Evening star., 1937-10-17

SefDeTS HQte JeH, HODeGcT, OTedk
might eventually prove handicap
to all u S. Uorkers.
1y the Associated Press.
Organized labor called an armistice
In its 2-year-old civil war yesterday
and agreed on . preliminary peace
conference in Washington. October
IS, intended to unity again the Amer
ican labor movement.
The signal to cease firing" was
the American Federation Of Labor's
announcement in Denver that it had
accepted a proposal from the Com
mittee for Industrial Organization to
send negotiating committees to
Washington conference without ad-
vance conditions, reservations or COM
mitments.
The conference agreement followed
several days of long distance maneu-
ering. neither side willing to recede
from its views on the principles of
craft unionism and industrial union
ism.
Third Proposal Accepted.
Two c. 1. o. conference proposals
were turned down by the Federation
before third was accepted. Phillip
Murray, one of John L. Lewis chief
lieutenants in the c. I. O., termed
the Federation's earlier jockeying on
conference conditions 'quibbling."
The agreement was reached prac-
tically two years from the date the
Lewis and eight rebel" unions walked
out OF the Federation convention and
organized the c. I. O., to embrace
unskilled workers in mass-production
industries.
In Denver A. F. L. leaders, in their
private conversation, were not overly
optimistic about the chances for Sue
cess of the conference.
Green Refuses Statement.
Asked by reporter whether he
hoped" it would succeed. William
Green, r. F. L. president, refused to
make a statement
If the conference is successful, la
Dor leaders agreed that:
The A. F. L. could present a united
front Of nearly 100000 workers in
its fight for higher wages, shorter
hours and better working conditions.
Lewis probably would become the
9ederation's dominant figure.
Government officials, from President
Roosevelt down to small-town sherifis,
would be spared many 4 headache
resulting from attempts to stay neutral
in the fight.
Employers of organized labor also
would be spared many of the strikes
bound to result from the war between
two huge groups Of employees.
Benefit of United Front.
Workingmen in each group would
lose less time on the job and also
stand to benefit by a united labor
front against employers.
The country was in for the most
bitter labor war in its history if the
negotiations failed.
Last week the A. F. L. convention
made plans for fight to the finish if
peace overtures came to nothing.
When Murray telegraphed the C. L.
o. Committee would meet with or
without commitments" the federation's
executive council Immediately shot
back this message:
THE committee of the American
Federation Of Labor, composed of Vice
Presidents Harrison, Woll and Bug
niazet will meet your committee Will
lard Hotel, Washington, D. c., October
rs, 10 am"
The executive council set up this
committee At its Miami, Fla, meeting
in January, 1886. to urge Lewis to
abandon the c. I. o., organized the
previous November with the announced
purpose Of bringing unorganized work.
ers into industrial unions under the
A. F. L. banner.
In Atlantic City there was every
indication that the c. I. o. would not
compromise its stand that industrial
unionism must continue to be the
backbone of labor progress.
The agreement on the conciliatory
parley came as only Lewis and a small
group of the $50 officials of c. I. o.
unions remained at this seaside resort.
Most Of the other delegates to the
five-day conference on strategy already
had left.
The G. I. o. originally proposed this
week that both it and the A. F. Of l..
select 100 representatives to discuss
the problem OF composing their differ
euceS