Montana labor news., 1938-11-17
CI0 Meets TO Dedicate
Labor Movement,
Lewis Reports

a labor movement born of economic
necessity, impelled by the unquench-
able desire to better the lot of fell
low men and led onward by the just
principles upon which u nation
was founded"
This was the keynote of the re-
port submitted to the first consti-
tutional convention of the Commit
tee for Industrial Organization by
its chairman, John L. Lewis.
Total membership was reported to
be 4,037,877 of which l23,265 were
in local industrial unions. In Octo-
Der, 1887, membership was reported
at 3,718,000. Affiliated are AZ ma
tional and international unions and
organizing committees compared
with 80 in October, 1887, and eight
in November, 1885.
A financial report covering the
entire history of the CLIO was also
submitted. It showed receipts of
3d. 4 1886 and disbursements of
$3,510,954, leaving a balance of
$29,430 of which $28, 805 was in the
bank and $625 was in a revolving
fund.
From November, 1885, to June,
1887, CLIO operations were supported
entirely by grants and advances
from unions affiliated, Lewis report
ed. In June, 1887, a per capita tax
was instituted on a voluntary basis
and since February l, 1888, the cur
rent per capita income of the CLIO
balanced expenditures, the report
said.
with the exception of the volun-
tary contributions from outside
sources in the amount of $1,436, all
receipts are from sources within the
committee" Lewis said. All adj
vances made to affiliates for organ
izing are covered by notes payable
to the CLIO.
A breakdown of the disbursements
shows that of the total of $751; 1854,
over $3,08l, 800 went for organiza-
tional expense. Spent for regional
and field organizing was SLIGO, 1888,
for refunds in charter fees and per
capita dues, $10,806 and for advances
by the CLIO to affiliates, $~1,310,178.
Included in the Lewis report was
a section on relations with the
American Federation Of Labor. 1t
recounted the history of the split
and declared conferences for peace
in Washington broke down "only
when it became all too apparent that
the AFL leaders were more con-
cerned with dividing and disrupting
the new industrial union movement
than they were with achieving genu-
inc and effective labor unity"
"Once the representatives of the
AFL are ready to recognize estab-
ilSlieQ 1dNtS dllu W QGdl Will bllt
CLIO on a basis of equality and JUS
tice, they will find the representa-
tives of the CLIO lore than receptive
to any proposition which will re-
store unity without impairing the
rights of the workers which are our
first consideration" Lewis said.
Surveying the field of industry,
Lewis declared, ut is becoming OBJ
vious that full production in a stable
economy can be created only by
intelligent direction which has the
power and will to coordinate all
economic controls towards that single
end.
"Such central direction must
necessarily come from government.
Intelligent direction also Of necessity
means planning for the future. One
of the serious defects of the eco
nomic measures of the present adj
ministration has been the failure to
coordinate and plan its economic
program over an adequate period. =.
"Only labor, representing the ma
jority of the people, can guarantee
a continuous movement towards full
production. Labor must have a
strong voice in the government and
the agencies of government which
administer a sound economic pro-
gram to guarantee that such a
program shall not stagnate or be
perverted.
Heretofore labor has been too
often ignored. If the future is to
be one of hope, labor must take its
rightful place"
In broad terms, Lewis outlined
labor's economic program to achieve
and maintain full production and a
balanced economy. The program
consisted of:
l. Continued wage increases and
shortened hours.
2. Government contributions to
consuming power such as WPA,
PWA, etc.
3. Regulation of chronological
progress to assure the maintenance
of balance between wage raises, de-
creased hours and production.
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