Evening star., 1937-11-04
BY JOHN C.. HENRY.

Peace negotiators for the American
Federation of Labor today disclosed ar
unexpected willingness to compromiss
in the deadlock existing in connection
with original reconciliation PROPOSAL
labor's civil war.
Returning to conferences with the
Committee for Industrial Organiza-
ton. George M Harrison. chairman
of the Federation negotiators, told re-
porters this morning he saw no "in-
surmountable obstacles in the way
of peace. He gave his words real
significance by citing a number of
industries in which he believed the
Federation might be willing to turn
over extensive jurisdictional rights to
the c. l. o.
AS examples, Mr.. Harrison said he
believed the Federation would be will
ing to leave the c. /. o. the exclusive
agency in the rubber and newspaper
fields and that the Federation might
also consent to Withdrawing any op-
position to organization of seamen
in the National Maritime Union, a
C. I. o. affiliate.
Transportation Industry Case.
In case such as the transportation
industry, he continued, he suggested
that the C. 1. o. might be given
exclusive Jurisdiction in New York
City, where the United Transport
Workers now have virtually every
form of transportation under con-
tract. The rest of the transport in
dustry. he added, might possibly be
taken over by the A. F. of L. unit in
that field.
In the industries mentioned by the
A. F. Of l.. chairman the c. /. o. al
ready has established dominant unions.
Mr.. Harrison emphasized that in the
case of the IL original c. /. o. unions
being asked to come back to the Fed
Grafton under their old charters there
also is no conflict.
Mr.. Harrison admitted that a serious
difficulty presents itself in the radio
and electrical field, where both factions
have strong unions. but expressed the
opinion that situations such as this
one might be worked out through con-
| ferences between the unions actually
affected.
Sees Agreement Possible.
The A. F. of L. chairman said he
thought that the peace conference
could agree without undue difficulty
on the autonomy issue within the Fed
Grafton and on the divergent organiz-
ing theories.
Meanwhile, the C. /. o. delegation
was less committal on its hopes or in
tentions. Meeting in caucus with John
L. Lewis, the C. I. o. leader, before
the peace conference. the committee
headed by Philip Murray offered no
indication Of its intentions as it went
into session with the Federation trio.
Industrial unionism is still the
issue" Mr.. Murray said curtly as he
entered the conferen ;e room.
Sidney Hillman, president of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers and
member of the C. I. o. 10-msn
negotiating group still was absent to-
day, his Office reporting him in New
York; Charles Howard, president of
the International Typographical
Union, and secretary of the C. 1. o.,
continued in Hillmans place, having
joined the committee last Tuesday.
Homer Martin. president of the United
Automobile Workers, was the only
other absentee as the two groups met
Richard T. Frankensteen, assistant
president of the Automobile Workers,
substituted for Martin.
Appeal by Berry Reported.
As the conferees returned, it was re-
ported that both Mr. Lewis and William
Green, president of the Federation.
we're in receipt of letters from Senator
Berry. Democrat, of Tennessee, asking
them to compose labor's differences.
The appeal from Senator Berry, who
is president of tine Printing Pressmen's
Union, was of interest principally be-
cause OF speculation that it may have
been inspired by the administration.
Senator Berry's union is affiliated
with the Federation, but he has
remained on good terms with leaders
of both factions.
Before the recess each side had re-
jected the rival proposals for recon-
ciliation with scant courtesy.
The original c. I. o. proposal was
that industrial union principles be
applied to all organizing in the mass
production industries, that the c. I. o.
become an autonomous department
within the A. F. of L., that such a
department be given exclusive juris-
diction over the mass production
industries mentioned, and that joint
convention be called to ratify the
agreement.