Evening star., 1936-06-07
THE SUNDAY STAR WASHINGTON D. c. JUNE I 1gsspARr
LEW|S-GREENFEUD
NEAR SHOWDOWN
A. F. |. Chief Ignores Warn
ing in Row Over Steel
Union.
By the Associated Press.

A bristling exchange Of warnings
and advice between John L. Lewis,
burly leader of the United Mine Work.
e:s, and william Green, American
Federation Of Labor president, yester.
day thrust labor's bitterest family
row. closer to a showdown.
Giving Lewis the choice Of remain
ing with or quitting the federation,
Green fatty rejected the miners invi-
tation to return to the union that
sucked you" He ignored Lewis
warning that destruction awaited
him if he persisted in plans for ousting
10 big unions from the federation.
Both members of the U. M. W.,
Green and Lewis exchanged letters by
special messengers in one Of the big
gest outbursts to mark the controversy
over Lewis plan for organising the
Nations half-million steel workers into
one industrial union. Green, backed
by the Federation's Executive Council,
favors craft unions.
Green Issues Utimatum.
Addressing Lewis as Dear Sir and
Brother" Green issued this ultima
tum:
If you persist In your determination
to divide the forces Of labor, will
still continue to protect and preserve
our common heritage, the American
Federation of Labor. You, alone, can
determine whether you will remain
with or leave the American Federation
of Labor"
Asserting Lewis had made it "im-
possible" for the federation to unite
and solidify" its forces in a campaign
to organize the steel industry, Green
told his former ally steel manufactur-
ers may get some consolation out of
that fact" but not from any action
of the federation.
Recalls 1927 Contribution.
Reminding Lewis the federation had
created" the United Mine Workers,
Green said it also had saved" the
mine organization in 1927 with a con-
tribution of more than 100000. 1t
was in 1927 the so-called Jacksonville
wage agreement Of the miners broke
down and many mines went on q nom
union basis.
In his letter to Dear Bill" Lewis
said the U. NJ. w. had declared itself
''for a definite policy" and that "it
calls upon its loyal sons for support
Of that policy"
Lewis denounced Green for the
"inane ineptitude" of his stand to-
ward Lewis plan to organize the 500,-
900 steel workers into an industrial
union and told him If rather than
court obloquy by dwelling" among the
miners adversaries. he would return
| to the fold, that "an honored seat at
the council table awaits you"
Charges Council Thwarted.
Green had announced Friday that
the agreement between the Amalga-
mated Association Of Iron. Steel and
Tin Workers and the Lewis group to
| organize steel had thwarted the Ex-
ecutive Council of the A. F. of L.
1T is inconceivable that you intend
doing what your statement implies
that is, to sit with the women under
an awning on the hilltop while the
steel workers in the valley struggle in
the dust and agony of industrial war
fare" Lewis wrote Green.
Lewis said he could not believe that
Green would expel the 10 unions
which favor industrial organization
you would destroy yourself" he
said. 1T is known to you that your
shipmates on the Executive Council
are even now planning to split your
political throat and scuttle your Of
fetal ship. They are caviling among
themselves over the naming of youl
successor when the perfidious act Of
separation is accomplished"