Evening star., 1939-04-30
By JOHN C. HENRY.

John l.. Lewis and William Green
returned to the wars last night in
bitter exchange of epithets and
accusations over labor's attitude
toward revision of the National
Labor Relations Act.
Mr.. Lewis, president of the Con-
gress of Industrial Organizations
opened the evenings hostilities with
q bill of charges that the American
Federation of Labor had prepared
its proposed amendments to the
act with the aid advice and coun-
sci of representatives of the Ma
tional Association of Manufactur-
ers and of several of the most re-
dictionary and anti-labor corpora
tionS of this country"
Making the allegations in a let
ter addressed to the Senate Labor
Committee, which is holding hear
ings on the question of amending
the act, Mr.. Lewis declared him
self prepared to present to your
committee at any time documentary
proof of my charges"
oICCh 11ul ID SudhCuSCs
Mr. Green, president of the A.
F.. of L., Immediately issued a de-
nial of the accusations and chal-
lenged Mr.. Lewis to produce any
proof. The N. M. A. made no Of
fetal reply.
Peace negotiations between the
c. I. o. and the A. F. L. are in
indefinite recess"
The Federation amendments,
which would effect major rewrit-
ing of the act, are incorporated in
bill introduced in the Senate by
Senator Walsh, Democrat, of Mas
sachusetts, and in the House by
Representative Barden, Democrat,
of North Carolina.
Mr.. Green is to testify in support
of the amendments before the Sen
ate committee tomorrow. He will
be followed by Joseph A. Padway,
general counsel of the A. F. of L.:
John P. Frey. president of the Fed
erations metal trades department,
and three lesser officials Of the
A. F. of L.
Outlines Questions.
In line with his accusations, Mr..
Lewis asked the committee to pro-
pound the following questions of Mr..
Green tomorrow:
"Q Were the amendments pre-
pared solely by representatives of
the A. F. of L. and in the interests
of the workers of the country
"(2) Were the proposed amend
ments prepared with the advice and
counsel OF representatives of cor
porations and of the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers?
"(0 Did Mr.. William Green or his
associates confer in secret meetings
with representatives of various cor
porations in connection with the
preparation of such proposed amend
ments?
80 Will Mr. Green and his asso-
clates disclose the names of the
corporate representatives with whom
they conferred in connection with
the amendments?
"(5) Are the corporations whose
representatives consulted and ad-
vised with Mr.. Green or his asso-
ciates as to the proposed amend
ments under charges with the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board as the
most serious and fragrant violators
OF the Wagner Labor Act?
"(6) What accounts for the wide
spread revolt on the part of many
A. F. of L. international unions.
State federations, local labor bodies
and of locals throughout the country
against the proposed amendments if
not the instructive realization on the
part OF the members of the A. F. of L.
that the amendments were not pre-
pared in the interest of the rank
and file workers, but rather to serve
the purpose of enemies of labor?
In the event Mr.. Green and his
associates either refuse to answer
this charge of the questions sug-
gested, or evade or deny the same, I
am prepared to present to your COM
mlttee at any time documentary
proof of my charges"
Attacks Weir and Girdler.
Attacking the "anti-labor and re-
dictionary views" of the N. A. M. and
of such individuals as E. T. Weir
and Tom Girdler," Mr.. Lewis wrote
The facts brought to light
through the investigation conducted
by your Civil Liberties Subcommit-
tee constitute a scathing indictment
against this organization and its
affiliated corporations because of
their vicious industrial espionage,
corruption of local and State off,
cials to deprive workers of their
elementary constitutional rights,
(Sea I,AROR paoa A-1oI