The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-11-21
Peace Message Of President Roosevelt
Communicated To Convention BY Green
Green Not Confident Lewis
Resignation Will Aid
Peace Move
N. B. O.P. REPRESENTED
Duffy. WheutleY. McGilli-
vruY and Allison Attend
a. F. L. Sessions

New Orleans, Lathe opening
session Of the American Federation of
Labor convention, which is being at
/ tended by President James NJ. Duffy,
First Vice President f. l.. Wheatley,
Secretary Treasurer John McGillivray
and Dales Allison O.. L. 1922 Of the
National Brotherhood of Operative
Potters, heard President Roosevelt's
desire for a move toward labor peace
to begin in the White House commune
Gated by the AFL's President Green.
The convention was also Informed by
Secretary Of War Stimson that work
ers will be asked to make sacrifices
under the defense program.
AFL President William Green,
deeply skeptical that a labor settle
ment was brought any closer by John
L. Lewis announced intention of re-
signing the CIO presidency, told the
applauding convention of the Presi-
dents desire for unity in labor ranks.
Green said:
"The President of the United States
is willing to help US and assist US
and he has asked if committees (AFL
and CIO) can be assembled and put
to work, that they meet with him first
of all and explore with him the stu
alton at the White House, there to
receive his assurances of good will
and cooperation"
At the same time Green outlined
settlement plan which he admit
ted was not new and which he charged
without using his name-that Lewis
has already blocked by refusing .
let comnlittees from the Congress- Of
Industrial Organizations treat with
AFL representatives.
| Urging industrial peace as an alb
solute need for rearming America,
| Secretary Stinson, who flew here to
address the convention, stressed effort
needed for defense program and said:
To-day our production, hopeful as
it has been thus far, is as yet very
far from adequate. Sacrifices will un-
doubtedly be called for from labor,
as they will be called for from the
other citizens Of the republic but such
sacrifices | believe will be willingly
contributed and not compelled
A resolution urging the convention
to vote its officials the power to drive
raclleteers and labor exploiters out Of
AFL unions was introduced by dele
gates of the international Ladies Gar
ment Workers. Union.
Another resolution suggested that
AFL members provide information, in
cooperation with the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, against Fifth Column
efforts in America.
Green, informed that Lewis at the
opening of the CIO convention in At
lantic City Monday had announced his
decision to resign, smiled, raised his
eyebrows and then solemnly said,
when asked if he thought that meant
a step toward peace between the CIO
and AFL.
81 maintain what | said before. His
resignation from the CIO presidency
means nothing if he retains the presi-
dency of the United Mine Workers."
Green had previously pointed out
that Lewis derives no salary from the
CIO presidency but does as head Of
the UNIV which is the largest revenue
producer in the parent organization.
Green offered this peace plan:
First of all, let the committees
(AFL-CIO) meet, honorable men meet
ing in good faith in all sincerity. Let
them agree that the original unions
that left US shall be admitted and
occupy the positions they held with US
when they left, adjusting such diff
cuties as may have arisen since they
left US in 1885.
Then let them stand by while the
committees representing conflicting
groups-those representing clashlng
unions in the American Federation of
Labor covering jurisdiction in field
that is now claimed by unions char
tered by the ClO-agree upon plan
of amalgamation, plan of merger,
the blending of these groups into one
union, so that we will have in the
house of labor a fair degree of peace
and tranquility.
"Let these committees work dill
igently until they have accomplished
their purpose and then if there is
some collateral question that cannot
be settled, let some tribunal be set up
by mutual agreement to which these
collateral questions might be submit
ted for final decision, the basis of it
all to be a complete understanding
that the jurisdictional rights of the
American Federation of Labor unions
shall be protected and preserved"