Montana labor news., 1934-10-11
Labor Spirit
May Preserve the
A. F. [. Convention

SAN FRANCISCO. - (FP) - San
Francisco, only a few weeks ago the
turbulent scene of one of the f~iercest
a~nti-union drives in its history, seems
today-from the viewpoint of organ
lied labor at least-a changed city.
As the most significant convention
Of the American Federation Of Labor
in recent years opens there is evidence
o n every hand Of a rapidly growing
realization of the Importance and dig
nifty of organized labor in this second
year of the New Deal.
This sense Of labor's newly-won sig
~nificance is most strongly reflected
perhaps, by the conservative San Fran
cisco press which only yesterday wa
portraying ever the most regular labor
leaders as diabolical agents Of Mos
COW. Today these papers are opening
their columns to the pronouncements
of these self-same leaders and featur-
ing detailed discussions of craft VS.
industrial unionism, labor's place in the
recovery program, the possible out
come of various iurisdictional disputes
and other such matters.
The effect Of the convention itseli
on the San Francisco and bay region
labor movement is being widely dis
cussed in labor circles. In the days
immediately following the collapse Of
the general strike, local labor leaders
were looking forward to the conven-
ton and attendant publicity as offering
an opportunity to recover lost prestige
1t soon became evident, however
that the mass strike, though it failed
OF its immediate objective, had giver
a tremendous squirt to the Pacific
coast labor movement. Instead o.
meeting in surroundings Of gloom
therefore, the convention as far as the
local scene is concerned, convenes il
an atmosphere surcharged with hope
and optimism. AS one local labor lead.
er has expressed it 1T is not now SC
much a question of what effect the
convention will have on the labor
movement, as Of what effect the loca
spirit will have upon the convention
The craft vs.. industrial union issue
pivotal in the fight Of the A. F. of L
militants against the old-line leader
ship, has already emerged into the
foreground through statements of loca
leaders and of the first arrivals among
convention delegates, Edward A.. Van
deleur, newly elected president Of the
California State Federation Of Labor
fired the first gun for the craft unior
side of the controversy upon his return
from the state convention at Pasadena
Vandeleur's sentiments were echoed
by William l.. Hutchinson, genera
president Of the carpenters union.
There are 1903 international organi
zations," Hutchinson said. None o
the skilled trades favors industrial or
ganization. In the building trades, i
would mean only one organization OF
a building. There are about 10 now
Carpenters problems differ from thos,
Of electricians or b~ricklayers and eacl
requires separate handling"
Hutchinson then launched into
scathing attack upon the Roosevelt
administration and the New Deal.
IF President Hoover had continued
in office and had a Congress that co
operated with him." he concluded, Nv,
would have come out of this depres
sion far quicker than we are doing
now"
Emil Muir, Pacific coast representa-
tive of the brewers, was n of tn,
first to voice the industrial union sid
of the controversy. His stand, reflect
ing that of the brewery workers, i
significant in that the fight over tn,
craft VS.. industrial union issue viii
probably first come before the conven
ton in a struggle between the team
sters, strong advocates of craft organ
%ization, and the brewery workers, TO
Jurisdiction over the brewery Wagon
drivers.
ITS an old story" Muir declared
Our union was formed in 1896 anc
the executive council Of the A. F. 0
L. has told US to turn the brewer,
drivers over to the teamsters. But
referendum showed that drivers by g
per cent wanted to stay with the brew
ers."
Regional Board Overruled II