Evening star., 1938-10-14

liam Green called upon John l..
! Le,uis to resign as chief of the c.
! I. o. as a moUe toWdrd labor peace.
. Mr.. LeUis Immediately replied that
there Was merit in the suggestion
/. and that he ,Dould resign as soon
as Mr.. Green left his post Mr..
Green and other A. F. of L. leaders
/. questioned the sincerity" OF Mr..
! Lepis' rejoinder.
BY the Associated Press.
. HOUSTON, Tex, Oct. 14-Ameri-
can Federation of Labor unions armed
for war but apparently anxious for
peace in labor's internal strife, today
turned over to their executive council
for action the policy mandates of the
58th annual convention which ad-
sourned last night.
Jammed into the program in an IL
cay meeting that was dull and stormy
by turns were a dozen controversial
issues that called for action on the
political and industrial fronts. The
convention voted to meet in San Fran
CISCO in 1889.
After the tumult and debating over
dualism and the New Deal in the
closing days of the session, the con-
vention closed on high note Of
peace" 1t was sounded by William
Green in a speech accepting for the
fifteenth time the presidency of the
A. F. of L.
Promises Effort for Peace.
Il promise to you," Mr.. Green said,
that I shall make every contribution
that lies within my power toward the
promotion of peace in the labor move
ment; shall do what I can to heal
the wounds and close the breach and
unite the forces of labor"
His avowal to seek unity with the C.
I. o. followed convention action ap-
proving the continuation of the war
chest" special assessment levied year
ago for extensive organizing purposes,
and the adoption of a report on
secession and dualism" recommend
ing that the council be authorized
to carry on the battle and at the same
time stand ready to respond to any
genuine appeal for peace"
Daniel j. Tobin, leader of 350, 900
members of the International Brother
hood of Teamsters, and the lone out
standing advocate of immediate peace
action by the leadership, said it might
take a month or year to reopen the
unity negotiations with the c. I. O.
broken off last December after a ten
tative formula for peace had been
reached.
Intimates Conference Call.
Mr.. Tobin intimated strongly there
soon may be conference" in Wash
ington and many delegates speculated
on what might happen between the
warning factions before the c. I. O.
convenes its first constitutional con-
vention at Pittsburgh November Il.
There still was possibility, some
sources indicated, that President Roose-
welt may aid in bringing the two sides
together, particularly in view OF his
message to the convention urging labor
leaders to make and keep the peace"
and prevent the reaction which other
wise is bound to injure the workers
themselves"
Daniel w. Tracy. president Of the
International Brotherhood of Elec-
trical workers, who disclosed he had
approached Mr.. Roosevelt indirectly
last March with suggestion the
President Intervene as mediator in
labor's dispute, said:
II still believe President Roosevelt
could be very helpful in bringing the
Two organizations together"
CAT his press conference in Wash
ington the President said he was
not planning any new steps at this
time to bring the warning labor
factions of the c. I. O. and A. F.
of L. together)
Appeals to C. I. o. Groups.
After the noisy ovation given him
when he was reelected Mr.. Green
addressed an apepal to the Interna-
tional Ladies Garment Workers
Union, the United Auto Workers
Union, the United Textile Workers
Union and the Oil Field Workers
International to leave the c. I. o. and
return to their former affiliation with
The A. F. of L.
He did not mention other c. I. o.
',nions but some council members said
he invitation was not limited to
he four mentioned.
The "open-door" peace policy pro-
louncements almost overshadowed
important convention action favoring
changes in the National Labor Rela-
ions Act and wage-hour law and re-
" ffrming boycott policies against Ger
nan and Japanese goods.
The convention demonstrated it op-
,osed any general criticism of the
Jew Deal policies by routing back to
the council Resolutions Committee
report attacking the extension of the
States domain over the field of in
dustrial relations. The delegates
earlier had adopted resolution de-
manding that the United States Sen
ate reject President Roosevelt's re-
appointment of Donald w. Smith to
the Labor Board.
The convention turned down reso-
lutions asking A. F. of L. support for
collective action by democratic ma
tions against aggressor nations, ordered
the establishment of a new maritime
union built around the Sailors Union
of the Pacific and voted to oppose
congressional enactment of the Pat
man chain store tax bill.