Evening star., 1938-12-18
Possible Open Door Found
Toe. L.O.>A. F. of L. Peace
Arbitration Association Has Fine Record in
Settling Disputes, but Request Must
Be Made for Services
By John Lear,
Associated Press Staff Writer,

NEW YORK.-That "open door" to
peace which SO many people have been
trying to find for the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and the Congress of
Industrial Organizations may be located
on Fortieth street just west of Fifth
avenue.
1t is the entrance to the hearing rooms
Of the American Arbitration Association.
This door swings both ways, but 1t
won't move unless some one pushes it,
and labor leaders John L. Lewis and
William Green are the only ones in a
position to do the pushing just now.
For it is rule of the association that
no settlement of disputes is attempted
except by request.
Perhaps the reason neither of the
warning parties has even knocked at
the door is that so few people know
of this particular doors existence.
1t is generally known that the Amer
lean Arbitration Association-a nom
profit non-political, non-partisan Or
ganization-has handled commercial
squabbles peacefully for the last 13 years
and that it has been operating in the
labor field for the last IA months.
Most cases have been settled by arbi-
tration. That is, each side presents its
evidence to an impartial judge or judges
and agrees to abide by whatever decision
the judge or judges hand down.
Procedure Often Successful.
This procedure has been adopted sue
cessfully many times during the last year
by both C. I. o. and A. F. of l.. unions.
But it might not be satisfactory in the
larger issue of C. I. GA. F. of L. peace
because not only facts but principles
the principles of craft versus industrial
unionism-are involved in the labor war;
either or both sides might be unwilling
to bind themselves in advance to the
arbitor's decision.
This, however, is only the main door.
1t swings but one way. There is an
other door, the "all the way open door,"
which leaves way out as we'll as
way in. Those acquainted with it say
the embattled labor factions would have
everything to gain and nothing to lose
by using it.
It is the Arbitration Associations COM
paratively seldom used advisory service"
The advisory procedure is the same
as the more frequently used machinery
except for one major point. Hearings
are held. Impartial arbitors make de-
cision. But neither side agrees in ad-
vance to accept the decision; either may
reject it after they learn what it is.
AS observers of the labor scene see it,
bhe advantage of adoption of this process
by the C. I. o. and the A. F. of L. would
be twofold: Cd a formula for peace
might be reached, and if it were not
there would at least have been achieved;
(2) meeting of the opposing forces.
Second Point Major Obstacle.
Right now this second point is the
first major obstacle to an armistice. 1t
was year ago that the peace commit
tees of the two big unions gave up their
deliberations as hopeless. Since then it
has been impossible to get Mr.. Lewis
and Mr. Green to sit down on the same
speaking platform or at the same dinner
table Or even to talk over the same
radio hook-up when 1000 miles lay be-
tween them.
It would not be necessary for Mr..
Lewis or Mr.. Green to attend truce
hearings That function could be car
ried out by responsible committees. But
before anything can happen, one or other
Of the labor leaders must take the first
step: Ask for hearing.
From the arbitration associations
standpoint, there is nothing in the rec
ord to indicate that such peace confab
would fail The tribunal has handled
100 cases, large and small, in year
without having a single depression from
decision or single appeal. And in its
-, files are letters like these:
From the vice president of c. I. O
union in is locals:
Dear sir and brother:
IT am quite sure that in your stand
ard signed agreement between employer
and union there is an arbitration clause
and that from time to time controversy
arises where 1t is necessary to have 6
dispute settled by an impartial person.
For many years the unior
has been using the American Arbitration
Association of America, located at Wes
Fortieth street, New York. We have
fair =" In "" controversies
- both of major and minor i'm
portance recon-
mend = the above association ant
am confident you will be favorably i'm
pressed and will become an addict t,
the use of this associations service - =.
Speedy Action Hailed.
From the international president of al
A. F. of L. union to J. Noble Braden
executive secretary of the association:
Dear Mr.. Braden:
"The action of the American Arbitra
ton Association was so speedy S
thorough, that my admiration for it ha
even increased. ] also want to congrat
ulate you upon having appointed for thi
particular job (as arbitor) such fin
man as Mr.. -. I enjoyed seeing hin
work; it was really lesson to me-"
4 hundred cases in year do not seer