Evening star., 1934-10-03
A.F.L. EXECUTIVES
GET DISPUTE OVER
BUILDING TRADES
Green Meets Only Rebuffs
in Efforts to Compose
Convention Issue.
RESTORING POSTAL PAY
is URGED IN RESOLUTION
Federation Also Faces Battle en-
Reorganizing Labor on In
dustrial Lines.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, October 3.-The
battle of the building trades went to
the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor here today.
Efforts of William Green, Federation
president, to compose the issue over
admission of the carpenters, bricklay-
erS and electrical workers into the
building trades division had met moth
ing but rebuff since the veteran chief
tain arrived here last week.
M. j. McDonough, president OF the
building trades, Stoutly held his posi-
tion that the unions which broke away
several years ago would not be read
mitted. He denied compromise had
been effected which would let the
three unions in and retain him as Sec
retary, putting William L. Hutcheson,
the carpenters president, into McDon-
oughs chair as division chief.
May Urge Any Procedure.
What the council will do in today's
meeting was a big topic in conven-
tion circles. The body may recon-
mend to the convention any procedure
from maintaining the status quo to
throwing out the existing department
and giving its charter to the other
group, which contains the larger
membership Of the two.
Resolutions seeking full restoration
of pay for postal clerks and future
wage adjustments also were before the
federation.
The foremost objective. said L. E.
George of Washington, president of
the clerks, is restoration of pay TO the
former level.
Other aims presented are opposition
to basing salaries on the cost of living
index, optional retirement after 80
years of service (present retirement is
at the age of So and a general reso-
luton asking A. F. of L. support in
bettering working conditions.
The federation faced probably its
most important battle in whether it
should organize the labor of the
United States along industrial or craft
lines.
Lewis Brings 5000 Votes.
Bringing to the convention the
most important question of its pres
ent sessions, John L. Lewis, president
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
ica, of Springfield, Ill, arrives today
with 5000 votes which he can use to
support his militant attitude toward
organization of the Federation along
industrial lines instead of the present
plan of craft unions. Several resolu-
tions have been introduced dealing
with the horizontal" or craft union
ization and vertical" or industrial
unionization of American workers.
Lewis, according to Ellis Searles.
spokesman for the United Mine
Workers and editor of their publica-
ton, believes industrial organization
of unions would eliminate a great
amount of jurisdictional disputes and
would be far more effective in case
of strikes.
Meanwhile, delegates saw three
widely divergent groups of Pacific
Coast workers involved in strikes or
potential walkouts.
Five hundred San Francisco mem
bers of the Upholsterers International
Union of North America walked out
while another 400 in Los Angeles voted
to do likewise Monday. Portland,
Seattle and Tacoma upholsterers were
reported willing to quit work, bringing
strikers to 1000, in furtherance of
demands for pay Of 81 an hour and
35-hour week.
Four California mines of Amador
County, Calf, closed down when
pickets appeared on the properties
after wage increase demands had been
make by workers. Four hundred min
ers were affected.
Strike Resumption Considered.
Persistent reports were circulated
that waterfront employees in San Fran
cisco and other coastal ports were Seri-
ously considering a resumption of
their strike which tied up shipping on
the Pacific Coast for more than 80
days this Sumer The Presidents
Longshoremen's Board is scheduled to
make its arbitration decision late this
week.
United States Senator James J.
Davis of Pennsylvania, a former Sec
retary of Labor, will address the con-
vention today, as will two fraternal
delegates, William Dunn of Toronto.
Canada, and John Stokes, secretary
of the London Glass Bottle Workers.
With the convention scheduled to
continue throughout this week and
next, William Green. president, ex-
pressed desire that its sessions con-
clude as soon as possible to allow him
and other labor leaders to leave for
Washington to confer with President
Roosevelt on the Chief Executives
suggestion for trial period of in
duStrial peace"