Evening star., 1937-06-12
BY ]. A. FOX.

The seven rebel lodges OF the
American Federation Of Government
Employees walked out on their trial to.
day when q committee from the Exec.
utive Council refused to hold the pro-
ceedings in public.
Hailed to answer charges growing
out Of their defiance OF national head
quarters in pushing an independent
drive against pending economy meas
ures, the seven lodges demanded the
right to be represented by counsel and
to have the press admitted to the hear.
ing at the Hamilton Hotel.
The council committee, however,
ruled that only one member from
each lodge should appear at the hear.
ing and that the proceedings would
be private. The lodges, however,
were to be given the right to bring In
witnesses.
Each lodge had sent two represen.
satives to the hotel. When these
were advised Of the committee ruling
they held an impromptu session and
decided without further ado to refuse
to take any part.
To Consider CHARGES.
Under the circumstances, the com.
mittee was expected to 60 ahead and
consider the charges on the basis Of
representation by national officers.
While . heated discussion was IN
progress outside the hearing room be.
tween representatives Of the rebel"
lodges and the council rs to the steps
to be taken, two headquarters detec.
tives-Frank o. Brass and J. K,
Baker-stood by in the event their
services should be needed. The ofIi-
GERS had not been detailed from head.
quarters. 1t was said, but were making
the hotel on their regular rounds and
decided to remain on hand when the
controversy became apparent.
Interest attaching to today's pro-
ceedings. because of overtures made
by the seven lodges to the COMMITTEES
for Industrial Organization, was
heightened when representatives Of
the Central Labor Union Of Wash.
1ngton came to the hotel prepared to
take part in the hearing. John
Locher. president Of c. L. u, and
Frank J. Coleman, secretary, had
planned to testify before the COM
mittee as to the efforts the American
Federation OF Labor has made to pro-
tect Government employees In the
present economy drive.
They had expected to base their
testimony on an address by William
Green, president Of the A. r. OF L..
at the recent convention Of the
Maryland State-District of Columbia
Federation Of Labor, In which he hit
at the G. I. o. and told what his
group had done for Governments
workers generally.
Green was in the lobby of the hotel
for . few minutes before the meeting
started, but it was said he had just
stopped by on his way from break.
fast. He said he was taking no part
in the hearing.
The charges against the seven grew
out Of the struggle between the lib.
eral" and the conservative" wings Of
the federation and there have been
indications that it may eventually lead
to the entry of the c. I. O. into the
field Of Government employment.
Favor c. /. O. Ahiliation.
The seven lodges, by virtue Of action
at the mass meeting at the Willard
Hotel Thursday night, are on record
in favor Of afiliation with the G. I.
O., but the latter still is holding in
allegiance its policy in this regard.
For some time the John L. Lewis
organization has been receiving sppn-
cations for afiliation from scattered
(See A. F. G.. E., Page A-o)