Evening star., 1939-02-26
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
MIAMI, Fla, Feb. 25.-The teri
OF the letters President Roosevelt
addressed to John L. LeWis and Viii
liam Green calling for labor peace
negotiation tolloUS, the letter to
Le1DiS::
My dear Mr.. Lewis:
In the development of this great
Nation the continued results of
goodwill, cooperation and mutual
helpfulness among the people have
been demonstrated continuously
The need of the exercise of these
qualities is as urgent now as at any
time in American history. particu-
larly as they apply to the welfare of
men and women who work Labor
faces challenge in finding itself
divided into opposing camps, but
am sure that labor can and will
meet this challenge with under
standing and good will.
People Hope for Peace.
The American people sincerely
hope that a constructive negotiated
peace with honor may come about
between the American Federation
OF Labor and the Congress of Indus
trial Organizations within the early
months of the new year. The Secre-
tary of Labor tells me that after
careful investigation and prolonged
conversations with responsible lead
ers in both groups there appear to
be no insurmountable obstacles to
peace and that in fact there is a
real and honorable desire for uni
flcation of the labor movement
among all parties concerned. The
desire of the general membership of
both organizations for peace and
cooperation with each other is
demonstrated by the mass of mes
sages which have come to me, to the
Secretary, and to Daniel Tobin as
the result of simple public state
ments in favor of peace.
The opportunities for united and
vital labor movement to make a
contribution to American life of help
to the present and future genera
tions were never better. The Ma
tional Manufacturers Association
recently has made a statement ex-
pressive of a better understanding
of the problems of labor relation
ships and of their willingness to
work with labor in realistic effort
to improve their mutual relations
and to better general working con-
ditions. The complicated economic
and social problems of today require
the cooperation of responsible
groups of citizens of all walks of
life and the effectiveness of labor
IN this type of council can only be
realized by its fundamental unity OF
purpose and program.
Reminded of Opportunities.
do not need to remind you of
the great variety of opportunities
to be of service which will come to
united labor movement. Many of
your members have spoken to me of
these opportunities and many of
them have also pointed out to me
the hazards and dangers to which
the labor movement is subject, both
internally and from without, if it
cannot find pattern of unity.
Therefore, first. because it is right;
second, because the responsible Off
GERS from both groups seem to me
to be ready and capable of making
a negotiated and just peace; third,
because your membership ardently
desire peace and unity for the better
ordering of their responsible life in
the trade unions and in their COM
munities; and, fourth. because the
Government of the United States
and the people of America believe
1t to be wise and almost necessary
step for the further development
of the cooperation between free
men in democratic society such as
ours. am writing to ask you to
appoint a committee to represent
your organization and to negotiate
the terms of peace between the
American Federation of Labor and
the Congress of Industrial Organi-
cations. Whatever assistance we in
the Government can give you in this
matter will be gladly given.
Belief in Labor's Capacity.
wish to reiterate the sincerity
of my belief in labor's capacity to
end this breach and my faith in
the intention of the wage Gamers
of America to play their part along
with all other groups in our COM
munity in overcoming our mutual
problems and bringing about the
good American democratic life
I am sure that these results can
be achieved if the parties come to-
gether with open minds and clear
intention to effect genuine peace
and harmony in the labor move
ment.
In addressing this letter to you,
my dear John, I have great salts