, 1935-02-11
WASHINGTON
BY Ira Bennett

'Aa0 A@A4CN W SeftMG S~+etWs ~ ~
Dor. This failure has caused II 10
out Is debating terms 10 the
government and industry. Intern
al pressure, personal rivalries, check
by industry and now the re-
fusal OF the government 10 regard
the ALL as kingpin OF labor are
To weaken the federation
and imperl the position Of It's rival
These falts are now leaking out IN
spite or efforts OF federation lead
erS TO make u showing OF q united
front. The political and industrial
forces that oppose the aims OF the
federation are seiZing upon the evi-
dences Of its weakness to weaken u
still more, II possible, before the
showdown on reenactment Of the
new NRA,
Oyerplay - President William
Green miscalculated the situation
when he figured that through en-
actment Of Section IA and discrim-
Interpretation of that section
In favor Of the federation 1t would
increase It's membership to 10000, 900
or even Ia. 900. For a time the
administration. including It's politi-
Cal pilot, James A. Farley, believed
that Green was right.
When the failure Of the federation
to gain strength at the expected
rate began to dawn upon its leaders
and upon industrial and political
subtle changes occurred, all
detrimental 10 the federation. It's
leaders substituted bluff for actual
Industrial managers diSeov-
cred that they dared make a stand,
IN factories and in court. NRA
refused TO Construe Sec
ton IA as the federation demanded.
Shop elections revealed that the
federation In some cases "a over
its strngth.
Gaps - The time came for a
on the automobile code.
p. Sloan. Jr., and Walter p.
advised President Roosevelt
that surrender TO the demands OF the
federation would be followed by the
shutting down Of General Motors
and Chrysler factories on the fol-
Monday morning. Nothing IN
The record warranted a decision by
The president III favor Of the fed
fration. He extended the code. He
was advised TO do so BY Donald
Richberg, on the showing Of facts.
President Green and John l. Lewis
work In harmony for the general
aims Of the federation, but they are
At the same time deadly rivals for
the dictatorship. Lewis has grad
lally gained strength al Green's
expense. Lewis forced his way into
the executive committee and the
vice presidency. although at present
he is only twelfth in the line of Is
vice presidents Of the federation.
Green hi held on as an inheritor
the great system created by Sam
uel Gompers. He now suffers loss
Of prestige because of the failure OF
federation to gain membership
a. he predicted. and also because
and industTialists have
out his generalship and have
found gaps In his armor. They do
not have the fear of him that they
had even six months ago.
Ominous - Both Green and Lewis
savagely attack Richberg for refus-
ing TO champion the federation's
wherever they conflict with the
aims Of industry. This attack is
not as dangerous as IL would have
been a few months ago. Richberg
seems to have sensed the futility Of
certain federation aims before AFL
leaders realize dthat they were head
ed for failure.
The federation Is a powerful Inv
stitution which has the instinct for
survival. II can stand a lot Of hard
knocks without becoming demoraliz-
ed. Its leaders announce that they
will organize the automobile and
steel workers on a big scale. They
for the 30-hour week and for
prevailing wages 10 relief workers in
the forthcoming work-Telief cam
But ominous signs OF dissen-
sion in the inside are evident and
growing defiance OF the federation
by politicians and industrial chief
tains foreshadows a battle royal over
Section IA.
Riding - Politicians in congress
who make 1t their business TO "size
UP" the strength Of organizing yot-
ing forces IN their respective states
and districts are now recalling that
President Green made a show Of
from all candidates IN
1884 q pledge that they would stand
by the AFL as the price OF their
election. Many candidates side
stepped and yet we're elected. me
so-called labor vote" tailed TO
materialiye. Wise old Samuel Com
peT6 discovered years ago that mem
bers Of the AFL could not be regi-
mented at the polls. He abandon
cd the idea Of debating 70 politicians
by threats Of a 'lahor vote" that
could not be delivered. The scheme
for formation Of q labor party was
By Gompers.
1t was q mistake Tor Green 70
hold up the scarecrow in l'a4. Some
Of his rivals are now citing this ex-
ample al false strategy "a reason
why he should be unhorsed- They
are discovering among members Of
congress q disposition 10 ignore the
demandS al the federation. The
young Turks among the unions de-
mand that Green shall ltSten TO
more aggressive men. But be V "
the saddle for the remainder Of his
tern, aud for good ar III his brand
of lsadership WIN stamp The stFateEy
Of the federation IN the crucial
struggle that now looms up.
\ Lohhies = Administration leaders
are beginning 10 suspect that some
az the ttreS being stirred up under
pending pieces Of New Deal iegiSla-
ton are stocked hF Interests mol d.