The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-12
N. F. F. f. FLAYS
RIVAL UNION
IN BLAST
BY ]. EARLE MOSER

War has flared anew between
the two major organizations OF
Government workers.
After six months of peace, the
National Federation of Federal
Employees has attacked the Amerl.
can Federation of Government
Employes-its successor within
q TIE 4 F. of Lover the recent De-
troit sit-down strike.
Despite the fact the A. F. G. E.
expelled the WPA lodge which par
ticipated in the Detroit C. I. o.
demonstration, President Luther
C. Steward and Secretary Treas
urer Gertrude M. McNally, of the
N F. F. E.. have issued a state
ment to their membership (sald
to be over 100000 in which they
"call to the attention OF all
thoughtful employees the grave dan
gers to all which are inherent in
the courses of action adopted by
certain other organizations OF Fed
eral employees.
Charging the A. F. G. E. is bring
ing discredit to Government per-
sonnet. an editorial in the current
N. F.. F. E. official magazine de-
clares:
"The action of the abOve-men-
toned group, an affiliat, of the
A. F. G.. E., is natural corse-
uuence of headlOng, irrespOn-
sible career. The direct out
growth of the callouS violation
of the autonomous rights Of the
N. IF. E. by the president and
executive council of the Ameri.
can Federation Of Labor, and
nurtured by them in spirit Of
spite and vengeance, the A. F.
G. E. is bringing to all Federal
employees not only shame and
ignominy, but it's actions threat
en- the very basis of the relation
ship between Government and
emplOye."
Declaring that workers in prl'
vate business have different rela-
tionship with employers than
Government clerks, the N. F. F. E.
blast continues:
There are some courses Of
action open to the employees in
private enterprise which cannot
be open to public employees. And
the N. F. F. E. has realized that
if public employees use such
tactics they will destroy the
fruits of their constructive
labors ever since Congress first
recognized the employees right
to petition on their own behalf.
with a reckless, defiant and
abysmally ignorant disregard of
the specific nature of public
employment an ignorance
which reflects accurately the
viewpoint Of the leadership Of
the A. F. of 1.-The A. F. G. E.
has fOstered attitudes and &C.
tiOnS which not only are alienat-
ing public opinion but threaten
an extreme revulSiOn in official
quarters which very well may re.
suit in the penalizatiOn of all
Federal employees and all Organi-
cations of Federal employees.
Shutdown strikes, picketing,
vituperative attacks upon ad-
ministrative officers, blackjack
organization methOdS-in fact
all Of the most bitter tactics de-
veloped in the arena Of private
emplOyer-emplOye relationships
have been transferred in a body
to the Federal field. There can
be but one result of such a
situation: diScredit and danger
to all Federal employees"
And in conclusion:
I'm the train of the A. F. G. E.
has come host of other organ
izatiOns.' Crowds of them dot
the landscape; there scarcely
are names enough to identify
them all. To the din and the
confusion they add their own
special clsmOr; their own par
ticular stupidities. Their off
GERS rush hither and yOn, de
handing and muttering dark
threats of repriSals if the de
nlandS' are not met instanter.
The leadership of the A. F. of L.
should gaze upon the motley
brood it has fathered and take
pride in its offspring"
In the interest of not only its
own members but of all sincere
TnInHoI awaawaIoH,ne
can not and will not permit its
reputation to be Swallowed by
the increasingly reckless and ir.
responsible actions of the rumps
and their spawn"
LUTHER C. STEWARD,
President.
GERTRUDE M. McNALLY,