Evening star., 1937-10-04
A. F. Is COUNCIL
MOVES ON C. 0.
Acts to ExpeI All Lewis
UnitS-Praises and Hits
Labor Board.
BY JOHN G.. HENRY.

PortenLs OF final expulsion OF the
Committee for Industrial Organization
unions from the American Federation
of Labor and Of q policy OF critical
scrutiny of decisions of the National
Labor Relations Board are among the
most important deductions to be made
from the report Of the Executive Coun-
Gil Of the federation, released today
in Denver, Colo, As the A. F. OF L.
opened its fifty-seventh annual con-
vention.
In addition, the council recommends
a determined organizing drive BY the
federation. predicts the passage Of
wage and hour legislation during the
next sessions OF Congress. and pro-
poses extensions OF thessocial security
system and amendments to the pres
ent social security law.
Regarding unemployment. esti-
mated at 100000 as of last July,
the council emphasizes the need of
shorter work weeks, continued public
relief. retraining program for skilled
workers and q periodic unemployment
census.
Covering numerous subjects in its
l50-page report, the council devoted
greatest attention to the c. I. o. and
Labor Board sections. censuring the
former bitterly and complaining in
milder tone about certain policies of
the latter.
Power 70 Revoke Charters.
Settlement Of the c. I. o. contro-
versy. the council proposes, might
best be reached by vesting in the
council the power. to revoke the char
ters Of all international unions hold
ing membership in the C. l. o. At
present such unions are under suspen-
sion. while several others are SEEM
ingly halfway between membership
in both parent bodies Of labor
The report accuses the c. I. o. OF
numerous ,offenses against both the
labor movement In general and the
federation in particular, charging
John L. Lewis. with "a consuming
ambition to gain control OF the Or
ganlzed labor movement and to estab-
lish his own independent political
party" and finally ending with the
following excoriation:
NO manufacturers association or
employers organization, supplied with
unlimited funds. moved by a desire TO
divide and conquer organized labor,
could have launched such a campaign
OF division and destruction within the
solid. united movement of labor as has
the c. l. o. No split in the ranks
OF labor could have been brought
about by the most powerful OF manu-
facturers' associations such as has
been accomplished by the C. I. o.
This is the great diSservice rendered
by the c. 1. o. and this is the great
injury which it has inflicted upon the
working men and women of the
Nation"
With regard to the National Labor
Relations Board, with which the fed
Grafton has been in open feud for some
weeks. the council both commends
and condones.
Criticism Of Personnel.
Initial criticism is directed at
regional personnel of the board around
whose powers the council claims -
good deal OF misconception exists
Activities OF the boards stan which
have been mainly criticized" the re-
port states, ARE those in connection
with the mediation or settlement of
disputes in which the staff of the
board has sometimes shown q prefer
ence for c. I. o. unions. We believe If
the board would recognize that it does
not possess these powers of mediation
and would limit itself the cause of
much OF this criticism would vanish" :"
The council then makes the claim,
which 1t attempts to support by quot
ing the railway labor act rather than
the Wagner act. that Congress in
tended that craft unions should be an
election unit il they SO chose. Actually
the labor relations law gives the board
discretionary power in designating the
unit involved in employe elections.
During the last session Of Congress
the A. F. Of L. sought an amendment
which would make the craft union
designation mandatory.
In its conduct In connection with
the automobile and steel strikes, the
report continues. the board gave the
public good grounlls Is for the belief II
va docidndly urd I. O."