Evening star., 1937-11-05
By JOHN c. HENRY,


President Roosevelt hopes the Amer
icau Federation of Labor and the
Committee for Industrial Organization
will unite, he told a press conference
today as peace delegates from the two
organizations prepared to resume their
negotiations this afternoon.
The Presidents comment was in
reply to question. He said he had
always favored ending the breach
between the rival labor fronts.
Asked if the administration had
been taking an active part in trying
to get the factions together, he said
he knew of no such effort.
Vol to Call on President
Matthew Woll, A. F. of L. peace con-
feree. will call on him soon, Mr..
Roosevelt said in response to another
question. This appointment has been
planned for some time, the President
explained.
The peace conferees from the
A. F. of L. and the C. I. o., encour-
aged by hopeful indications yesterday,
planned to plunge into the real point
of the controversy this afternoon-the
application of industrial unicnism
alone to the great industries of the
Nation. They were to meet at the
Willard Hotel at pm.
If negotiations on this and other
important issues appear destined to
be drawn out, but with some hopes
of success, truce will be called in
the costly organizing competition now
going on with each faction recognizing
the others jurisdictions pending final
determination of the disputes, it was
specified yesterday by Philip Murray,
chairman of the c. I. o. negotiators.
Such a truce, however, would not
mean curtailment of aggressive or
ganizing," he said.
May Hamper Negotiations.
Possibility of an armistice in the
field arises at particularly timely
moment, with the C. I. o. about to
launch a drive in the furniture in
dustry. where the Federation already
has some unions, and the A. r. of l..
only last night calling upon the sea-
men to resist the policies of the Ma
tional Maritime Union, G. /. o.
affiliate.
The latter action, incidentally, may
hamper today's negotiations, since
Joseph Curran, head of the N. M. u,
is a member of the c. I. o. negotiating
committee. The Federation call for
seamen to rally to the A. F. of l.. BAN
ner and support the United States
Maritime Commission against. criti-
cism of the N. M. U. was made by
William Green, Federation president.
Widespread application of industrial
unionism was demanded by the c. I.
o. in its original peace proposal placed
before the A. F. of l.. last week, but
was rejected curtly when the Fedora
tion made a counter proposition dis
playing no willingness to turn from
its traditional craft theories in the
vital industries mentioned. Spe-
cifically, the c. I. o. asked for sole
jurisdiction over the mass production,
public utility, marine and basic fab
ricating industries.
A. F. l.. Now Willing to Give.
That the A. F. of l.. is now willing
to make some major concessions in
this direction was evident in the atti-
tude of the Federation committee yes
terday.
Arriving for the conference, George
M. Harrison, chairman, told reporters
his group might be willing to sur
render exclusive Jurisdiction to the
c. I. o. in such fields as rubber,
marine and newspaper editorial indus
tries. The A. F. of l.. has no strong
representation in these industries at
present, the c. 1. o. has.
After the conference, he made the
announcement that today's session
would discuss what industries should
have industrial unionism."
I'VE are going to attempt to agree
on industrial unionism," he added
fatty.
In addition, today's session is ex-
pected to consider another of the
original points advanced by the C. l.
o., namely, whether the present COM
mittees-10 from the c. /. o. and three
from the A. F. of L.-should be en-
larged. The c. I. o. originally pro-
posed meetings between 400 cham
pions" Of each faction. When the
federation made its peace proposal
in the committee of 13, it suggested
conferences between individual unions
competing in single industries.
1t was indicated after yesterdays
discussions that the group of IS might
be increased while subcommittees to
study separate rivalries might also be
designated.
Elixir Claims 69th Victim.