The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-12-04
THE
WASHINGTON
SCENE
Federated Press)
BY HENRY ION

Chapter one in the history of tn
clio is closed
It's ending was symbolized by
gold trimmed ivory gavel that passe,
from the hands of John L. Lewis t,
the new president, Philip Murray, a
the close of the CLOS third conven
ton in Atlantic City, N. j. on Novem
Der %.
The five years that elapsed between
the founding of the CLIO and the retire
ment of its first president were
marked chiefly by the struggle of the
organization to establish itself as 0
first-class labor organization in the
mass production industries.
During that time it had grown from
loose committee of eight union presi
dents to a powerful and closely knit
congress of AZ national unions with a
claimed membership of over 1000, 900
members.
Now the Clio buckles down to the
task of solidifying its organizations,
of filling in the gaps. The outlines
have been drawn and the task of COM
pleting the picture now presents it.
self.
Specifically, this means the organi-
cation of Ford in the auto industry
the obtaining of contracts from little
steel" in the steel industry, the or
ganization of the giant munitions
In, oh I'M
the obtaining of collective bargaining
contracts in the aircraft industry.
The basis for this job was laid at
the Atlantic City convention. Pres.
John L. Lewis of the United Mine
Workers felt he no longer had the
CLIO officials solidly behind him and
he retired.
Riffs in the organization threatened
to cause a wide open break prior to
the convention. There were those
who felt that national defense de-
manded sacrifices from labor and
there were those who felt that nation
al defense was but a cloak to cover
attacks on labor.
These riffs were smoothed over as
the convention progressed and Murray
was drafted as "the indispensable
man" who could heal the wounds.
On the question of unity with the
AFL, set by the administration as one
of its first detectives, the CLIO reaf-
firmed its position of the last five
years, that no unity is possible on
any terms acceptable to the present |
AFL leaders.
With regard to war, the clio called |
for eternal vigilance by labor" to
prevent a repetition Of 1917 and to
prevent destruction of labor's rights. |
It was evident from the tone of dis
cussion that the CLIO wing of labor |
IS by no means willing to enter a
war.
The subject of government contracts
to labor law violators was discussed |
with passion and Sidney Hillman,
president of one of the CLOS largest |
unions, was left with no alternative |
but to report to the President that
he clio feels keenly the delay in putt
rs lHbO tllCti bhC AsdliOhdi jtClCnoC
Advisory Commissions labor policy.
An open clash on the question of
in the labor movement
vas averted when convention officials
orestalled debate on resolution de-
laring the organizations opposition to
the relationships and totalitarianisms
# communism, naziism and fascism"
The demand that alleged commun-
SITS be expelled from offices in the
10 was answered by the declaration
hat there "is room for all" who are
Killing to work for "a greater and
etter America" {
Unemployment and the domestic is !
ues were met with renewed demands
Dr. a conference of interested parties l
} work out solution to the problem {
jobs and by reaffirmation of the /
los legislative program emphasizing
lie rights of labor to greater share
/ the bounties of the nation and a O