Evening star., 1939-05-01
Ry JOHN C. HENRY.

William Green. president Of the
American Federation of Labor,
recommended to the Senate Com
mittee on Education and Labor to-
day that the three-member National
Labor Relations Board be displaced
by f1ve-man Federal Labor
Board of entirely new membership.
Appearing in support Of amend
ments to the Wagner Act introduced
for the Federation by Senator
Walsh, Democrat, of Massachusetts,,
Mr.. Green grounded his appeal for
the revisions almost entirely in
running fire of complaint against
what he called the partial and
biased" administration of the act
by the present board.
At the same time, the A. F. of
L. head expressed opposition to
amendments introduced by others
than the Federation, singing out
particularly the proposals of Sem
ator Burke, Democrat, Of Nebraska.
Edwin Smith Assailed.
Although 1t was the Federation's
opposition that was mainly respon-
sible for the decision of President
Roosevelt not to reappoint Donald
Wakefield Smith to the Labor Board,
Mr.. Green today named Board Men,
Der Edwin Smith as the "Machia-
velli' OF the agency, declaring:
Almost contemporaneous with the
division in the labor movement, a
definite partiality was manifested by
Board Member Edwin Smith for the
c. I. O. and he has been able to
influence official work of the board
and OF the personnel so as to support
the cause of the c. I. O."
Before Mr.. Green began his pre-
sentation Senator Ellender, Demo-
crat, OF Louisiana asked If he would
object to having Labor Board mem
bers questioned on some of the cases
cited by the A. F. of L. president at
the time they were mentioned.
Mr.. Green countered with . sug-
gestion that such rebuttal be sought
later.
II can't feel it would be quite
justinable for you to call them In to
join with me in the presentation
Of my statement" he admonished
the committee.
After q whispered conference
among committee members, Chair
man Thomas announced that such
questioning might be permitted
when 1t did not disturb" the wit
ness.
Denies Being Poor Loser.
Reviewing the growing dissatisfac-
ton Of the A. F. L. with the boards
work throughout 1887 and 1898, Mr..
Green denied his group was being
q poor loser" or Influenced by petty
considerations"
"The board has taken sides in
what has been called an theological
controversy" he said, "and has
rendered decisions which promote
the cause of the rivals Of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor to the in
jury and detriment of the A. F.
of L."
The A. F. of L. president con-
ceded that the federation had shown
tremendous growth since the act
was passed in 1885, but added:
Our numerical advances would
have been much greater had not
the board prejudiced and harmed
us by its unwarranted decisions.
Rival groups have not only thrived
- but they have been nourished
on prejudicial and biased decisions
of the board. 1t is not too far
fetched a statement to say that
the A. F. of L. has prospered in
spite of and not because Of the
board.
HAS administration of the act
contributed toward perpetuating the
split in labor?" Senator Taft, Re-
publican, of Ohio asked at one point.
TT has aggravated the situation
immensely - immeasurably, Mr..
Green replied, at the same time
(See WAGNER ACT, Page A-10)