Montana labor news., 1939-03-16
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND sec. PERKINS
MEET WITH JOINT COMMITTEES OF UNIONS
Federation of Labor
Rejects Proposal of John
l.. Lewis.

WASHINGTON. - (FP) - Forma-
ton of an American Congress of
Labor which would include the CIO,
AFL and railroad brotherhoods was
proposed by the CIO as a means of
settling the CIO-AFL dispute at the
first conference of representatives
Of the two organizations at the White
House here.
The proposal was Indignantly re-
jected by the federation's peace
committee as 'fanciful statements
for headline purposes" The fed
eration's committee said it intended
to "confine ourselves to the pro-
cedure outlined by the President
The two groups met at the White
House with President Roosevelt and
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins
in response to letter sent to each
organization on February % by the
President. The half hour meeting
according to the President, was
occupied mostly by the President
who read a statement declaring that
80 per cent Of both organizations
want peace and suggesting that all
points be studied and explored.
Following the conference, CIO
president John L. Lewis announced
that his group had submitted a sug-
gestion to be subject to considera-
ton and further negotiation. A
meeting to be held in the Depart
ment of Labor the following day was
arranged.
The text Of the CIO statement was:
Between April IS and April 30
1889, the Congress of Industrial Or
CARNATIONS and the American
Federation of Labor shall each hold
a special national convention. These
conventions shall be held separately
and at any convenient place. The
purpose of the conventions will be
to pass upon and approve the fol-
lowing basic plan Of procedure:
81. Not later than June 1, 1899,
there shall assemble in the city of
Washington, D. c., in the hall owned
by the Daughters of the American
Revolution, a convention of repre-
sentatives of: (a) the AFL; (b) the
CIO, and (c) the four brotherhoods
in the railroad transportation field,
heretofore Independent.
"2. This convention is to organize
and dedicate the American Congress
of Labor, designed to supersede and
embrace the membership Of the CIO
and the AFL, and to include the
membership Of the before mentioned
railroad organizations. The conven-
ton will outline its detectives, adopt
a constitution, and elect officers for
term of one year.
90. John L. Lewis and William
Green shall not be eligible for cleo
ton to any office in this convention.
The ACL will grant Mr. William
Green a life tenure of his present
salary for services rendered. The
same arrangement will include Mr.
Frank Morrison (secretary- treasurer
Of the AFL),
"A. The executive board or gov
erning body Of the ACL will be com
posed equally of representatives of
the AFL and the CIO, with proper
tionate representation for the four
railroad brotherhoods. The presi-
dent Of the ACL, to be elected by
the convention, shall be selected
from the membership of the brother
hoods, from such types Of executives
as A. F, Whitney, president of the
Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen,
and D. B. Robertson, president of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen.
IS. During the year ensuing from
the organization Of the ACL, the
services of the U. S. Dept of Labor
and its Cancellation bureau shall be
continuously available for coopera-
tive mediation on all controversial
questions affecting overlapping jur-
isdiction or other matters existing
between the constituent unions of
the congress.
"6. To insure the orderly, tranquil
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