Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-18
OFFICE WORKERS
PLEAD FOR UNITY
Failure to Bring About
Labor Peace Is Put
Upon A. F. of l.

movement = realizable prospect" the
Executive Board Of the United Once
and Professional Workers reported TO
their convention today that perpetual
ton and strengthening Of the Commit
tee for Industrial Organization Is the
most certain way Of achieving this end.
The Once Workers Union. a year
old this month and claiming $4,000
members, was established originally
around a nucleus Of IA American Fed
Grafton OF Labor locals and nine indie
pendent unions. Its principal strength
of the last few months has been estab-
lished in the insurance and banking
fields. Now AFFILIATED with the c. l. O.,
the young union has encountered direct
competition In several cities from the
Federation, this circumstance adding
significance to its feeling about the
chances for unity.
Just before the noon recess, the
convention received Geographic greet
ings from President Roosevelt, Secre-
tary Of Labor Perkins and several
other public officials and leaders of
labor. President Roosevelts message
follows:
Please extend my greetings to
the delegates OF the second national
convention and my best wishes for
success in all constructive undertake
ings during the coming year.
Blame Put on A. F. Of L.
Reviewing briefly the past efforts to
bring about reconciliation between the
two factions Of labor, the once Work.
ers board placed blame for failure on
the A. F. Of L. and charged that the
Executive Council of the Federation
has taken the initiative in the past
weeks in an effort to split the ranks
of labor on the political front"
THE leadership of the American
Federation Of Labor" the report con-
tinued. has not been able to resist
entirely the sentiment Of its member
ship and consequently has taken .
somewhat more progressive position on
some issues facing the working people.
The fight for unity on the part of the
c. I. o. will continue to secure wide
response from the A. F. of L member
ship and makes the achievement Of
unity realizable prospect.
1T was not John L. Lewis who We
toed unity. On the contrary, it is the
c. I. o. and its policies that have al
ready created the largest measure OF
unity that the labor movement has
ever known and will make q larger
unity possible. The realization of the
policies and program and the future
of the c. l. O. in the widest possible
terms is the most effective way Of
making certain that the American
Federation Of Labor will consent to
reunite with the c. I. o. upon basis
congenial to the desires and interests
Of the working people Of our country.
1t is the A. F. Of L. and those who
fight against the realization of the
program of the c. I. o. who veto
unity"
Most Direct Way.
The proposal to hold a constitu-
tional convention Of the c. I. O. is,
therefore, in the opinion Of the gen.
eral executive board, the most direct
way of consolidating existing organiza-
:ional gains and Of preparing for con-
tinued organization successes"
The report noted that despite the
split between the two factions in
leadership. there has been and will be
local cooperation in many instances.
The report was presented to the
convention by Lewis Merrill, presi-
dent Of the union. who emphasized his
concurrence with the references
quoted.
Earlier in the day. the convention
had heard Len De Caux. editor OF
the c. I. O. News, call for concerted
action in politics. organization and
all other activities by the c. l. o.
affiliates.
Later today the delegates were to
hear brief addresses by Jacob Baker,
president of the United Federal Work
ers, and Abram Flaxer. president OF
the State, County and Municipal
Workers.
The delegates were welcomed here
by Helen A. Shuford, president of the
Washington local of the once Work.
ers. with an invocation being pro-
nounced by the Rev. Arthur F. Zines
of the Peoples Congregational Church.
About 800 delegates were present.