Evening star., 1938-11-12
Garment Workers
Pull Out Of c.. 0.
Till Peace Is Made
Union Of 250, 900 Also
Turns Its Buck
On A. F. of l.

sessed of another independent group
today as the International Ladies
Garment Workers turned their backs
on both the Committee for Indus
trial Organization and the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor.
The action, taken yesterday by
the executive board of the union,
in a decision to withdraw from the
C. I. o. and remain away from the
latter's convention in Pittsburgh
next week, involves approximately
250,00O persons. Long considered
one of the most powerful labor Or
ganizations in the country, the I.
L. G.. w. now takes q position COM
parable to that of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen in being COM
pletely independent Of all af1ilia-
tions.
The decision of the garment
workers, one Of the original G. I. O..
unions, had been forecast for sew
eral months and was precipitated
by the calling of a constitutional
convention by the group headed by
John l.. Lewis. The union pre-
viously had made known its opposi-
ton to formation OF a permanent
organization.
Wants Labor Peace.
In announcing its decision yester-
day the board Of the I. L. G. W..
declared it wanted reconciliation
between the c. /. o. and A. F. OF L.
and that until that was attained 1t
would not enter either camp. 1t
asserted the labor split was one OF
the major causes of the setback
suffered by the progressive and lib
eral forces" in Tuesdays elections.
The boards declaration of free
dom could be nullif1ed by . con-
vention Of the union. if the dele
gates so voted. However, the last
convention clothed the board with
power Ito guide the course and des-
tiny of our union until the next
convention with regard to this con-
troversy."
The action brought to climax the
futile efforts of David Dubinsky
union president. to end labor's civil
war, which began three years ago.
The garment workers and nine
other unions withdrew from the
A. F. Of L. in 1885 to attempt to or
ganize industrial labor which the I.
L. G. w. said the Federation ne
elected The 10 later were sus-
pended and all but the garment
workers finally were expelled.
Dual UniOnism Opposed.
Mr.. Dubinsky was a leader In the
inconclusive peace conferences Of
leaders of both organizations here
last December. Later he criticized
Mr., Lewis and the c. I. O. for insist
ing on peace conditions which the
Garment Union described as mot
feasible"
Mr.. Dubinsky declined to comment
on his boards action. But when he
was asked whether Mr.. Lewis knew
about the step. he smiled and said:
The last time We saw each other
we agreed to disagree"
Taking firm stand against dual
unionism,' the boards resolution
said:
we do not believe now. and we
never have believed. that two sep
arate labor movements are required
to achieve the common objectives
of labor.
We believe now. as we have al
ways believed. that one unified la
Dor organization in this country
could and should bring the benefits
Of organization to all wage earners
in the land, whether in the mass
production or the skilled industries,
and protect labor against its eco
nomic as well as political enemies. ."
Sharpening of Conflict Seen.
The resolution further declared:
The formation of a permanent
national union to supercede the
c. I. O. would, in our judgment,
sharpen the conflict in the labor
movement and would create greater
obstacles for ultimate reconcilia ton. .
The Garment Workers Board
called on President Roosevelt yes
terday to protest against persecu-
ton Of Jews in Germany.
President Dubinsky sent Mr..
Roosevelt telegram saying the
Perpetrators of these atrocities
should be made to understand that
they had placed themselves be
yond the pale of civilization"
Mr.. Dubinsky said the United
States had broken of relations with
and failed to recognize govern
ments for much lesser crimes
against humanity than the sys-
tematic and cold-blooded destruc-
ton of the already broken down
Jewish communities in Germany"