Evening star., 1939-03-02
Green Picks Rickert
To Replace Tobin as
Peace Negotiator
Garment Workers Head
Agrees to Participate
In Meeting With c. |. 0.

Agrees to PortIcIpute
In Meeting With c. |. O.
BACKGROUND
American labor split in the fall
OF 1885 Uhen committee 1Ods
formed to organize mass pro-
duction industries. Stimulated
by this effort and protection OF
labor relations IdW. total mem
bership in labor Increment
reached record high of 100000.
Efforts to reconcile tho factions
Dere made in 1887, reopened last
1Deek at request of President
Rooseuelt.
Thomas A. Rickert, president OF
the United Garment Workers and
second vice president of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor, was
named today by William Green as
a member of the three-man nego-
tiating committee which will meet
similar group from the c. I. o. in
new efforts to unite the two factions.
Mr.. Rickert, member of the
Executive Council of the Fedora
ton, replaces Daniel j. Tobin, presi-
dent of the Transfers Union, who
declined to serve.
In announcing the appointment,
Mr.. Green said MI. Rickert had
agreed to participate in the nego-
tiations.
Mr.. Tobin, who placed himself on
record at the last A. F. of l.. con-
vention as strongly in favor Of
reconciliation of the two labor
groups. informed MI. Green last
night that pressure of wage negoti-
ations for his own union made 1t
impossible for him to take part in
the International conferences.
Other Negotiators.
In addition to Mr.. Rickert, the
Federation committee now includes
Matthew Woll of the Photo-En-
gravers and Harry C. Bates of the
Bricklayers' Union. John l.. Lewis,
Philip Murray and Sidney Hillman
will represent the c. l. 0.
With consideration OF amend
ments to the National Labor Rela-
tions Act set aside temporarily pend
ing some outcome OF labors peace
negotiations, a suggestion came to-
day from some members of the
Senate Labor Committee that Secre-
tary of Commerce Hopkins serve as
spokesman for industry during such
consideration.
Those Senators said Secretary
Hopkins has been discussing posi-
BILE revision of the Act in confer
ences with business men, and that
he would be well qualified to present
the business viewpoint.
It was reported reliably that Mr.
Hopkins already is studying pro-
posed amendments at the request
of Chairman Thomas of the Labor
Committee. The Labor Depart
ment and the Labor Relations Board
also have the suggestions under
scrutiny.
There has been no announce
ment of the administrations atti-
tude on changing the Act. In the
past indications have been that the
Labor Board and the c. I. o. were
opposed to any major changes. The
A. F. L. has been urging adoption
Of amendments.
Secretary Hopkins touched on
labor problems in his recent address
at Des Moines, Iowa. but dealt
mostly with the problem of effect
ing labor peace.
Early Peace Session Seen.
Appointed at the request of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, the peace negotiating
committees from the A. F.. L. and
the G. I. o. will be called by Secre-
tary Perkins to meet sometime next
week.
The Senate Labor Committee has
decided to delay hearings on the
Wagner Act to await the outcome of
the peace conference. The A. F. l.
and the National Association of
Manufacturers have urged that the
hearings be held promptly.
Senators Ellender, Democrat, of
Louisiana and Taft, Republican, of
Ohio. Labor Committee members,
said they would demand that hear
angs be started if it appeared that
the peace negotiations would be pro-
longed.
Other members of the committee
senators Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama and Pepper, Democrat, of
Fqorida-said that when hearings
are held, Secretary Hopkins should
be witness.
"He would make an excellent
spokesman" Senator Hill told re-
porters. He has been having a con-
sistent round of conferences with
businessmen, and he had made a
study of the labor situation from
their viewpoint"
Secretary Hopkins called together
the Business Advisory Council today
to consider the administrations re-
cent overtures to business. Mem
bers expected him to elaborate on
the business cooperation theme he
voiced in his Des Moines speech.
1t was learned that the council
had drafted experts in the construc-
tlon and utilities fields to take seats
IN the group for the first time at
this session. They are Vannevar
Bush, former dean of engineering
at Massachusetts, Institute of Tech
nology. who is an authority on power
transmission, and Thomas S. Holden
vice president of the F. w. Dodge
Corp. which specializes in research
and statistics on home and other
construction. DR.. Bush is now pres
ident of the Carnegie Institution
Another new member to be in
Quoted today was George A. Hill, jr.,
of Houston, Tex, president of the
Houston Oil Co.
The council selects it's own men,