Evening star., 1932-10-17
SUPPORT PROMISED
TO j. s. EMPLOYEES
PROGRAM BY ALL.
President Green Delivers
Pledge to New Federal
Workers Group.
CLASSIFICATION MEASURE
CONFLICT is REVIEWED
Misrepresentation and Fraud Is
Charged in Secession of Ma
tional Federation.

The American Federation Of Labor
VIII ngnt shoulder to shoulder with
the American Federation of Govern
ment Employees to obtain satisfactory
classification, five-day week, retirement
and pay legislation, President William
Green OF the A. F. of L., told the dele
gates to the first convention of the
new government union, meeting in the
Hamilton Hotel this morning.
Speaking for more than an hour.
Green outlined the events leading up
to the secession from the American
Federation of Labor of the National
Feoeration OF Federal Employees in a
row over the A. F. of LIS stand on a
classifcation bill pending in Congress.
He charged that the secession was
brought about by leaders of the seced-
ing group through gross misrepre-
sentation and fraud"
Encouraged by Progress
The purpose Of the American Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor" he said, lis to give
the fuu measure Of its support to the
new organization. You are a part of
the great American labor movement.
II you stand united, If personalities are
Suoordlnated to the common good you
cannot fail. I am encouraged by the
progress you have made in the short
space OF two weeks. Your organiza-.
tion Is the beginning of an irresistible
forward movement.
"You must make it the one organiza-
ton cloaked with authority speaking for
the Government employees. You have
been organized after the most careful
consideration was given to Your prob
lens by the A. F. of L. council. You
must make 1t militant and aggressive
factor in the behalf of the Federal en-
ployes, controlled by your membership
and not by any dictator.
I'VE are bound together for a common
purpose-to lift our standard of living.
When the movement was started by
the seeding organization to break away
from our support We heard the voices
OF thousands Of Government employees
opposed to the secession and we took
them in. We gave them the oppor-
tunity to come in with us and to profit
by the support of great organization,
and they are taking advantage Of it.
Those who don't want to come in can
stay out and weigh the consequences.
Fraud Charges Made.
Il say that the secession was brought
about by leaders of the seeding Or
ganiZation through the most indefensi-
bic misrepresentation and fraud. 1t is
said that the American Federation of
Labor in its Vancouver convention In
June, 1881, opposed classification of
Government employees. There is moth
ing in the Vancouver convention re-
port that indicates any opposition to
classification of the Government serv-
ice; as matter Of fact, the American
Federation of Labor is in favor of it
and willing to support any proposal de-
signed to aid the Federal employees. I
Subordinated my personal feelings and
did everything in my power to meet
the demands of officials of the seced-
ing organization. I accepted insults in
order to save the break, and in spite of
it all the break had to take place. The
vote was 16,300 for secession and II 400
against secession. I say that vote
against secession was a mighty healthy
minority.
ITO back up my charges of fraud
and Misrepresentation, 1 offer you evi-
dence Of the vote taken by the Les
Angeles Union on the secession QueS-
ton. There were IS persons attend ing
the meeting. but a large number OF
them were undecided and did not cast
their vote. There were II votes in ia
vor of secession and IL against. Yet, in
the official report issued by the OFF,
cials of the seeding organization. the
vote of the Los Angeles Union was
given as 262 in favor of secession and
the same II against. In that same Of
ficial report, the vote is given for the
Paris, France, union as PA for seces-
sion and none against. leave you to
draw your own conclusions about that.
Mr.. Green predicted that serious
problems would be faced by Govern
ment employees in the coming session OF
Congress.
There will be further economies
sought and labor will be called upon 70
make further sacrifices. However, I am
firmly convinced that they can find a
way to balance the budget without low
ering standards of living Of the men
and women who serve the Govern
ment. The American Federation of
Labor Is planning to support classifi-
cation measure that will protect all en-
ployes of the Government service.
"Win Support Five-Day Week."
1.-THE American Federation of Labor
is planning to support five-day week
in the Government service without af-
fecting the pay of the Federal workers."
David r: Glass president of the fed
Grafton, delivered his report at the OPEN
ing session.
This afternoon the delegates went to
Arlington National Cemetery, where
they placed a wreath on the Tomb OF
the Unknown Soldier, and later jour
neyed to Mount Vernon, where another
wreath was placed on the Tomb of
Washington.
Tonight there will be banquet in
the Hamilton Hotel, at which Secre-
tary of Labor William N. Doak will
make the principal address. John Arthur
Shaw, first vice president of the fedora
ton, will be toastmaster, and other ad-
dresses will be made by MIR. Green and
by President Glass.
At the opening of this mornings ses-
sion President Glass was presented with
a gavel made from timber taken from
the new House ONCE Building. The
presentation was made by Helen Nc
Carthy of the Committee on Arrange
ments. The benediction was spoken by
Doy Evora1c 7 Iyt,rv,ou