuI.
BIZ Times Special

BIZ Times Special
WASHINGTON, July 7-Striking
back at an attack on organized
labor, William Green, president Of
the American Federation Of Labor,
has addressed an open letter to
Theodore Dresser, novelist, who
urged the disbanding Of the labor
federation.
Green dashed Dresser for his
statement that the federation is
simply a closed corporation operat-
ing for the benefit Of little groups"
Dreiser's statement said that he
had positive knowledge Of a pro-
posal to put into effect "a closed
union between the chief corpora
tions, such as the power and utility
groups, and the American Fedora
ton of Labor to put a quietus in
sofar as possible on strike and labor
troubles and bring about general
poverty for the rest of the people"
Denies Alleged Proposal
LAS the president Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor I would
know If such proposal was made
binding the federation to such a
. plan" writes Green.
Il positively assert that no such
proposal has been made or con-
sidered.
you could not have had knowl-
edge of such a proposal because no
such understanding exists between
the federation and any corporation
of any kind.
at is difficult to understand how
a man with such a reputation as
you have gained would engage in
such reckless statements.
Lashes at Prejudice"
Commenting on Dreiser's favoring
the invasion of the National Miners
Union, a Communist organization,
into the coal fields, because that
organization would do what the
American Federation of Labor never
~did-open the doors to all classes
and conditions of labor, even I'M
skilled workers." Green said:
This erroneous statement alone
is enough to destroy the force, effect
an influence of your entire article.
ut is utterly baseless. 1t shows
conclusively that you do not under
stand the character and form of
the International Union, United
Mine Workers and the American
Federation Of Labor.
"Or if you do, then you are in
dueI.ced by prejudice passion and
feeling-so much that you recklessly
make an untruthful and unfounded
statement"
Explains Negotiations
Green pointed out that the pro-
visions r made by the laws of the
federation for the organization of
all unskilled laborers. He gave as
examples the organizing Of I'M
skilled men in mines, bod carriers,
common laborers employed on
streets and highways and in exca-
walton work, section hands on rail-
roads and many others.
when negotiating wage scales
with coal opertors," asserted Green,
the United Mine Workers insist
that the wage scale agreed upon
must apply to the unskilled worker
and that he must be accorded the
same degree Of protection as even
the most important key men.
Defends Mine Union
For more than thirty years the
International union, United Mine
Workers of America, has functioned
and served the men employed in
and around the coal mines Of the
nation. They carried on strikes in
West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, In
diana and Illinois-in fact, in every
mining center-in an effort to raise
the standard of life and living
among the men in the mines.
"As a result of the struggle Of
the miners, under the leadership of
their union, and as a result of these
strikes, collective bargaining was
accepted.
Goal operators in many instances
we're reluctantly forced to recog-
nize the miners union with which
agreements were made. The rights
OF all concerned were clearly de-
fined.
Wages were increased and condi-
tons Of life and living became more
tolerable. No n ever heard of you
or those associated with YOU going
into the coal fields when this strug-
gle was on, Investigating the eff
forts OF the United Mine Workers,
or extending to them a word Of
sympathy or encouragement.
THE so-called National Workers
union, which you have espoused,
never did anything to assist in Sc
curing any Of these benefits and
blessings for the miners"