Evening star., 1936-11-22
UN|0NLABOR WARS
ON INDUSTRY FOES
Attack Is Intensified by
Deepening Rift in
Own Ranks.
BY JOHN c. HENRY,
GtsF CORRESPONDENT OF Tb.. Star.

TAMPA, Fla. November 21-Hope-
lessly split within their own ranks
and with the lines of division growing
deeper and broader daily, the labor
movement in America nevertheless
Ia waging an increasingly relentless
war against anti-union industry
And strangely, perhaps, the very
division in the labor movement is
serving to intensity this attack.
=, Meeting in its fifty-sixth annual
convention here, the American Fed
Grafton of Labor within the next few
days will decree that nearly one-third
of its 100000 membership remain
In indefinite suspension. Seeking to
counteract a self-imposed loss of this
magnitude in part at least. the con-
vention already has authorized sweep
ing organization drives in the food
industry the furniture industry,
among the so-called white collar
workers and in other claSsifications.
From the other camp that of the
10 suspended unions of the Committee
for Industrial Organization, fully
aware that its future as dominant
and independent labor group depends
upon its success in organizing the
mass production industries. come daily
reports of increased effort in the steel,
rubber and automobile industries.
Pressure on Anti Union Industry.
In each case, anti-union industry
is to feel the increased pressure re-
sulting from the factional rivalry
within the labor ranks.
Not content with organization efforts
alone, labor also is determined to
force an end to strong-arm methods
in industry in resisting unionization
and breaking strikes. Latest mani
festation of this determination de-
veloped here last night as Chairman
!. M. Ornburn of the Convention Com
mittee on Legislation losed a sharply
worded blast at efforts to hamstring
the senatorial investigation into labor
espionage.
Charging that 'the greatest and
most adroit lobby that has ever
operated in Washington is being Or
ganized to kill this astounding expose"
Ornburn notified the convention dele
RdlSS lIldI Ills Will DIlIlS
in a report appealing to all labor and
all friends of labor to support the in
vestigation and urge Congress to make
adequate appropriations for CON-
tinuance of the probe
1T is not only the welfare Of la
Dor that is at stake" Ornburn de-
clared. 1T is the welfare of indus
try. No good for industry can come
IN any but the most selfish and greedy
form from the shooting of workers,
the torturing of them with gas. the
Staying of them with charged wires
and the deception of their leaders
through the operations of an en-
ployers Cheka which endeavors to
rob every man of confidence in his
fellow-workerS.
Espionage, Thuggery Businesses.
Espionage and thuggery are shown
TO be businesses organized on q Ma
tion-wide scale, to which great cor
porations pay tens of millions an
nually.
"All the Hobbies Of the great anti
union financial forces are being mo-
bilized to prevent the Senate grant,
ing an appropriation to carry on the
investigation.
Senator La Toilette { chairman of
the Investigating Committee) and his
associates have done an astonishingly
effective Job. Their future revela-
tions will shock the Nation If they |
can have the money necessary"
Before the Resolutions Committee
of the convention are several resolu- |
tions supporting the probe, one or two |
suggesting that 100000 be sought of
Congress to carry it on. First ap-
preparation made for the committee |
was only $4,000, forcing them to turn |
to the National Labor Relations |
Board for most of their personnel |
and evidence.
With the Ornburn Committee ex-
pected to report tomorrow morning.
this matter probably will receive con-
vent%on approval at that time. In |
cluded on the docket of the same
committee are several resolutions per-
tanning to Government employees, |
among them the legislative program
Of the American Federation of Gov
ernment Employees. Approval is ex-
pected on most of these.
According to present plans, the re-
quest also will be made tomorrow |
morning that the burning issue of the
convention-what to do about the C. |
I. O-be made a special order OF
business for the afternoon session.
Single Resolution Likely.
With one resolution calling for ex-
pulsion and about a score in con- /
demnation of the suspension action it
Is believed the Resolutions Committee
will bring in single amended reso-
luton and seek to dispose of all the
others collectively.
The resolution to be reported. 1t Is
expected, will ask ratification Of the
suspension action and empower the |
council to continue full jurisdiction |
over the dispute with authority to
take whatever action is deemed ad- |
visable during the coming year.
The latter part Of this proposal Is |
embodied in effect in a rule of pro- |
cedure drafted by the council and re-
ferred to this same Resolutions Com |
mittee for approval.
In opposition, there is expected to
be minority committee report, prob |
ably prepared by j. G. Lewis, repre- !
sentative of the Iowa State Fedora
tion and a member of John L. Lewis
United Mine Workers. This report |
may be used as rallying point for
the proc I. o. delegates to the con-
vention for whom strategy commit
tee has been busy over the week end
contracting delegates friendly to the
c. l. o. and arranging the speaking
plans of the minority.
Whatever their strategy, however,
outside estimates give the C. I. o.
proponents a maximum of only 5000
votes of an approximate $4,000 to be
cast in any showdown poll.