The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-23
. Capital
Comment
Peace Between Unions
May Soon Be Achieved
Orosniistion OF New Labor
Party Seen Is Way Out
British Labor Goes Far
With lis United Voice
nv PETER EDISON

nv PETER EDISON
When the AL and clio con-
ferees sit down some time to-
ward the end Of september in
their third effort 10 establish
labor unity and labor peace.
there il perhaps only one form
uls they can follow to bring re-
suits
That 10 to agree 10 organic
unity Immediately. then work
out their differences sfterwsrd.
II the conferees decide TO
negotiate a. they have In the
past. trying TO find the precise
answer for every question that
faces them. the only prospect
which some OF the smarter la
Dor politicians In Washington
can see is another long drawn
out series of firing meetings.
ending in stslemate or a COM
plets wsshout
The differences Of opinion.
the Internal battles and bick-
erings Of both the ALL and
Go organizations are 90 hit
ter that any thought Of or
ksnic unity Of the, two hig
groups must take Into con-
alteration the fact that these
feuds viii most certainly con-
tinue.
Jurisdictional strikes between
unions within the AFL are prob
ably just as numerous AZ Juris-
dietionsl strikes between AFL
and clio unions. and any the
oretical peace between the par
ent organizations viii not solve
those local jurisdictional battles.
ALL, the older of the two
groups. has had these Jurisdic-
tional scraps for years and has
never been able TO do anything
about them.
How. then. can peace with the
Clio heal these sores unless AFL
Is willing TO give up its ideas Of
craft unions7 Expecting ArL
to give up that is like asking
the moon TO 20 into eclipse
every Wednesday at midnight.
IL can't be done.
What Benefits Accrue:
Taking a cold-blooded look at
this situation, what Ii there TO
be gained by this much sought
after organic unity In the labor
movement aside from the besuti-
full generalization that peace In
wonderful In some mysterious
way 1t is thought that peace be-
tween ALL and cIo will help
win the war. But how?
II probably wouldn't reduce the
total number of jurisdictional
disputes.
II might reduce the old head
aches OF employers hiring from
both groups, but 1t might give
them new ones.
II might end the issuing Of
nasty statements by clio Presi-
dent Phil Murray against AFL
President Bill Green. and vice
versa, but II wouldn't stop the
Nominations of John l.. Lewis.
II wouldn't reduce the number
of local unions much, II any.
II wouldn't reduce the number
of walking delegates or business
agents.
II wouldn't reduce the number
of labor representatives on war
labor board OF any Of the advi-
sorry groups for the war produc-
ton board or the war manpower
commission.
II wouldn't even unity the
iHDBf movement
The ALL now claims about
Sc million members. the clio.
SIS million. Outside Of these two
major organizations are the mil
lion or more members Of the rail-
road brotherhoods and the mil
lion or more members OF the
independent unions such as the
telephone and communications
unions and the Mechanics Educa-
tionsl Society Of America
Real Labor Party Looming
II you are going to talk about
a unified labor movement you
must take into consideration all
these groups.
But suppose by some miracle
all these elements could be
brought together and a united
labor front Of some j million
members. representing spprozi-
mstsiy = fourth Of all the work.
ing people ~ the country. could
b wrapped up IN = neat package.
II any such smalgsmatiOn
were achieved. a lot o. the people
who are now hollering for labor
peace and why don't they quit
nghtin' each other and get to-
gethsr'" would he screaming