Evening star., 1936-04-28
MIR. Green Regrets.

Mr.. Green Regrets.
President William Green of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor is not ready,
or willing, to see that organization aban-
don its traditional partisan political
policy. He has so informed the union
members of the federation. And in doing
so he has effectively answered the de-
mand of Major George L. Berry that
organized labor enroll in "Labor's Nom
Partisan League" The title of the
league is a misnomer. It's sole purpose
is the reelection of President Roosevelt
and the continuance in power of the
Democratic party.
Mr.. Green is Democrat. 1t is to be
expected that he personally will support
the President for reelection. So will
other members OF the American Fedora
tion Of Labor. Mr.. Green, however, is
opposed to putting the American Fedora
tion of Labor and its member unions rs
such into partisan politics. The con-
and of the organization itself, of the part
which the federation should play in
political campaigns is well understood
and has been for years. It's practice has
been to examine the candidates OF the
various political parties and the plat
forms on which they stand and then to
give the local unions the benefit Of its
information. Candidates of the Repub-
lican party as well as Of the Democratic
party who are friendly to organized
labor have been considered worthy Of
support. No effort, therefore, has been
made to compel the members of the
federation to discriminate between the
parties. The only effort has been to per-
suade the members to vote for candidates
who are friendly to labor, irrespective
OF the party Affiliations Of these candi-
dates.
From the point Of view OF organized
labor, this seems a sound policy. 1t is,
moreover, policy that has been adhered
ganizers that labor itself form a political
party. The present move of Major Berry
and of John L. Lewis, president Of the
United Mine Workers of America. is
away from this established policy. They
would make organized labor an adjunct
of the Democratic party, an end which
the Democratic party would rejoice to
see achieved.
In the ranks of organized labor are
both Republicans and Democrats, and
independent voters, afiliated with no
party. The Democratic high command
is feverishly anxious to have them all
aligned-in the Democratic party. They
take no account of the fact that the
Republican party may name candidates
who are as friendly to labor as the
Democratic candidates, or that the Re-
publican platform may be as satisfactory
to labor as the Democratic platform. The
plan is, under the leadership of Major
Berry, president of the Printing Press
mems Union, to commit organized labor
generally to the Democratic party with
out further delay. He is touring the
country for that purpose.
Incidentally, Berry is making an
analysis study of the experiences Of
N. r. A." with which he was con-
nected in an official capacity. The sum
of 100000 has been allocated for the
expenses of such study and Major Berry
is to have his expenses paid therefrom.
The protest voiced by Chairman Henry
P. Fletcher of the Republican National
Committee against the tactics of Major
Berry is scarcely a matter of wonder, in
view of all these circumstances. Said
Mr.. Fletcher: Major Berry's course in
travelling over the country at the Gov
ernment's expense, on funds withdrawn
from the relief appropriation of the
Federal Government, and devoting him.
self to this political activity, is another
revelation of the sweeping extent to
which Federal funds are being diverted
into purely campaign channels and used
to bolster up the fortunes of the Demo-
cratic party"
Organized labor has battled consist
emily for improved working conditions
and better wages. The wage earners OF
the country have benefited by policies
of both the Republican and Democratic
parties in the past. Many have predilec-
tions for the Republican party and have
given it allegiance. They may be con-
vinced that Republican administration
will be better for the workers during the
next four years.
Mr. Green has no desire to see the So
called "Non-Partisan League" of Major
Berry substituted for the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, even though it be only
for the purposes of the coming CAM.
paign.