Evening star., 1935-09-11
AT, G, F, PREPARES
TO DRAFT GOALS
FOR NEXT SESSION
Committee Program to Ask
Pay, Promotion and
Merit PIanks.
GREEN TO SPEAK TODAY
IN PLEA FOR HARMONY
Yaden and Donovan Engage in
Colloquy Over Formers Mem.
bership in N. F. F. E.
BY j. A. FOX,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.


STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
CINCINNATI, September 1.-THE
American Federation of Government
Employees today prepared to begin
drafting the program for aid Of Fed
eral workers which will be pressed
at the next session of Congress.
The Legislative Committee. which
Is writing the platform on which the
federation will stand, was ready to
lay its proposals before the delegates
early in the session.
Salient features were expected to
include the following principles: In
crease in basic pay rates; automatic
promotions, such as now prevail in
the postal service, throughout the
executive establishment; extension Of
classification to the field to insure
equal pay for equal work, and pro-
lection and extension of the merit
system.
A large volume of other recon-
mendations for improving employment
conditions in the Government also
was to be laid before the convention
by the committee.
Green to Address Group.
Meanwhile, as the organization con-
tinued to work, attention was centered
on the forthcoming appearance of
William Green, president of the Amer
3can Federation of Labor, with which
the A. F. G. E. is affiliated. Green
was scheduled for an address late
In the afternoon. The A. F. Of L.
head had not expected to be present,
but word was received yesterday that
he would stop by Cincinnati on his
way to Akron.
1t was thought likely that, in view
Of the factional troubles in the feder-
alton, Green would make a plea for
unity. His address comes on the eve
of the election, which finds E. Claude
Babcock, the president, opposed for re-
election by one group of the organiza-
ton, while Babcock and his supporters
are working to defeat Miss Esther
Penn, the secretary. Opposition also
has sprung up in some quarters to
other officers.
Colloquy Enlivens Session.
AS the convention started to work on
resolutions yesterday afternoon the
session was enlvened by colloquy be-
tween John Donovan, president of
N. r. A. Lodge, and James G. Yaden,
chief of the examining division of the
Civil Service Commission and dele
gate from Civil Service Lodge. This
occurred after Donovan had said he
had been informed Yaden also was
member of the rival National Fedora
ton Of Federal Employees and asked
II this was correct.
President Babcock refused to let
Donovan proceed until Yaden could be
recalled from committee room, and
as the men faced each other on the
floor Donovan repeated the question.
That's absolutely correct" Yaden
shot back. Whose business is it?"
1.-THE business of the American
Federation Of Labor" Donovan re-
torted.
Yaden turned away and the con-
vention proceeded to consideration of
the business at hand, a resolution
ALO1 bAAC Lawn DOkctA oAAlCAAo AOA5Ss
which favored appointment of joint
committees by the A. F. G. e. and
N. F. F. E. to work for matters of
identical interest. The resolution was
defeated.
Afterward George Googe, Southern
representative of the A. F. of L.. who
Is attending the convention, said such
joint membership was no concern of
the federation, but rather Of the con-
stituent unit involved.
Vice President Plan Beaten.
The convention also defeated a res
olution which would have provided
for election of vice presidents by their
district organizations, rather than by
the federation as whole, as is done
now.
In the middle of the afternoon the
convention adopted a resolution of
regret on the death of Senator Long,
then stood in silent tribute.
"I never knew of vote by Senator
Long that was detrimental to the
common people," President Babcock
said.
The federation held its annual BAN
quet last night at the Netherlands
Plaza Hotel.