The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-06-20
Fdcing the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL

David has knocked Goliath for 9
loop again. The modern reenactmen,
in organized labor Of the famous
Biblical encounter pitted David Du.
binsky against John L. Lewis. The
leader of the c. l. O., like the big boy
of the Philistines, tried to pull q
"blufkreig." But all his loud chal.
lenges and bluster were silenced once
and for all by well-aimed blow from
David.
In returning to the American Fed.
Grafton of Labor with the 250,OO(
members of the international Ladies
Garment Workers Union, of which he
is President, David ~Dubinsky has
routed the warlike forces of the Phil.
istine C. l. O.
The psychological effect of this re.
affiliation is incalculable. These i'm.
mediate results are foreshadowed:
/. The drive for labor peace will be
greatly strengthened.
2. There will be sharp split with.
in the c. l. O. between the die-harc
followers of Lewis and those who are
anxious for a reunited labor move.
ment.
8. The strength and prestige of the
American Federation Of Labor will be
correspondingly enhanced.
4. A sweeping reaction against Com.
munist influence in the C. l. O. will
develop.
Lewis Exerts Dictatorship
The Executive Board meeting Of
the C. l. O., just completed in Wash.
ington, lends confirmation to this
reasoning. In the absence of Sidney
Hillman, C. l. o. vice president, Lewis
rode rough-shod over all objections tt
his rule-or-ruin policy and made il
absolutely impossible for Hillman anc
his followers to remain in the C. l. 0
if they have the courage of their con
victions.
There is strong demand for labo,
peace among the members of Hill
mans union, the Amalgamated Cloth
ing Workers. This feeling was crys
talized at the unions recent conven
ton in New York with a 15-minute
demonstration by the delegates fol
unity. Hillman, himself, responded tt
the overwhelming consensus of opin
ion among the clothing workers by
publicly blaming Lewis in speech fol
breaking off peace negotiations with
the A. F. of l.. This was mistake,
he acknowledged.
When Lewis appeared before tht
convention to make an address he re-
ceived a chilling reception. His ad
amant refusal to resume peace ne
gotiations, together with his Com
munist Party line denunciations Of
President Roosevelt, irked the dele
gates. One of them set up cheer fol
Roosevelt and the convention was
stampeded, much to Lewis embarass
ment. ta
Instead Of bowling to the popular
will, as democratic leader should
Lewis showed he is dictator at heart
at the subsequent C. l. o. Board meet
ing. He showed through, over all pro
tests, resolution endorsing his bel
ligerent policy toward the A. F. of L
This was fearful slap in the face
for Hillman. Another followed. The
C. /. o. Board authorized the creation
of central council in New York City
to oppose the A. F. of L., q move pre-
viously blocked by Hillman.
Hillman's Dilemma
: As if these insults were not enough
Lewis, with the full backing Of thu
Communist fraction in the C. l. O.
secured the adoption Of resolution.
condemning every move by Presiden
Roosevelt and Congress to suppress
Fifth Column" activities in thi
country.
The C. l. o. first expressed opposi
ton to the Presidents reorganization
order which would transfer the Bureau
of immigration and Naturalization
from the Department of Labor to tn
Department of Justice, which is mucl
better equipped to eliminate Commu
nists and Nazis from the national de
J fense program to prevent sabotage. Il
one empty gesture, the C. l. O. Boar
! condemned aggressors in Europe, bu
it failed to mention Soviet Russia an
Nazi Germany by name, as the anti
Communist group demanded.
Hillman's name was signed to mos
of these legislative resolutions as
member of the legislative committee
This puts him in terrible fix becaus
, he has been appointed a member O
the Presidents National Defense Com
mission. How can he go on servin
on that Commission while allied wit
movement which is definitely hostil
( to the policy Of the United States
How can he and his union remain j
affiliation with the C. l. O. when tina
organization tlouts and scorns the dc
: mands of the Amalgamated Clothin
r Workers for labor peace?
2 The insurrection in the c. l. o.
not limited to this one union. The tex
5 tile and hosiery workers group al
: closely in accord with Hillman's views
The United Rubber Workers are con
: pletely fed up with the c. l. O.'s Com