The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-18
u. 5. WORKERS
ATTENDA.F
C0NFAB
BY ]. EARLE MOSER

Industrial unionism'S possible
advantages over craft unionism is
expected to be the major topic Of
conversation and controversy at
the annual convention Of the
Maryland State and District Of Co.
lumbia Federation of Labor, which
opened today at Hagerstown, Md.
And for the first time in several
years Government employees will
be amply represented, the repre-
sentation consisting Of numerous
delegates from District and Mary
land lodges Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Government Employees
who will be entitled to vote on the
large number Of issues to come be-
fore the convention. While the
A. F. G. E. has been affiliated to
the American Federation of Labor
since the formers inception in
1882, interest In activities Of the
mother organization" is higher
at present than ever before.
The heightened interest Is at
tributed mainly to militant activ-
tiles Of Federal employees attached
to emergency agencies who have
organized under the A. F. @. e.
banner. Despite opposition within
their organization from "Old line"
civil service groups toward their
liberal ideas, the m erg ency
agency fledglings have been prom
inent in activities Of the D. c.
Central Labor Union for the past
two years, have unheSitatingly he
sieged Government officials for
whatever they deStred-even 70
camping on their office doorsteps
and have generally kept much
in the limelight.
At the current convention,
which Is the thirty-first for the
D. C.-Maryland A. F. Of L. body
and is centered at the Alexander
Hotel in Hagerstown,, the indus
trial organization idea sponsored
by John L. Lewis Of the United
Mine Workers will be the fore
most question to Federal dele
gates. Which way they will veer
will be principally decided by the
distribution of conservative and
liberal delegates sent by the Gov
eminent unions. The conServa-
tives are almost universally in
favor Of craft unions, while the
industrial idea is vigorously up
held by those termed radicals"
by the old liners.
Although the A. r. q. z. itself
constitutes an industrial union,
being q vertical mass Of people
employed In one general indus
try" rather than divided into
unions of typiSts, clerks, machine
operators, ETC., its administration
has sent out the word to all
lodges to vote for craft unionism.
this being the mandate Of the
American Federation Of Labor. It
Is said in authoritative quarters,
however, that President william
Green privately feels that indus
trial unions is the modern road
to follow and would join hands
with John L. Lewis II opposition
Of minor union heads throughout
the country could be disregarded.
The chief opposition to indus
trial unioniSm. according to
sources within the A. F. of L., is
that aboliShing of craft unions
would disintegrate the jobs of
many union heads, whose offices
would be no longer necessary.
These union bosses vote. however.
and the A. F. of L. supreme COM
mand must follow their mandate.
Mural Deadline
June / will be the deadline
for competitors to submit de-
signs for the competition, spon-
sored by the Treasury Depart
ment, for three murals to be
painted within the Department of
Justice Building. Designs must
be submitted, carrying charges
prepaid, or delivered in person to
the section of painting and Sculp-
ture, Federal Warehouse. Seventh
and D Streets s. w.. and COM
petitors have had approximately
four month to prepare entries.
Edward Bruce, Olin Dows. Leon
Knoll, Ernest Peixotto, Henry
Schnakenberg, Jonas Lie, Bancel
LaFarge and Eugene Speicher,
all well known artists, form the
Jury which will judge entries.
$4,000 will be paid the three win
nerS for each panel, and I'M
successful competitors will be
considered for future muralS in
Government buildings.
More Support
The Federation of Architects,
Engineers, Chemists and Tech