Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-05
LABOR CONSIDERS
n. R. A. REVIVAL
3O-Hour Week Bill and Other
Measures Are Center
of Interest.
nv John C, HENRY.

With their hand strengthened
greatly by election results, forces OF
organized labor today were turning
their attention to programs calculated
to bring material gains to the move
cnent or to their individual factions.
Interest was directed at several
Issues, among them the possible re-
vival of the N. r. A., the passage Of
the Black Connery 30-hour-w bill,
the passage of the O'Mahoney IL
censing measure, the maintenance OF
the labor relations act, and the or
eanization drives of the Committee for
Industrial Organization in the mass
production industries.
Word on the first of these probably
must come from the White House. On
the two legislative issues mentioned,
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, was
reported today to have disclosed his
intention of seeking White House sup
port. John L. Lewis, chairman Of the
C. I. o. and president Of the United
Mine Workers, also has indicated ag-
gressive support of legislation which
would translate the Roosevelt victory
into material benefits and reforms"
on behalf Of labor.
Shippers Would Be Licensed.
The O'Mahoney measure approaches
an important feature of the NJ r. A.
in that 1t would authorize the Gov
eminent to license industries shipping
goods in interstate commerce and
would allow revocation of such licenses
In the cases of firms failing to comply
with certain wage and hour regula-
tions
AS for the labor relations act, the
citation of labor leaders over the elec-
tion results already has given them
renewed optimism that the Supreme
Court will uphold the present law. And
If the present law falls they are in
creasingly determined that new one
will be enacted and made effective
through constitutional amendment if
necessary.
In this background of optimism and
determination, the Committee for In
dustrial Organization will meet in
Pittsburgh over the coming week end
in what they term "one of the most
important labor conferences held in
years" On their docket are several
issues, but two overshadow all others.
First OF these is the question of
what to do about the split with the
American Federation of Labor and
possible attendance upon the fedora
ton convention in Tampa later this
month Second Is the organization
drive under way in the steel, auto
mobile and rubber industries. with
similar plans in the background for
other mass-production fields.
Permanent Organization Possible.
Out Of the first, always bearing in
mind the close relationship between
Lewis and the Roosevelt administra-
ton, may come permanent organiza-
ton that conceivably would become the
dominant one in the American labor
movement.
More confident now of an impor.
tant measure of success in their or
ganizing plans, the c. I. o. unions
are less likely to be concerned about
reinstatement in the A. F. Of L.
lewis frequently has said he would
mot waste carfare" to 90 to Tampa,
and his answer to a proposal for
peace negotiations last month was
that the Executive Council must make
clear in advance what it intends to
do about the suspension order out
against 10 c. I. o. unions. Although
each Of the 10 unions is to be allowed
to make its individual decision about
making the Tampa pilgrimage, it Is
now more than ever likely they will
follow the Lewis lead.
On the other hand. although the
council has named a three-man nego-
tiating committee, it Is not expected
that the requested Qualification" will
be offered. In the absence of any
progress In negotiating a reconcilia-
ton, the convention then may vote
outright expulsion of the recalcitrant
unions. Certain to oppose such a
course, however, are the International
typographical Union and the United
Hatters, both Of whom have represent
tation in the c. I. O. but are not
under suspension by the Federation
Council.
Murray to Be on Hand.
Turning to the second matter on
the c. I. o. week end docket, John A.
Brophy. director, announces that
Philip Murray. head of the Steel
Workers Organizing Committee, will
be on hand to report on the drive and
will be accompanied by key workers in
the field.
Already there have been open in
dications that the steel companies are
reading the handwriting on the wall,
the same writing being to the effect
that they must hand greater proper
ton of their increasing earnings to
labor. To this end, they are turning
more receptive ears to the rather sur
prisingly determined demands of some
Of the company" unions. These
unions, encouraged originally as q de-
Tense against outside organization,
have shown indications in several in
stances Of breaking away from COM
pany influence and of tying up with
the Steel Workers Organizing Com