Evening star., 1939-03-11
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

NEW YORK, March 11.-Pros-
poets for peace within the labor
movement are distinctly encourag-
ing in the light of last nights five
hour session between conferees of
the c. I. o. and A. F. L., 1t was de-
clared today by Daniel J. Tobin,
looked on as the special pleader"
of the Roosevelt administration in
the current negotiations.
When last nights meeting broke
up. 1t was announced the negotia-
tions would convene at 10 am. Mon
day to discuss the program pending
when the peace discussions of De-
cember, 1887, broke up. In addition,
it was specified, "other proposals"
may be considered.
Mr.. Tobin, president of the Team
sters' Union, largest in the A. F. L..
is serving on the Federation's Peace
Committee at specific urging of Sec
retary of Labor Perkins after re-
considering an earlier decision that
he would be unable to spare the
time.
Special labor adviser to the Demo-
cratic National Committee in the
presidential campaign of 1882 and
1886, Mr.. Tobin put himself openly
and vigorously on record in favor
of reconciliation between the two
labor factions at the convention
OF the A. F. l.. in Houston, Tex,
last October.
Reason to Be Encouraged.
His pro-peace "ultimatum' to the
federation at that time furnished
material stimulus to efforts both
within and outside the labor move
ment.
Before coming to New York for
current meetings, he conferred with
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Perkins Thursday.
I'VE have reason to be encou-
ragged" Mr.. Tobin declared today.
"As long as we're meeting, we have
the means Of reaching some agree
ment. look for the conferences to
continue for some time beyond Mon
day"
Although Mr., Tobin declined to go
beyond the joint statement issued
by the conferees at 2 o'clock this
morning, he made it clear the Fed
Grafton committee at this time looks
on the unity program offered by the
c. I. o. last Tuesday as unacceptable
During most of last nights de-
liberations, at midtown hotel, the
conferees discussed in detail the c. I.
o proposal that American labor be
unified in single new congress" to
include not only the presently war
ring factions, but also the independ-
ent railroad brotherhoods. And al
though the generalized joint state
ment left the way open for further
discussion of this proposal, prospects
of it's approval were considered vir-
tually extinct.
Two Chief Arguments.
Most effective arguments used
against it last night, it was learned,
were. first, that the railroad unions
indicated no early willingness to
surrender their present independ-
ence to become part of a unified
labor movement: and, second, that
the A. F. of L. had become the his
toric labor structure of the Nation
and would not bargain away its
identity.
Later, however, a c. I. o. spokes-
man pointed out that their plan
contains no challenge to craft union
ism where desired by the rank and
file of labor; that the unity con-
templated is essential to the polit-
ical and economic interests of la
Dor, and would entail no destruction
of identity of the component unions.
However, at suggestion of the A.
F. L. negotiators, the conferees will
take up Monday the following plan
for absorption of the c. I. o. men,
bership and unions in the federation:
l. A joint conference committee
equally representative of the fac
tions will be established for each
(See LABOR, Page A-10)