Evening star., 1940-11-21
Success Predicted
In A. F. Drive
On Racketeerinq
Convention to Be Asked
To Gront Authority to
Deal With Problem
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 21.-Suc-
cess-in some form-for a measure
that would drive racketeers out oi
its labor unions was forecast today
by key man in the American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
But while the rest of the A. F. L
convention delegates observed
Thanksgiving Day, representatives
of the International Ladies Gar
ment Workers Union, which has
100000 members in the New York
area, met to consider demands fol
a wage hike and the possibility of q
strike.
David Dubinsky, one of the au-
thors of the anti-racketeering meas
ure and president of the Garment
Workers, said:
Our I. L. c.. w. General Execu-
tive Board, which meets every three
months, was called into session to-
day to work out a new contract for
the one expiring February l.
Report Condemns Gangsterism.
Wen want to preserve our pres
ent 35-hour week and may ask for
higher wages. Because of these and
other demands we also will consider
the possibility of a strike"
II don't see how the convention
can fail to act favorably on the anti
racketeering resolution" said an Off
cial who is member of the A F. L
Executive Council and the ReSolu-
tlOnS Committee.
The Executive Council in its an
nual report condemned gangsterism
within unions but acknowledged that
the general body of the A F. l.
lacked constitutional authority to
deal with the problem as it arose in
individual unions
The resolution. introduced by Mr.
Dubinsky and other members of his
l. l. G. w, called upon the conven-
ton to vote the A. F. L. conStltu-
tional authority TO smash racketeer-
ing within union.
Favorable Action Predicted.
"In view Of the Executive Council
report" the Resolutions Committee
member said, and in view of the
resolution I believe the convention
will take favorable action.
Il do not know at this time
though, what form the resolution
will have when it is presented on the
convention floor"
The Resolutions Committee is ex-
pected to begin making its report
Monday.
Mr.. Dubinsky. one of the founders
of the c. I. o. who deserted that body
TO return to the A F. L.. was phl!o-
Sophical about the future of his
measure, saying the A. F. L. would
ADOPT it, IF not this year, then next
wear. or two years from now. But
it will be adopted The A. F. L. IS
always a couple Of years slow, II will
do it. though
Aid Promised Canada.
Hemisphere defense came up fol
the first time at the convention yes
terday when President William
Green, responding 10 al duuIeSS ny
Edward A. Jameson, Canadian fra
ternal delegate, said:
II declare that I know il is our
purpose that if. for any unforeseen
reason or in any unforeseen de-
velopmnet, the dictator. the autocrat
the despot, the savage shall attempt
to set his boot on Canadian soil tht
United States will respond and vii
join with Canada in resisting any
attempt to invade this continent"
The convention earlier heard q
vigorous criticism of American news
papers by Sol. a. Rosenblatt, genera
counsel Of the Democratic Nationa
Committee. who told the assemblage
that those who stand upon the
principles of free speech and a free
press must accept the responsibilities
that go with those rights