Montana labor news., 1937-03-04
BY A. F. of L. News Service.

Gus assaults on the A. F. of L. and
of rendering service to those un-
friendly to the cause of labor who
would divide and weaken organized
labor and thus strengthen the forces
arrayed against labor"
The accusation was made in a let
ter mailed to General johnson in
care of his newspaper syndicate in
New York, and was declared by MI.
Green to be "the considered judg-
ment of the Executive Council of
the American Federation of Labor
and by its direction"
The conduct criticized, Mr.. Green's
letter said, consisted of writings by
General Johnson attacking the prin-
ciples and leadership of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and be-
smirching the character and abilities
of some of its trusted officers while
at the same time lauding the leader
ship of the Committee for Industrial
Organization, whose ten constituent
member unions have had their char
ters suspended by the A. F. of L. for
refusing to withdraw from the c..
I. o., which was held to be a dual
organization within the American
Federation of Labor and working for
the overthrow of democratic proce-
dure and majority rule with regard
to organizational policy overwhelm-
ingly endorsed by A. F. of L. con-
ventions.
The text Of Mr.. Green's letter fol-
lows:
ut is with a feeling of regret and
disappointment that the Executive
Council of the American Federation
of Labor has noted your unfavor-
able observations and comments
published from time to time in your
syndicated columns in the Scripps-
Howard publications and as they
relate to the American Federation of
Labor, to its officers and Executive
Council, to its attitudes and deci-
sions, and to its affiliated national
and international unions.
Friendly During MIRA Days
'The Executive Council is remind
ed of the fact that during the en-
bryonic days Of the MIRA it vas your
good self who came to the officers
and Executive Council of the A. F.
of L. for advice, guidance and sup
port as related to labor's attitudes,
activities and relationships. We were
appreciative of and grateful for the
confidence and good will thus mani
tested in us by you during that time.
We ere delighted, indeed, to CO.
operate with you without hesitation
or equivocation during the entire
period of your administration Of the
NRA, even though there may have
been occasions when a different
course might have been justified.
Because of this mutual confidence
and the friendly and cooperative re-
~lationship which developed during
a time of the nations most trying
experience, we are at a loss to UNI
derstand at this time your changed
attitude toward the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, its officers, Execu-
tive Council, and the activities en-
gagged in by the labor movement as
expressed in your newspaper col
umnS.
"It was during this period that you
had every occasion to familiarize
yourself with the varying forms of
organization that go to make up the
American Federation of Labor. 1t
was likewise your privilege to I'M
derstand the relationships within the
labor movement, the complexities of
labor problems, and the difficulties
and obstacles met on every hand.
"At no time during this period did
you find occasion to do other than
commend the American Federation
of Labor, its officers and Executive
Council, as well as the leadership of
its affiliated organizations in general.
Neither did you offer any sugges-
tons for amendment or change, in
the spirit of friendliness or helpful
ness then or since.
Dictatorship Sought by Minority
Group
ut is extremely unfortunate that
a serious division has taken place
among the affiliated organizations of
the American Federation of Labor.
Undoubtedly you are entirely ia
mlliar with the undisputed fact that
this division is not to be attributed
to the American Federation of La
Dor, but that the fault rests solely
and primarily with those organiza-
tons which, dissatisfied with the de-
cisions of an unquestioned majority
reached in open and regular conven-
tons wherein they participated, SET
out to enforce their minority will
and their arbitrary form of organiza-
ton upon the majority, in conflict
with every rule of decency and
equity and in direct violation of the
constitution and laws of the Ameri-