Evening star., 1942-10-11
Labor Unity Is Asked
By Lewis After UNIV
Withdraws From Clio
Wants Conference of All
Organized Units Rother
Than Only Major Unions
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
CINCINNATI, Oct. 1O.-John L.
Lewis today called for labor unity
three days after the United Mine
Workers had withdrawn from the
C1O. He asked conference of all
organized labor, rather than only
the CIO and the American Fedora
ton of Labor.
The UNIV president told press
conference during a week end re-
cess of the 37th UNIV Convention
that unity was possible and that
his organization would be glad to
participate "in any bona fide peace
conference" Asked if the miners
would attend one called by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, he said:
Eyes, provided we were invited.
think it would be highly advis-
able also to invite the Railroad
Brotherhoods and the International
Typographical and Brewery Work.
ers' Unions, who are not affiliated
with the AFL. If unity is desirable,
it is desirable for all and not for
only few segments of labor"
Reporters asked If he would initi-
ate unity conference, and Mr..
Lewis replied that he had mo
suggestions to make at this time
Says Suggestion Torpedoed.
IT did take the initiative last jan
uary," he asserted, when I sent
out letters for a conference, but my
suggestion was torpedoed. Instead
the Labor Victory Board was
formed, and when viewed under a
microscope, the accomplishments of
that board up to this time prove to
be-nothing."
Mr.. Lewis added there was moth
ing supremely difficult about unfit
cation If the will to unity exists"
If all accept the principle of
closer cooperation for the benefit
not only of labor but of the whole
country, then a conference could
easily find way to unity.
Il don't know what high Govern
ment and labor officials are going
to do, but in the interest of all the
people and in the interest of q
more efficient war effort, such un-
ity Is desirable-and it would cush-
ion the postwar shock, too."
He suggested that the Labor Vic
tory Board and its secretary, Anna
Rosenberg, a member of the New
York Manpower Board, might call
a conference.
Wouldn't Ask Roosevelt.
president Roosevelt" he said,
''has such tremendous duties that l
don't want to add to his burdens by
suggesting that he initiate a unity
conference"
Mr.. Lewis also spiked speculation
that the UMW's 100000 members
might return to the AFL after their
split with the CIO, which he Gre
ated seven years ago. He left open
the chance that the CIO-UMW dis
pute, over UNIV funds used in Or
ganizing drives, could be settled.
The possibility of rejoining the
AF'L Is poor, ne said. I doubt II
the miners will return to the Or
ganization of which Mr.. Green
William Green) is president. Mr.
Green is a renegade former member
of the United Mine Workers. For
seven years he has fought our Or
ganization in vicious and personal
way. Our union does not regard
him as capable leader"
Is Green the only obstacle to your
return to the AFL?" Mr.. Lewis was
asked.
NO. he replied. There are
other issues, like industrial versus
craft unionism. We stand for in
dustrial unionism and have nc
knowledge of any change in Green's
attitude on industrial unionism
Our union will not go any place
where our industrial form of union
ism is not protected"