Evening star., 1938-10-11
By JOHN C. HENRY.

The war of words over bringing
peace to the American labor move
ment took another bizarre turn today
when John L. Lewis offered to resign
as chairman of the Committee for In
dustrial Organiza ton If William Green
would quit his Office as president OF
the American Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Lewis made his offer solemnly
at press conference called this
morning on receipt of reports from
Houston, Tex, that the Federation
convention considered his resignation
to be the price of peace" between the
A. F. of L. and the c. l. o.
Turning the challenge back to the
Federation leadership and its conven-
ton delegates. Mr.. Lewis declared:
IF the A. F. of L. convention, wants
TO accept this suggestion, will imme-
diately. upon its acceptance, arrange
to file my own resignation with the
G. I. O."
Delegates to Answer.
From Houston, the Associated Press
reported that Green had declined any
comment on the Lewis proposal other
than to say 1.-The convention delegates
will answer before the convention ad-
journs."
Charging that yesterdays hymn of
hate" from Houston brings further
confusion and greater strife into the
labor movement" the c. I. o. chair
man took occasion to indorse recent
suggestion that an impartial presi-
dental commission be named to make
q factual report on the conflicts IN
American labor and industry, adding:
There may be some virtue behind
the suggestion Of the Federation that
I personally retire from official partici-
patton in the matter. Obviously, the
@. I. o. could function without the
benefit of my services, and conceiv-
ably with increased efficiency.
'Manifestly, that is not a unilateral
problem-obviously, it is bilateral. The
same suggestion would apply to Mr..
Green, whose recent ferocity seems
to know no bounds. In any event,
! think it worth trying.
Willing TO Resign.
IT advise that I am willing to resign
tomorrow, or any day thereafter, as
chairman of the Committee for In
dustrial Organization, If Mr.. Green
will simultaneously resign as presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor. 1t then may be possible for
the remaining leaders of the A. F. of
L. and the remaining leaders Of the
c. I. O. to conclude a peace pact,
In which event the contribution made
by Mr.. Green and myself would be of
some value"
In his suggestion for a fact-find-
ing inquiry into Americas labor
troubles, Mr.. Lewis made sighting
reference to the recent study by
Presidential commission of British
and Swedish labor laws and industrial
relationships.
The whole situation" he said.
"gives emphasis to what Mr.. Haywood
Broun told President Roosevelt re-
Gently. namely, that a Presidential
commission should be appointed to
make a factual report on the conflict
In labor and industry in America.
One commission has peered into
the mind behind the British nfonocle
and has psychoanalyzed our Swedish
friends. It does seem that there is an
obligation to know and understand our
own problems. think there is Scrip
trral injunction that says you should
pick mote out of your own eye be-
fore digging too far into your neigh
bor's optic. Perhaps such a commits
sion could get to the facts behind the
allegations of Messrs. Green. Woll and
Frey and their ilk at the Houston con-
vention."
His Outspoken Foes.
Matthew Vol, vice president Of
the Federation, and John P. Frey, pres
idert of the metal trades department,
have been two of the most outspoken
foes of Mr.. Lewis and the c. I. o.
Both we're prominent in yesterdays
deliberations at Houston, with Mr..
VOL presenting the report of the Res
olutions Committee denouncing Mr..
Lewis as dictator" and "autocrat."
The immediate reaction of Arthur o.
Wharton, an A. F. Of l.. vice president
TO Mr.. Lewis proposal was:
II doubt his sincerity"
Mr.. Wharton said that "sbout l8
months ago President Green offered to
quit as A. F. of L. head and a COM
mittee worked for months to unite the
two orro,,r,S but il was Mr. Lewis who
finally blocked peace then"
George M. Harrison, one of the A. F.
Of LIS representatives on the commit
tee to which Mr. Wharton referred, de-
clined comment
A. F. Whitney, president of the In
dependent Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, predicted the warning c. I.
(see LEWIS, Page A-5.)