Evening star., 1942-01-24
Lewis Shuns Today's
{. !. 0. Chiefs Farley
On Labor Truce Plan
Murroy's Peace ToIk
Stond AssoiIed; Council
Seen Indorsine Proposal

Stond AssoiIed;; Council
Seen Indorsine Proposal
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 24.-The de-
cision on a proposed labor truce
for the duration Of the war was
placed before the c. I. O. Execu-
tive Council today, with John L.
Lewis, C. I. O. founder and first
president, standing stiffly aloof.
But his brother, A. D. Lewis,
chairman of the United Construc-
tion Workers Organizing Commit
tee, was among the conferees.
The peace proposal, understood to
have emanated from the White
House, was reported to call for a
three man committee from the Con-
gress of Industrial Organizations
and similar group from the Amer
ican Federation of Labor The COM
mittees would consult together and
with the White House on juriSdic-
tional disputes and other matters
relating to labor's participation In
the war.
Washington sources understood
that the A. F. L. already had in
dorsed the plan through President
William Green and Secretary
Treasurer George Meany. who con-
ferred with President Roosevelt this
week.
Roosevelt Writes Murray.
President Philip Murray has
acknowledged he has received a let
ter from President Roosevelt re-
garding peace suggestions and said
it would be placed before the coun-
Gil today.
Un Washington. it was report
ed that Mr.. Murray already has
Endorsed the truce idea for the G.
I. o. and would recommend Its
adoption todayD
= Meanwhile, Mr.. Lewis fatty reject
ed an invitation to attend the meet
ing and present his views. Earlier
in the week his suggestion that c.
I. O.-A. F. L. peace negotiations be
reopened drew the sharp comment
from Mr.. Murray that any such plans
should originate through his office.
Il will not attend your board
meeting" Mr.. Lewis told Mr.. Muir
ray in a letter made public in WASH
ington.
In a sharp reply to Mr.. Murrays
stand on initiating peace plans, Mr..
Lewis said:
Such an assumption on your part
constitutes an astonishing error.
No such delegation of power has
been given you by the constitution
of the C. I. O.. by any legislative
convention of the c. I. O., nor by
any device of parliamentary pro-
cedure. To the contrary, the third
constitutional convention of the C.
I. o. specifically conveyed this
authority to three of its representa-
tives, designating them by name"
Convention Action Cited.
Mr.. Lewis went on to say that a
recommendation for continuance of
the committee was unanimously
adopted by the convention while
Mr.. Murray was acting as presiding
oficer. Mr.. Lewis was then presi-
dent of the c. I. 0. and Mr.. Murray
vice president.
That standing committee is COM
posed of Mr.. Lewis, Mr.. Murray and
Sidney Hillman, president of the
Clothing Workers
and now a high Government labor
official.
Under the C. I. o. constitution"
Mr.. Lewis continued, "the Executive
Board is an inferior agency with
out power to nullify or change the
enactment of constitutional con-
vention. The statements widely cir
culated that the undersigned (Mr.
Lewis acted in the premise without
proper authority therefore fall OF
their own weight"
Then, turning to published reports
that he had reached an agreement
concerning peace plan with the
A. F. L., Mr.. Lewis told his old time
friend:
your letter and your public
statements imply that without con-
sultation 1 have taken it upon my
self to assume the authority to blue
print some plan for labor peace be-
tween the C. I. o. and the A. F. L.;
that in addition, have tentatively
agreed to the acceptance of certain
leadership that might in the end
dismember the C. I. o. If such Goa
lition were formed. Nothing could
be farther from the truth. I have
no commitments of any character
to any one that affect any phase OF
this problem"
Not a Member of Board.
After saying that he would not
attend the meeting, Mr.. Lewis
wrote:
It am not a member Of the Ex-
ecutive Board. The board has no
power to negate convention action.
If the members Of the board desire
to act constructively and in the
interest of our membership they
could, with advantage to all. ap-
prove any one Of three alternative
suggestions as follows:
"A. Express their good will and
their hopes for successful negoti-
ations, fully protective of the in
terests of the c. I. o. and its
membership.
B. Exercise the constitutional
power of the board by convening
a special national convention Of the
c. I. o. to take action on this
question under the white spotlight
of open public debate.
&C. Submit the question Of partic-
ipation in further negotiations to
a referendum vote by secret ballot
Of the members of each of the
thousands of local unions affiliated
with the Congress Of Industrial
Organizations"
Then Mr.. Lewis concluded with
my personal compliments and good
wishes"
Probe Deoth Of Prisoner