The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-30

For four days the 12 employer and l2 AFL and CTO representa- tives deaalocked on the closed shop issue, The industrialist group demanded that existing shop conditions be frozen for the dura- ton of the war. The union dele- gation insisted that the closed shop be subject to arbitration the same way as any other contro- verSy.
 Feeling between the two groups became SO tense in the secret de- Alterations that on one occasion CIO president Phil Murray moved that industry be called on to give up all It's war profits. On this challenge the two factions split squarely All the employers voted no; ali the laborites, yes.
 Throughout the four days of wrangIlng, Thomas, partlclpa. ting as Assistant Moderator, listened patiently without saying q word. His only observation was Q pointed remark during 8 recess that he "hOped the con. ference would not be disrupted by medhllng lawyers"
 ThomasS crack was aimed at John c. Gall, counsel Of the Na- tlonal Manufacturer Association. Repeatedly during the deadlock the employers had asked time out to caucus. During these private pow-Wows they were coutlselled by Gall who was not q delegate and whose presence around the con- fereaece chamber was viewed With open hostility by the government representatives and laborites.
 Finally, when an agreement ap- peared hopeless, Thomas quietly proposed c three-polnt formula: (1) nO-striIe, nO.l0ckOut guaran. tee; (2) all issues to be arbltrated, with both sides pledged to abide by de cisiOnS; (3) creation of an arbitration agency.
 NOTE-Punntng on Calls name, Joe Curran, gcrappy leftwlng head of the CTO Geamen, wiSecraclsed during one recess, "All Gaul iS divided into three parts and the Manufacturer Association got four of them."
 ROOSEVELT DECIDES
 The AF'L and CIo leaders ac- cepted Thomas'g plan instantly. The business delegates also said 1t was acceptable to them, If 6 provision was added freezing the status quo on the open-cloSed shop issue.
 When this was rejected, the employers, for the sake Of har- lmony, then agreed to put the is- sue Up to Roosevelt. Whatever he decided they would accept.
 It was tbtir expectation that, before ruling, the President would confer with them. He didn't. After a private talk with Thomas and Moderator William Davis, Roosevelt sent the cOn- ference Q letter that he favored ThOmas's plan.
 While making no secret of their disappointment, the employers bowed to the Presidents decision and, without further G..cussion, agreed to sign up.
 LEWIS CRATES
 At the end, when they finally got together, the employers and laborites parted cordially, shaking hands and exchanging friendly holiday greetings. But during the long stalemate they pulled no punches in their exchanges. They talked frankly and bluntly.
 Charles R. Hook, president of American Rolling Mills, was the chief employer spokesman. Mat hew Woll, AFL vice-president, and George Meany, ambitious AFL secretary, did most of the talking for their group. John |. Lewis carried the ball for the CIO.
 He did 1t in his usual sonorous melodramatic manner. On one occasion he waded into the inc dustrialists as follows:
 'snar. Moderator. When the industries of this country come out Of this war, they will have built for themselves, at the ex- punse Sf the American people. the most gigantic plants, perfect in every mechanical excellence, that ever before existed in any