The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-08-22
Facing the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL


Hillman and John L. Lewis is immin-
ent. 1t is obvious now that they are
secretly working against each other
for control of the CIO. They are each
seeking to line up support among CIO
affiliates for showdown fight which
will take place at the next CIO con-
vention, if not before.
Their differences are basic and ir-
reconcilable. Organizationally, Lewis
wants-as he always has wanted-to
destroy the American Federation of
Labor and become one-man dictator
over American labor. Hillman, on the
other hand, appears to be anxious for
labor peace and reunited labor move
ment.
Politically, the split between the two
| C1O leaders is even wider. Lewis
hates Roosevelt and is willing to play
even the Communist Party's game in
desperate effort to beat the Presi-
dent. Hillman adores Roosevelt and
he wants to commit the entire CIO
organization to support the New Deal
Philosophically, they no longer see
eye to eye. Lewis, always contemp-
tuous of the democratic process, ad-
mires and wishes to emulate the in
human efficiency of dictatorship
Events in Europe have not Disguised
him. They have inspired him to pull
blitzkrieg of his own here. Hillman
however, is overcome with revulsion
against the methods and practices OF
his former ideal, Soviet Russia, as well
as those of Nazi Germany and Fas-
cist Italy.
Who Will Be Purged?
But more than all of this, the feud
between the two men has now become
implacable because Hillman refuses tC
take orders from Lewis and is pur-
suing a completely Independent course
No one can do that and remain or
good terms with Lewis. Throughout
his career he has demanded complete
subservience from all his followers
He has kicked out lifelong friends
for mere, momentary deviation from
his personal policies. He is now try,
ing to kick out Hillman.
But Hillman is evidently not going
to submit quietly to a purge. Il
Lewis Gusts him, Hillman is deter,
mined to take other CIO unions with
him.
Thus a bitter war is now smolder.
ing within the ranks of the CIO lead
ership. 1t fared into public notice
a few days ago over an incident IL
connection with the defense program
In his capacity as labor coordinato1
for the National Defense Advisory
Commission, Hillman appointed la
Dor advisory committee of sixteer
members to consult with him and tt
help keep labor disputes from retard
ing the defense program. On this com
mittee were SeYen representative
from AFI unions, seven from Cl(
unions and twoo from Independent
railroad brotherhoods.
Characteristically, Lewis was no
satisfied with this arrangement whicl
was more than fair to the CIO be
cause the CIO has one member t.
every four of the American Federation
of Labor
SO when James ]. Matles, organiza
ton director of the CIO United Elec
trical Radio and Machine Workers
sQuawked over Hillman's failure to ap
point representative of his union t
the committee, Lewis quickly sough
to make political capital out of tn
complaint within the CIO organiza
ton.
Matles first expressed indignation
because Hillman said his union wa
"tinged with Red" This Hillman de
nies. But the question Of veracity i
immaterial because the fact is tina
the union is more than tinged tha
way. Then, Matles resented hin
from Hillman that the union ought t
Square itself politically" That, alsc
Hillman denies.
knitting Each Other
But Lewis realized this was fin
ammunition SO he quickly dispatch
ed a letter to Hillman protestin
against these charges of "practica
disloyalty and political non-conforn
ity" of a CIO union. Such thing, O
course, would be impossible. But tn
letter to Hillman was just a formait!
The real purpose in writing it wa
quickly revealed. Lewis sent copie
of the Matles letter and his own t
every member of the ClO eXecutiv
board
What was the significance of thi
action? The intention, of course, wa
to accuse Hillman of disloyalty to tn
ClO. Lewis thought he could get tn
CIO brothers and sisters sore at Hill
man. The latter, however, was nc
caught mapping. He replied to Lewis
sharply rejecting the protests and h
also sent his letter to each membe
Of the ClO executive board. Hillman
purpose also was obvious. He wa
trying to get Lewis in wrong.
This sort of surreptitious knifin
has been going on for some time an