Evening star., 1939-10-06
Commander Of Legion
Hits Communism as
Bar 10 Labor Peace
C|iques Seek Control
Of Workers Set-up,
A. F. of L. Is Told
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, Oct. 6.-Ray-
mond J. Kelly, national commander
Of the American Legion, told the
American Federation of Labor con-
vention today that "Communist-in-
spired cliques" were seeking control
Of the labor movement and had
made industrial peace almost i'm
possible to achieve.
In his first speech since his elec-
ton to the top Legion post last week,
Mr. Kelly pointed to disclosures be-
fore the Dies committee purporting
to describe Communist activities in
labor ranks, and added:
Those who would implant foreign
revolutionary doctrines in the ranks
Of honest and law-abiding working
men must be trampled until they
can never rise again"
Mr.. Kelly declared peaceful en-
ployer-employe relations in this
country were more imperative than
ever before to convince foreign ma
tions the time was not ripe to take
advantage "of what they might be-
lieve to be a strife-torn America"
Lauded rs Stabilizer.
The Legion commander hailed the
Federation and the World War vet
erans' organization as the fore
most stabilizing influences in the
United States today" and said the
A. F. of L. had succeeded ito a high
degree" in keeping its organization
as repository for pure American
ism"
Herbert H. Elvin, fraternal dele
gate from the British Trade Union
Congress, outlined to the convention
the views of British labor toward
war and peace, and said the League
covenant must be restored to bring
about international justice in world
politics. economic and social life.
The American Federation of Labor
Executive Council probably will take
affirmative action at the close Of
the convention, informed union Off
cials said, for formal suspension of
the International Typographical
Union, one of its oldest affiliates.
to seat the I. T. us delegates be-
cause the union declined to pay the
special assessment levied in 1897 to
raise a so-called war chest" in the
battle with John L. Lewis Con-
gress of Industrial Organizations.
I. T. U. President Claude M. Baker
and high officers of the Federation
agreed that a vote against seating
the delegates was tantamount to
suspending the I. T. US affiliation
with the A. F. L., dating back
over so years to the founding of
the Federation.
Effective Two Years Ago.
A. F. L. legal experts said the
I. T. U. suspension became effec-
tive two years ago under a clause
In the Federation constitution which
provides that If union is in ar
rears on tax or assessment, ut shall
become suspended" Before yester-
days convention action the A. F. L.
already had broken off financial
relations with its aff1liate by re-
fusing to accept the regular per
capita check.
The convention raised . question
over the future status of Frank
Morrison, veteran I. T. q. member
and secretary of the A. r. L. since
1896. The constitution requires Fed
Grafton omcers to be members Of an
affiliated union.
Many delegates said in view of
his long service there was little like
hhood his eligibility for Office would
be questioned from the floor. Mr..
Morrison will be- 80 in November
and some high federation officials
have discussed plan to provide q
retirement pension if he wants to
reliquish his post.
Use of Labe; Questioned.
The refusal to seat the I. T. U.
delegates and the operation of the
automatic suspension clause of the
constitution also raised questions as
TO the status of I. T. U. locals in
state and city A. F.. of L. bodies
and use of the Allied Printers label,
Mr.. Baker said the I. T. UPS afflu-
alton with State federations and
city central bodies may be affected
but he said he expected the I. T. U.
would continue to use the union
label since it is the property of the
international Allied Printing Trades
Council, comprised of five A. F, of
L. unions in the printing field.
The Credentials Committee said
the seating of the I. T. U. would be
"dlsruptlve of the morale of the
membership" of the federation.
Mr.. Baker told the delegates there
was no bitterness" and predicted
there will come a day when the
family Of labor will be one and the
International Typographical Union
viii take its rightful place In that |
family"