Evening star., 1939-02-26
Lewis Silent
As Green Names
Group
A. F. l. Chief Acts
On Roosevelt Plea
For Labor Porley

On Roosevelt PIeu
For Labor Porley
BACKGROUND
Industrial unionisn1 as spon-
sored By Z. I. o. and A. F. L.
craft moDen1ent are issues Dhich
hare dipided labor ranks for
more than three years despite re-
pedted efforts for harmony. Con-
terences betDeen representatives
of two groups haze failed to find
satisfactory formula for ending
differences.
By the Associated Press.
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, an
nounced in New York late yester-
day that he had accepted President
Roosevelt's invitation to appoint a
committee to meet with a c. I. o.
committee in an attempt to effect
peace in the labor movement.
However. John L. Lewis, chair
man of the Congress of Industrial
Organizations, declined to comment
for the present on the Presidents s
suggestion that the warning labor
factions again attempt to negotiate
peace.
Arriving here late last night from
New York, the c. I. o. chieftain said
he did not believe he would have
anything to say tomorrow either"
Commenting earlier on the nearly
identical letters which he and Mr..
Lewis had received from the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Green asserted that it
would be more difficult to reach a
peace agreement now than year
and half ago, when a similar peace
movement failed.
Won't Change Fundamentals.
Time has developed complica-
tions." the A. F. of L. president said
in New York. THE situation must
be dealt with in statesmanlike
way If We are to reach any settle
ment."
He said the A. F. of L. would re-
fuse again to change its funda-
mental structure. He would ex-
press no opinion on the outcome OF
the negotiations. which he expected
would begin ,some time this week
IF Mr.. Lewis reacts favorably to
the Presidents invitation"
Mr.. Lewis a,So was in New York
when the Presidents peace effort
was disclosed. having gone there to
see his daughter Kathryn sail for
Montevideo. He left for Washing
ton shortly afterward.
In the previous A. F. L.-C. I. O.
conference looking toward recon-
ciliation, the A. F. l.. refused to
alter its traditional craft union
status and the c. I. o. refused, SINH
larly, to give up its own industrial
unionism or its autonomy in any
new setup.
Mr.. Green said that in his letter
of acceptance to the President u
stated there could be but one an
swer to his invitation and that would
be to respond favorably to his re-
quest"
Il advised the President" he said
t'that I have appointed Harry C.
Bates, Matthew Woll and Daniel j
Tobin. all members of the Executive
Council of the A. F. L., as a COM
mittee to represent the A. F. l.. in
peace negotiations, as the President
requested.
Difficulties Seen.
1T must be obvious that time has
served to develop new complications
which will now make it more diff
cult to establish basis of accom-
modation and to reunite labor un-
der the banner of the A. F. L. The
preservation of the structure of the
A. F. L. and the preservation of its
democratic principles are of tran
scendant importance and cannot be
compromised or made the subject
matter of negotiation"
I'm addition, the economic and
political philosophy evolved by the
A. F.. L. cannot be compromised, u
Mr.. Green added. THE reabsorp-
ton of the groups which left the
A. F.. L. and the new union which
said groups created will present a
problem more difficult of solution
now than it was when the commit
tees representing the two organiza-
tions carried on negotiations for
several weeks about one year and
a half ago.
LAS I stated to the President in
my letter, the officers and members
of the A. F. L. have always been
fully conscious of the injury i'm
posed on organized labor through
the division"
He said he had changed his COM
mittee for the forthcoming nego-
tiations because those who served
in the earlier negotiations felt they
had done their duty and they did
not want to serve again."
Representative Group.
The new committees personnel is
"very representative of various
trades" he said, referring to Mr..
Bates connection with the Brick
layers Union, Mr.. Tobin's with the
Teamsters' Union and Mr.. Woll's
with the Photo-Engravers' Union.
David Dubinsky, president of the
International Ladies' Garment
Workers Union, commenting in New
York, praised Mr.. Roosevelt's action
and said that If both sides ap-
preached the conference "in a mood
of achieving peace without victors
and vanquished, there is reason to
hope that peace may be accom-
plished."
The I. L. G. w. o., one Of the orig
inal bulwarks Of the c. I. O., with
drew from that organization last
year after Mr.. Dubinslky had failed
in repeated efforts to bring together
the warning factions.
Il am eager to hope that both
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