The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-04
industrial UnioniSts' Gain
Strength at Miners
Convention.
GREEN LOSES APPEAL
Federation President Gets
Cold Reception; Open
Break Near.
BY FRED w. PERKINS
Times Special Writer

John l.. Lewis and his half
million industrial unionists"
of the United Mine Workers
today seemed in stronger po-
sition than ever to remodel
American organized labor
within the A. F. of L."
When Federation President Will
liam Green pleaded in vain to the
assembled miners yesterday that
they take no step endangering their
stay in their fathers house," the
miners turned him down cold. On
the surface, it looked like an open
break.
But prophets of an early schism
in the Federation, with the power
ful Mine Workers either withdraw
ing or being expelled from the fra
ternity, were confronted by these
facts:
All the evidence shows that the
Mine workers appreciate the dan
gers of divided labor movement.
Group Continues Work
MIR. Lewis committee for indus
trial organization, which the A. F..
of L. executive council wants dis
solved, holds to it's announced pur-
pose OF organizing mass production
and unorganized industries "in af-
f1liation with the A. F. of L."
The A. F. of L. executive council
can not: expel the mine workers un-
less so authorized by a two thirds
vote of the Federation's convention.
The last A. F. of L. convention
showed voting strength of $4,000
craft unionists to 1000 industrial
unionists. That is less than two
thirds. And before next falls con-
vention the industrial unionists are
expected to gain strength
In other words, the belligerent
Lewis-backed by the largest labor
union in the world, and seven other
unions formed along industrial lines
can continue indefinitely his cam
paign to make the Federation more
representative of its potential mem
bership of more than 80 million
wage earners, rather than the three
million it now musters.
Steel Workers Sought
Six weeks ago, representatives of
10000 workers in radio manufac-
turing, already organized into A. F..
of L. locals under the direct juris-
diction of the central body, met in
Pittsburgh and petitioned for an
industrial charter. The executive
council has now refused this Pc
tition, and has voted to turn these
workers over to the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Work
ers, craft union.
The radio workers will give their
answer at a convention opening
here Saturday. But they have al
ready voted against aff1liation with
any existing craft union.
There are symptoms of the move
ment toward industrial unionism in
other fields. The steel industry,
which has proved an uncrackable
nut for the A. F. of L., is foremost
in the mind of the Lewis school of
labor thought.
Internal Fight Flares
A bitter controversy over auton-
omy broke out in the mine workers
convention today. Threatening to
lead to fist fights until President
Lewis swung the delegates into line.
The 100 delegates, who yester-
day shouted their approval of Lew
is campaign for industrial type
unions even at the price of a split
in American Federation of Labor
ranks, returned this morning to
holly contested issues which have
caused serious controversy in their
own ranks. The bitterest fight CEN
tiers around whether certain union
districts shall be granted autonomy.
The convention hall quickly filled
with a roar of shouts as the dele
gates argued. Before Lewis could
calm the delegates, one fist fight
broke out.