Evening star., 1937-06-22

national president, Charles l. Stengle,
and embarking on an Independent
anti -Government-eco drive
General Accounting Office No 8. 200
members; Labor II, 400; Agriculture
81, $50; Works Progress Administra-
ton 139, 600; Beltsville 1875, 100, In
terstate Commerce So, rs, and Reset
tlement 206, $50
Five lodges expelled last September
in a bitter row between "conserva-
tives' and liberal" Social Security
Board, Washington and Baltimore,
$500; Securities Exchange, 100; Farm
Credit, so; Railroad Retirement Board,
80, and Public Assistance Division,
District of Columbia, $50. These
units-with the exception of the Bal
tlmore contingent-have been oper-
ating together here as the Inter- Union
Council.
The other four groups are Inter-
Departmental (colored) 100, and Loans
and Currency, Treasury, IS, both of
which are reported splitting from the
A. F. G. E.; Rural Electrifcation, l75
and the Congressional Secretaries, so,
for an aggregate membership of 1905
Figures Differ.
The rebel estimate of membership
In the seven suspended lodges is just
about a third more than A. F. G. E.
headquarters figures. The Inter-De-
partmental Lodge, according to A. F.
G. E. spokesmen, has been delinquent
in dues for the past year.
While Lewis statement was silent
as to policy with regards to enrolling
skilled tradesmen in the Government
estimated at $4,000 and largely in
the ranks Of the A. F. of L.-observers
doubted. in view of their past history,
that these would be attracted to the
new movement. It was the bitter diff
ference beween these workers, whose
wages are fixed by boards or other
authorities, and the National Fedora
ton of Federal Employees, over the
question OF classification, that six years
ago led to the white collar group
headed by Luther c. Steward breaking
away from the A. F. OF L., resulting in
William Green, the president, organ
izing the A. F. G. E. as a rival to
Stewards organization.
Excluding the postal workers, num-
bering 270,000, and the skilled trades
men, there are in the executive agen-
cleS OF the Government, slightly more
than 5000 workers OF these, about
100000 are in the N. F. F. E. and
A. F. G. E.. the ratio, according to
respective claims, being around 1-3.
There are thousands of others In this
half million who are employed only
on temporary basis, or are on SUBJ
s1stence wages. In consequence. an
accurate appraisal Of the c. I. o.
strength, or potential strength, will
only be possible when the organizing
campaign shapes up to the point where
its results are apparent.
Move Afoot for Weeks.
In completing plans for organizing
Federal employees, the c. I. o. cul-
minated a move that has been afoot
for some time. For several weeks,
1t has been known that overtures
were being made to Lewis from vari-
Gus quarters, but it was not until
about 10 days ago, when the A. F..
G. E. suspended the seven rebel"
lodges, that the proposal gained the
momentum that turned the c. I. O.
into this new channel.
Baker, the president of the pro-
visional union, has never before been
associated with union organizing ac-
tivities. Born ~ years ago on 4
ranch in Colorado, he has had a
varied career. He studied engineer
ing in the West, and has been sue
cessively a mining official in Mexico.
personnel offlcer for large American
corporations, industrial engineer and
publisher. He came to Washington
four years ago, and has been in
charge Of various emergency opera
tions. He was chairman of the Com
mission of Inquiry on Cooperative
Enterprises in Europe, appointed by
President Roosevelt last year.
Baker announced last night that he
was resigning forthwith from Gov
eminent service.
Baker, who Joined the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration In
the Summer of 1898. served - cl1ief