The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-14
BY EDWARD B. LoCKETT

John l.. Lewis CIO for adop
ton next fall.
Lewis long ago made it plain h
was interested further in the AFT
only If it should care to accept
CLIO absorption, which it wouldn't
But there was finality about the
announcement telling labor unions
the CLIO Is an out and out All
rival, come to take its place and
fight in the American scheme Of
things.
MEANS WAR TO FINISH
Either because Lewis in the past
thought some sort Of peace with
the AFL advantageous to the CLIO
was possible, or because UP to now
the CLIO chieftian was not ready
to test strength and burn his
bridges, there is as yet no C1O
constitution, no bylaws as such:
But when the shaggy-haireo
labor leader announced to report
ers that the 80 chiefs Of CLIO
unions who have met with him
here for two days voted to hold a
constitutional convention, draw
up a constitution and 60 forward
from there, it was obvious he meant
labor peace without humiliation
of the AFL or the CIO was i'm
possible.
It was obvious, too, he holds a
deep conviction this humiliation
will come to the Federation.
CLOS GROWTH RAPID
This new CTO is to be carefully
moulded and q very different or.
ganization from the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. Lewis started
out when lie broke from the ALL
two years ago with eight unions,
and now he has 80, and claims q
membership of $500, 900 compared
with very few more than this on
the Federation roster.
Basic difference, from an organ.
ization standpoint, between the
Federation and the Lewis unit, lies
in union theories. The AFL was
founded upon the craft union the
DRY, under which a single industry
might embrace half a dozen sepa,
rate craft unions.
The CLIO operates upon the
theory of one big union for each
big industry and Lewis has at
tracted millions to its banners,
signed contracts in industrial
fields where the ALL has failed
to organize, and garnered a rich
C1O war chest in dues.
POLITICS INVOLVED
The difference does not stop
there. The break in the AL
which gave birth to the CLIO
came at time when the working
man became acutely conscious Of
the close relationship between his
economic fortunes and politics.
There were vigorous STRINGS in
the AL towards political &C
tiVity as such, put down by the
leaders to be sure, but present
just the same, at the time.
John Lewis made organizing
capital out Of this new feeling,
and since the inception Of the
CLIO. he has preached that labor
must have a voice.. a powerful
voice, in selection Of the nations
political leadership. Today, the
CLIO is so powerful q political
factor that in at least two States,
Pennsylvania and New York, it Is
a voice to be seriously reckoned
with in elections.
NONPARTISAN TIEUP
And in announcing that the CLIO
will draw a constitution at its
convention in the fall, Lewis loudly
proclaimed that politics comprised
a logical and an important phase
Of its activity. Already, the CLIO
has set up and now completely
taken over as q POLITICAL adjunct,
LIabor'S NonpartiSan League. With
a powerful candidate in the field
seeking the Pennsylvania governor
ship, Tom Kennedy, secretary Of
Lewis own United Mine Workers,
the CLIO Is up to its neck in politics
today. And 1t will be even deeper
entrenched when 1910 and the
presidential elections roll around,
If Lewis can make it so.
You'll SEQ them in the Government
Departments. You'll see them in Tho
Times in the Walter Winchell Sweep