Evening star., 1945-02-08
AFL Council Takes Up
Move 10 Reinsfate
Lewis Mine Union
D. stan correspond.nt Of IN. a.

MIAMI, Fla, Feb. 8.-The AFLt
Executive Council today began con.
sidering the question of reafiiliatioI
OF John L. Lewis United Mine
Workers. with proponents refusing
TO recognize there was any opposi-
ton to the move.
William Hutcheson, president OF
the Carpenters Brotherhood. who
has been Ill, arrived here to spear
head the fight for Mr.. Lewis. He
brushed aside thought of any objec-
ton within the council to the bushy-
browed mine leader with a brusque
Il don't see why anybody would op-
pose him"
President william Green an
nounced the UNIV question would
be discussed today and probably
would be carried over into other
sessions. He said he would report
progress Of negotiations with Mr..
Lewis since the 1914 AFL convention
instructed him to invite UNIV to re-
turn.
Only Verbal COMMITMENTS.
1t was understood that Mr.. Green
has only verbal commitments from
MIR. Lewis regarding reafiliation.
Some council members were said to
be insistent that these commitments
be in writing.
MIR. Hutcheson said the mine
workers belong in the AFI. /"
Big Bill" a power in labor, traded
punches with Mr.. Lewis at a con-
vention decade ago when both
were members of the Federation.
They since have composed their diff
ferences.
Although Daniel j. Tobin, head of
the powerful TeamSters' Union. re-
portedly was leading opposition here
to reconciliation with the mine
workers, Mr.. Hutcheson said he was
unaware Of the stand. He added he
had understood Mr.. Tobin would not
object to return of UNIV to the
AFL fold.
Mr.. Hutcheson said Mr.. Lewis
showed he had the interests of
trade unionisnI at heart" when the
mine leader, like the AFL, refused
to send delegates to the World La
DOR Conference in London, in which
representatives Of Russian workers
are participating. Mr.. Hutcheson
added that Soviet labor is not free
IN the sense our unions are.
District 50 Question.
Although Mr.. Hutcheson said en-
phatically that UMW's District so
would no longer be a stumbling
block to reafiliation, others of the
council, including Mr.. Tobin. were
described as insisting that all juris-
d1ctlonal questions be settled in ad-
vance. District so is a catch-all unit
IN which Mr.. Lewis has placed work.
erS OF diverse trades. Its jurisdic-
ton overlaps that of many AFI,
unions, but most Importantly In the
chemical field.
Mr.. Hutcheson expressed belief
that Mr.. Lewis would be willing to
give up District so. Other sources
indicated the mine leader had shown
some willingness to bargain, but still
held out for postponing settlement
Of jurisdictional problems until after
readmission to the AFL. Several
Federation executives expressed
doubt the council would approve
that procedure.
John Marchiando, president of
AFL;s Progressive Miners, who op-
poses reinstatement of the UNIV,
said he had been promised q hear
ing, but was not hopeful" His
group includes about $4,000 miners.
most of them in Illinois, who sepa-
rated from the UNIV a number OF
years ago. |
Earlier, the council outlined a
postwar program which it urged the
Government to accept promptly,
stating, America has been danger
ously remiss in its obligations to the
people with regard to the adoption
Of a clear-cut and effective postwar
program.
Fear Of Depression Voiced.
"The Federation is deeply con-
cerned by the real and alarming
possibility of a serious postwar de-