Evening star., 1938-10-15
Commission of 13 Proposed
to Halt Feud of A. F. l.
and C. !. O.
FIVE FROM EACH SIDE
WOULD CHOOSE THREE
secretary's Suggestion Is First
Direct Administration Step
to Quiet Controversy.
BACKGROUND

In last 10 days, administration
has put pressure on A. F. OF L. and
c. /. o. to bury the tdtchet. In
ternal friction in organized labor's
family circle began three years ago
NTH John L. LeUis, chairman 1or
A. F. OF LIS Committee on Indus
trial Organization, leading moue-
ment for perpendicular as opposed
to horizontal or craft unionizing
Resulting schism split ranks OF
labor but added many uorkers to
unions.
BY the Associated Press.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 15.-Secre-
tary of Labor Perkins proposed today
creation Of a 13-member commission
to mediate the dispute between the
c. I. o. and the A. F.. Of L.
She suggested that each organiza-
ton choose five Of its trusted and ex-
perienced representatives" who In turn
would select three disinterested per-
sons. The representatives of the labor
groups, she said, should have authority
to bind their organizations to adhere
to any agreement the commission
reached.
Miss Perkins advanced her sug-
gestion in an address prepared for a
Joint celebration of the 10th anniver-
sary of the Order of Railway Conduc-
tors and the 50th anniversary Of its
ladies' auxiliary.
1t was the first public proposal from
the administration of concrete
method for settling labor's factional
rivalry.
Roosevelt Urged Harmony.
President Roosevelt recently sent a
message to the Houston, Tex, con-
vention Of the A. F. of L. asking 1t not
to close the door to peace with the
c. o..
Subsequently, Secretary Of Com
merce Roper said the dispute was
retarding economic recovery. Then
Elmer Andrews, wage-hour admin
istrator, told the A. F. of L. convention
Thursday that he, like millions Of
other Americans" hoped labor would
settle its internal differences.
Miss Perkins said the three disin-
terested persons to be on the COM
mission should be informed about
labor matters and sympathetic to
labor organization"
Let them be persons Of concilia-
tory, dispassionate disposition, if pos
sible, with some experience in the
art of mediation" she said.
If the 10 can't agree on the public
members, then some outside trusted
person can be asked to select and
appoint them.
Il have great faith in the capacity
Of the people on both sides of this
controversy to make fair and worka-
Bile adjustment and the desire for it
from the membership and from the
public is intense.
Labor accord is much to be desired
so that organized groups will become
more effective in the interest of wage
earners, management and the general
public"
Rank and File Seek Peace.
Along with expressions from high
Government officials of the desira-
biiity of an end to labor warfare.
there have been indications of grow
ing sentiment for peace in the rank
and file Of two organizations.
Daniel Tobin, head of the powerful
A. F. of L. Teamsters' Union, demand
ed peace in an address at Houston.
There have been hints, too, that the
International Ladies Garment Work
ers, led by David Dubinsky, would
withdraw from the c. I. o. If the war
| fare continued.
Mr.. Lewis then proposed that both
| he and William Green, Federation
president, retire. They have long been
bitter personal enemies Green called
Lewis offer a fraud" and the con-
vention reelected Green unanimously.
Secretary Perkins, without mention
ing the current wage dispute in the
railroad industry, urged the railroad
brotherhoods not to lose sight Of their
group interest" The carriers, she
said, have been backward" in devel-
opment of their service.
She spoke optimisticaHy of the busi-
ness picture. definite turn for the
better" occurred in the last three
months, she said, and the number Of
factory jobs increased 100000 in Sep
tember, while residential building has
been we'll maintained and public con-
struction is beginning to increase.