Evening star., 1943-12-23
Soviet Labor Paper
Accuses AFL Leaders
|0f Anti-Soviet Acts
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, Dec. 23-The So
Wet labor publication, War and
the Working Class, in a discus
sion Of labor's split in the United
States, has accused four Ameri-
can Federation of Labor leaders
Of anti-Soviet acts tending to
suppress hopes of the masses
for national and international
unity"
The article. published yesterday,
also referred to John L. Lewis, who
has led his United Mine Workers
out Of the CIO and is now trying
to return to the AFL, as that
Fascist sectarian"
Listed as 'reactionary leaders" of
the AFL were Matthew Woll, AFL
vice president; William L. Hutche-
son, president of the Carpenters
Union, and Isadore Nagler, fraternal
delegate of the AFL. Placed in the
same category was David Dubinsky.
international president OF the Ladies
Garment Workers Union. which re-
turned to the AFL in 1910 after a
period as an independent union.
Green Doesn't React.
William F. Green, AFL president
who is member of the Society for
Soviet-American Friendship. did
not react to the activities OF the
Woll Hutcheson Dubinsky group"
the publication declared
The article, written by N. Alexeiev
labor union journalist. praised the
CIO. declaring it was fused with a
progressive spirit and that its "strug-
gle for national unity was accom-
panied by no less an energetic cam
paign for international unity"
Mr. Woll. Mr.. Hutcheson, Mr..
Dubinsky and Mr.. Nagler were ac-
cused of making political war against
both Soviet labor unions and the
Soviet Union-"the country, which
as an ally of the United States. Is
carrying on war of liberation
against the common enemy, Ger
many"
(Mr. Green. at Coshocton. Ohio,
said today: Il don't think I care
to comment because 1t might ag-
gravate the situation" He added
that press dispatches were the
first word he had received of the
Soviet article.
tMr. Lewis, at Washington, re-
fused to comment.
Carpenters union headquart-
ers at indianapolis said Mr..
Hutcheson would not be avail
able until Monday, and other Of
f1cials declined comment.)
The article declared that Mr.. Vol.
Mr.. Hutcheson. Mr.. Dubinsky and
others had tried to lead the United
Mine Workers back into the AFL
Ito strengthen their personal posi-
tions and break down all attempts
by advocates of national unity Of
the AFL and Go"
Nagler Singled Out.
THE reactionary top of the AFL. .
the article continued, used this
platform as an excuse for an open
and noisy demonstration against
rapprochement and collaboration
with Soviet labor unions.
"Nagler, as = delegate of the AFL.
used the platforms of the Congress
of British Trade Unions for hostile
attacks on Soviet labor unions. This
was done with the purpose of pre-
venting further rapprochement ana
mutual understanding between the
Soviet and British trade unions and
to serve as a signal for a new cam
paign OF the reactionaries inside
the AFL.
Indeed, Nagler and the other re-
dictionaries aim to make a political
war not only against Soviet labor
unions, but against the Soviet Union.
This hostile act of AFL reac-
tionaries against Soviet labor unions
was followed by an open, wrathful
anti-Soviet campaign in q number
Of publications."
The article said that "the pro-
gressive wing of the AFL continues
TO make headway in its campaign
Tor national and international
unity" and added:
But at the Boston CONGRESS the
progressives were badly represented
Still, their increasing role and in
f1uence has been proven by their ac-
compllshments In New York, Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Vermont, ETC."