The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-27

Closed Issue
 With the sentiments expressed in the America" quotation am in complete accord. For the tele- gram mentioned above I have nothing but feeling of nauseous loathing. And with these two declarations, made for the record, the issue of Father Coughljn and his irnbecilic adversaries is, so far as I am concerned, definitely closed.
 Expected
 The action of the delegates to the A. F. of l.. convention in up- holding the Federation's Execu- tive Council in its suspension Of the ten unions connected with the Committee for Industrial Organ tzatton comes as no surprise to those who have been following the course of the controversy between the two belligerent parties in- volved in 1t. The decision was in the bag months ago. The execu- tive council controlled by craft unionists voted last summer to suspend" the groups carrying on the industrial organization move ment In such mass production plants of the country as the steel, rubber, and automobile factories. That vote meant that the dele gates from the ten suspended unions, whose membership is over a million, would not be seated at the convention now being held in Tampa even if they travelled to Florida and tried to get in. h view of that fact there is an ele- ment of humor in the complaint of the spokesmen for the Execu- tive Council that the failure of the suspended unions to send their representatives to the convention constitutes a defiance which is not to be tolerated. Imagine the stubbornness of a man who has already had his throat cut from ear to ear refusing to be present at another gathering where his head is to be severed just to keep the official record straight.
 No Cops Need Apply
 There is nothing in the consti- tuition of the A. F. of L. giving the Executive Council the right to suspend the unions connected with the Committee for Industrial Organization because "suspension" in the present circumstances IS nothing but another term for the revocation of existing charters. That may only be done, according to A. F. of L. law, by two-thirds roll-call vote of a convention. There Is no doubt but the "sus- pended" unions could take their case into the courts and come back winners. The explanation Of the Executive Councils action given by one of its members, Mat thew Woll, that the activities of the Committee for Industrial Or ganiZation, created an "emergen- cy" which compelled the Council to take unto itself powers forbid den by the A. F.. of L. constitu- ton, seems to me to be 50 fltmsy that 1t would not withstand five minutes legal battering. However, since 1t is considered the worst kind of bad form In organized labor rows for either side to holler for a cop the refusal of the C.1.O. leaders to compel, by court order, the seating of their delegates IS according to Hoyle.
 Too Soon
 It is too soon for anyone to know with any degree of certainty what the ultimate result of the A. F. of L. convention's action will be. The resolution adopted by the delegates declares that any time the ten suspended" unions seek re-admission to the Federation the door is open to them. The Committee for Industrial Organ ization headed by John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers has said nothing and is apparently playing g waiting game. Neither party to the controversy, which may split the labor movement from top to bottom and may ever- tuate into the creation of dual organizations with inevitable, bloody warfare is unaware of the consequences which a definite break entail. It is hoped by every one who realizes the seriousness of the situation that some basis Of agreement or compromise can be reached. From this window 1t looks as if the Lewis group was in the stronger position. Despite all its laundering denunciatioIi of the rebels and its never darken . my door-again attitude the Executive Council exhibits every sign of c bad attack of the filters. No one questions the sin- cerity of President Green and the leaders of the craft unions sup porting him. By the same token no one questions the determina- ton of the council to save It's face. Both sides are genuine trade unionists but the A. F. of l.. Ex- ecutive Council has now, as 1t aI- ways has had, two vital weakness es.--an exaggerated sense of its own infallibility and g total ab.