The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-04
Labor Reviews Years Gains Increased Power,
 Strike Victories Offset C.I. o. -A.F. of L. Split
Workers Party Looms as Force
 in Politics
By WILLIS THORNTON NEA Service stan Correspondent

1887. they mark the end of o labor year" that Is certainly one of the most significant America has ever seen. -
 Three vitally important things have happened to organized labor within the past l2 months.
 First, a tidal wave of orga1iza- ton has boosted the total number or organized workers far above any previous level.
 second, the labor movement It. self has split squarely down the middle.
 And third, the extension of col- lective bargaining, the develop ment of new strike tcchniques, and the more active participation of labor In politics, have greatly increased It's direct influence iii public affairs.
 Organization at New Peak '
 MEMBERSHIP: The American Fedora ton of Labor and the Com mittee for Industrial Organization probably have more than 3.00o,- 900 members each. Adding in the independent railroad organiza- tions, and the many small inde- pendent unions scattered all over the country (the American Fed eration of Independent Unions alone claims 300,000) 1t Is likely that nearly 100000 workers of Q potentially organi1able 30,00O00O are organized today. Shat Is roughly 8 per cent.
 Tn 1920, when union member. ship reached its previous high at around 5,o00oo0, that was only 10 per cent of potential membership, and in 1896, the 450,000 union members were only 9 per cent of their potential. Thus, not only the higher total, but the higher per- centage of possible membership, is significant Further, about 100000 of the gain in member ship is made up of men and women never organized before.
 Labor Split Widened
 A. F. OF L. AND 0. l. O.: The split of the labor movement into two definitely competing organiza. tions developed only In March, 1887, though the c, l. o. was formed in November, 1885. Throughout the year, tentative ef- forts to adjust the differences be- tween these organizations have not only failed, but the gulf between them has widened and deepened.
 The 0. l. O., starting out with the ayowed purpose of organizing the unorganiSed," has each month swung more deeply into what had been recognized as definite A. F. of L. fields. These growing con- flicts resulted In actual street, fighting between rival picket lines, as in certain Cleveland knitting mills which both factions were trying to organize. '
 Tn the maritime trades, in tex- tiles, In the electrical trades, In tho government service, In oil, aluminium, and dozen other In. dustries. the two are directly com- peting for members. Each claims tremendous gains, the A. P. of L. million more members than 1t had immediately after the 0. l. o. split. the 0. I. o, two million more than the original million that left the o. P. Of IL.
 Labor Party Move Grows
 POLITICS: Labor's first direct national political bid in many years came in the presidential campaign of late 1886 when Labor's Non Partisan league, backed by both organized labor factions, worked for Roosevelt's election, and the United Mine Workers and other unions made substantial campaign contributions.
 ~ Throughout the summer Of 1887, many local labor organizations be- gan operating in local primaries in an effort to secure local ad- ministrations favorable to labor The 0. I. has been most active in these moves, as much Of the A. r. of L. membership still sticks to the Gompers formula of reward our friends, punish our enemies" regardless of party.
 The o. l. o. now includes all the elements to whom direct political action through 6 labor party is cardinal principle, and the A. F. of l.. attitude toward the Labor Non Partisan league is cooling in the belief that 1t is an exclusively 0. I. o. organization. The easing out of Senator George L. Beery, A. Y. of L. stalwart, as the leagues head, lends color to this asSump- ton. .4,a,
 John Lewis, CT. o. leader. dis appointed in the degree of admin istration support evident at the last session of congress, has hifited strongly at Q pure labor party for the future. But labor's position in politics is as cloudy as the general party situation. Only one thing is made clear by the activities of the past l2 months: whatever that position Is. it will be . stronger and more positive influence than has been seen since the Knights of Labor.
 Victories and Defeats
 STRIKES: The year opened with Q Sitdowp strike iii the far flung plants of the General Motors Corporation engineered by the United Auto Workers, a union taken over from the A. Y. of L. and rejuvenated by the 0. l. o. The sudden effectiveness of the new form of strike launched . wave of discussion of It's legality and implications that has not yet subsided. A similar strike at Chrysler followed. both termI- mated by signed agreements with the U. A. w.
 Then, early in March, came ne