The union times. (New Haven, Conn.) 1941-1948, 1943-10-02
1achinists Say Lewis Doesn't Give Thinkers DAM For
Application Before
Boston Convention

John L. Lewis wants to gain
readmissiOn to the ALL. be-
cause he ''believes he can
form an alliance with certain
groups and gain control OF
that organization for political
reasons only"
This statement is made in the
leading editorial of this months
MacI1inists Journal, official jour
nal of the International Assocla-
ton of Machinists. Both the
United Mine Workers, of which
Lewis is president; and the
LAM, will be before the ma
tional ALL. convention which
opens in Boston next week. The
convention will act on the Mine
Workers application for entry
into the ALL; and on the re-
fusal of the LAM. to pay its
per capita tax until jurisdictional
matters have been Strengthened
out.
The text of the LAM. editorial,
entitled 'sWhat's the Answer" fol-
lows:
''Why does John L. Lewis want
to bring the United Mine Workers
of America back into the American
Federation of Labor, which, since
1885, he has done his best to dis
credit. if not wreck? Why does he
again wish to be associated with
William Green and other officers
of the Federation whom he has be-
Titled, abused and slandered for
the past eight years?
why instead of seeking readmis-
sion to the A. F. of L. does he not
return to the CLIO, which he created
and later disowned? And finally, why
is it that some Labor leaders of high
rank are so eager to open the door to
John L. and permit him to enter the
A. F. of L. Internationally?
'sThese are interesting and peril
nent questions, which a great ma
jority of trade unionists in both the
A. F. of L. and the Clio. would
like to have answered. Surely no
one is naive enough to believe that
Mr.. Lewis is actuated only by a
desire to strengthen the A. F. of L..
Everyone in the Labor Movement
knows, or should know, that gener-
ally speaking John L. Lewis is con-
cerned only i'm what advantage he
can obtain for himself and his assO-
ciates in every move he makes.
1t is our considered judgment
that he does not give tinker's dam
for the A. F. of L. or, with few ex-
ceptions, any of its officers or affili-
ates. Nor can we believe that he is
actuated by desire to contribute
to the economic security of any
persons except those he controls.
1t is the consensus of opinion among
a large group of Labor officials that,
in attempting to gain readmission to
the A. F. of L., John L. believes he
can form an alliance with certain
groups and gain control of that or
ganization for political reasons only.
His efforts, sponsored by at least one
prominent organization head, to have
prompt and favorable action on the
Miners application for Fertilization,
failed, and the matter will be placed
before the Convention of the A. F.
of L., which will meet in Boston,
Mass, in October.
1t seems hardly conceivable that
the delegates from the various or
CARNATIONS which constitute the
A. F. of L. will yield to the impOr-
tunities of John L. Lewis and his
friends that the Miners may return
bag and baggage to the A. F. of l..
Many organizations will or should,
if they are consistent, object to the
Miners being admitted until Dis
trict No. so of the United Mine
Workers of America is dissolved
and control over the membership of
that group relinquished by MIR.
Lewis and his cohorts.
John L. has not been having easy
Shedding these days and it may be that
he has discovered that he cannot con-
tinue to carry on successfully as a
lone wolf However, no matter what
his convictions may be, there are those
in the A. F. of L. who will want to
be convinced that the Miners, if re-
admitted to the A. F. of L., will play
''the game" according to the rules,
which all must observe if the A. F.
of L. is to continue to function and
achieve the purposes for which it was
founded in 1881.
1t will be interesting to note
what action the A. F. of L. Conven-
ton will take with respect to John
LIS plea. liz the Convention adheres
to the laws of the A. F. of L., Dis
trict No. so must go, or John L.
must remain on the outside look
ing in. If he agrees to the cOndi-
tiOns laid down under the laws of
the Federation and returns to the
fold, what then? Time alone will
furnish the answer.