Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-19
RAD|CALISM FIGHT.
ISSPL|TT|NG AE.L..
Revolutionary Faction Is
Boring From Within TO
Change Government.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The issue Of left wins" radicarSn
and right wing" conservatism In th'
ranks Of union labor in America hai
MT last come plainly 10 the surface.
The general public Is frequently
confused by attacks on irresponsible
labor leaders. and partisans OF Labor
attribute such attacks TO efforts x
break down trade unionism.
Everybody here who has known
the inside OF labor agitation in re-
cent months has realized that BORING
from within. Is a group eager TO sci
up an entirely different form Of gov
eminent and an entirely diferenl
social structure from that which ha'
been imbedded In American life fol
$50 years. All over the country
minority groups have been stirrine
I'D trouble for veteran leaders OF
local unions.
Strike Cleared the Air.
CHARGES that Communists and rad
icals were fomenting strikes and
hence retarding the efforts OF well
meaning employers. as well as we'll
meaning labor leaders, have beer
brushed aside again and again by
critics as so much rubbish and en-
ployer propaganda.
The San Francisco strike situation
however. has cleared the air and re-
vealed that the left wing movement
in union labor is not only out "a
destroy the social structure. but "a
break down the American FedeR ton
of Labor and Its conservative lead
ership.
The statement Just issued by Will
liam Green. president of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor, is a Signifl-
cant document. Its phrases are re-
strained, because Mr.. Green frankly
SAYS he does not wish to be placed in
the position OF publicly opposing any
group Of labor leaders. He does point
out, however. that the American
Federation did not sanction the coast
strike and was not in sympathy with
the leaders, whose communistic doc
trine has dominated their acts. The
American Federation Of Labor has
always fought communism and has
striven TO accomplish industrial peace.
But the coast situation has forced
even Mr.. Green to speak out. This
Is because the fear of conservative
labor leaders is that public opinion
may react against the strike idea,
which is the most powerful weapon
that labor possesses.
Policy Super Cautious.
p,,k A. Tx~nnutm I,nottnxcx, 10 4y1a
past TO condemn labor leaders for
their mistaken course is typical of
the super-cautious policy which has
been followed for the last year by the
leadership OF the American Fedora
ton Of Labor. Again and again, oc-
currences within the ranks of labor
have been such that a public word Of
denunciation from the American
Federation Of Labor would have
earned that organization increasing
public support.
There is no secret here OF the fact
that the left wingers consider Presi-
dent Green and his group too con-
servatiye. The Roosevelt administra-
ton has made many of its conces-
sions to trade unionism on the theory
that this strengthened the hands of
President Green. Today it Is Mr.
Green who is defending the cause OF
organized labor against the implica-
ition that it Is responsible for the de-
rplorable conditions on the Pacific
Coast. Mr.. Green foresees, moreover,
Sfurther public feelings as the econ
Iomic loss from the general strike in
screases. He points out that the local
labor leaders must assume RESPONSE
ability for what has happened.
The division in the ranks Of the
San Francisco leaders of labor has
been known here for several weeks
Edward F. McGrady, Assistant Secre-
tary of Labor and himself a former
vice president of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor. came back to Wash
ington few weeks ago after q fruit
less trip TO the coast and told the
White House what conservative labor
was up against. When Gen. johnson
on Tuesday denounced the Commun-
lists of the General Strike Committee
on the coast he knew he was ex-
pressing the feelings of many Ameri-
can Federation of Labor men who
A1ANc DcC1 SURPRISING bllC3 &EC1lu6e
Is q matter of expediency.
Ii Strategy Mistaken.
This strategy has now proved mis-
taken. Had the American Federation
of Labor fought the battle in the
open and diSavowed connection with
the radicals, the support of the pub
lie would already have been ranged
alongside of the conservative leaders
and maybe it would have prevented
the strike in San Francisco.
Trade unionism in America needs
craftsmanship and responsible leader
ship. The American Federation OF
Labor has been placed in an embar-
RAISING position by its willingness "a
acquiesce in the acts OF local unions
heretofore without disavowing their
behavior. The Green statement may
be the forerunner of change ir
policy. Certainly. employers are
going to be heSitant to deal with
radical and irresponsible groups who
claim to be the representatives of the
men. Evidence that these spokesman
are authorized to do collective bar
gaining is a question Of fact which
Government tribunals may hereafter
be compelled to determine. And the
possibility of licensing labor unions
so as to bring them under a code OF
in some other way FIX RESPONSE bll1ty
on their leaders is growing,
(Copyright, 1e94)