Evening star., 1939-03-05

Six men whose lives have been devoted
to full-time duty in the American labor
movement will be called upon for their
greatest service when they meet in their
search for peace between the c. I. o. and
the A. F. of L.
Behind closed doors. in a secrecy that
becomes almost ostentatious against the
background of picture-taking and repor-
torial gymnastics that will accompany
the meetings, these six presumably will
exercise the power of determining how
or whether 100000 organized workers
are to pool their energies in the common
objective of improving their lot.
Failure, in this instance, would not
be fatal blow to American labor; its
roots are too deeply planted and its
vitality too great. But it would mean
indefinite continuance of a division
which has been costly, with labor dissi-
pating its resources by fighting within
itself rather than supporting efforts in
the common good.
The success or the failure which will
result from these negotiations has other
Implications too, political, economic and
social: implications which make it clear
that not everybody is genuinely desirous
that peace may come to labor.
Many Obstacles in Way.
And many obstacles stand in the way,
some being selfish considerations, others
deeply differing convictions. some be-
| ing developments of years past, others
being developments of the Is months
which have intervened since reconcilia-
| ton last was sought.
In the first instance the clearing away
| OF these obstacles will be the task of
| the six negotiators. Whether their ef-
| forts will find approval in the rank and
file, or of other leaders not participating
in person, depends largely, of course,
| upon whatever agreements are reached,
or, more precisely, upon the skill of the
| negotiators.
On paper, at least, the c. I. o. is send
ing stronger committee into the COM
petition OF cigar-smoking and table,
| pounding, trio possessed of an impress
| sive background of individual success in
the negotiating phase of labor, stronger
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| three most powerful component parts of
the c. I. O., extremely unlikely to en-
counter any material opposition from
! within their faction to whatever bar
! gains they make.
From the establishment of the C. I. O.
In 1885, the dominant personalities have
been John L. Lewis, Sidney Hillman and
Philip Murray.
And as the dominant personalities, 10
them must go major share of the credit
for the prodigious growth of this lusty
movement. That their abilities. indi-
vidually and collectively, to sit across a
table and bargain for themselves and
their followers has been a vital factor in
their success is equally apparent.
All Aided Proceedings.
In fact, no greater feat of labor bar
gaining ever took place in Americas in
dustrial history than that which brought
the G. I. o. contract with the United
States Steel Corp. and swift capitulation
OF approximately $50 other steel COM
panies.
All three OF the c. I. o. negotiators OF
today have had a hand in these pro-
ceedings, although virtually all of the
active participation has been by Lewis
and Murray. No part was played more
skillfully than the initial negotiations in
1887 between Mr.. Lewis and Myron c.
Taylor, then chairman of the board OF
United States Steel, and the Immediately
subsequent meetings between Mr.. Muir
ray and Benjamin Fairless, president OF
Carnegie Illinois, biggest subsidiary OF
United States Steel.
1owa-born and graduate of the
mines, Lewis has been for years the mosi
picturesque figure in American labor
Like men of imagination and daring in
any occupation, he has been up and
down more than once in his career as q
leader Of labor. And though his his
trionics are often bit on the heavy side
his ability to match wits with an ad-
] versary across table is unquestioned.