Evening star., 1939-09-04
Green,Lewiis
Stress Gains
Of Unions
Former Asks Unity,
Latter Sees Expansion
In New Fields
BY the Associated Press.

In Labor Day eve statements, Will
liam Green of the A. F. L. and John
l.. Lewis of the C. I. O., each de-
clared last night that their organi-
cations had gained new strength in
the last II months.
Only Mr.. Green, however, spoke
of union of the two forces; Mr. Lewis
made clear that the c. 1. O. intended
to expand into new fields which
would bring fresh conflict in labor's
four-year-old internal war.
Mr.. Green said the A. F. L. was
appealing again for labor unity in
a spirity of tolerance and reason"
and called to the C. I. o. unions to
come back home"
Door Open to Return.
"Dualism only begets hatred and
weakness" he said. I'VE urge every
organization in the dual movement
to come back home and take its
rightful place in the democratic
home of labor without penalty or
discrimination of any kind. The
door is open.'
Mr.. Lewis mentioned neither labor
peace nor the A. F. L., but said:
The day is growing closer when
the hopes not only of wage earners
but of all progressive men and wom-
en- everywhere center more and more
in the forward looking labor move
ment as exemplified by the C. l. O..
The C. I. o. is moving forward . e.
moving into new fields, offering to
more and more workers in the Ma
tion's industries the benefits of in
dustrial unionism
Mr.. Green declared the A. F. l..
was stronger than ever before and
added:
"OuI record stamps us as a de-
pendable, constructive, American or
ganization that maintains discipline
within its own ranks while it keeps
progress for wage earners abreast
of progress for the whole of society,""
C.I o. "Weathers Depression"
AS to the C. 1. O's present po-
sition. Mr.. Lewis said:
The C. I. O. is moving forward.
The inherent rightness of it's struc-
ture and of its program has car
ried the C. I. o. through unpre-
cedented attacks. 1t has weathered
a terrific depression, maintaining
as never before the wage rates of
American workers"
Mr.. Green also suggested the ap-
plication of tolerance and reason"
to the solution of national problems.
Something must be DONE" he de-
clared, about unemployment and
business stagnation. Constructive
action can be achieved If all sides
will agree to let bygones be bygones
and forget past hates in the emer-
gency of present needs. The Amer
ican Federation of Labor is ready to
work with government, with indus
try and with the farmers in that
spirit toward the common good"
Mr.. Lewis spoke in a similar vein,
asserting the c. l. o. 'by its very
nature seeks only the welfare of the
people as a whole
Program a Challenge"
The program of the c. I. o. is a
challenge to men and women of
good will" he said 1T offers to
them the hand of progressive labor
ready to join in the solving of the
Nations problems, ready to join in
the defense of democracy"
Mr.. Green is scheduled to speak at
a labor rally in Duluth, Mimi, to-
day and Mr. Lewis is to make a
radio speech from Ogden, Utah.
Secretary Perkins, en- route to
Boston for a Labor Day speech,
issued statement summing up what
she called the gains labor has made
since 1888 under the Roosevelt ad-
ministration. She mentioned in re-
view policies and legislative enact
ments designed to obtain good
working conditions and relative con-
tinuity of income"
Elmer F. Andrews. wage-hour ad-
ministrator, recalled developments
under the Labor Standards Act in
the first year of its operation. declar-
ing that at least 10000 of the low
est paid workers in industry have re-
ceived some increase in pay and
more than a million have benefited
either by shorter hours or time-and-
half pay for overtime work.
Those who predicted disaster be-
cause of the Fair Labor Standards
Act have been happily disappointed,
he continued. "All indices show en-
ployment, pay rolls and profits for
this year far ahead of last year"