Evening star., 1945-02-07
Green Reported Firm.
On Reinstaiing Lewis;
1obin Fights Move
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,
Star staff Correspondent.

StAr StdI1 COITeSp0nQent,
MIAMI, Feb. President vii,
liam Green indicated today h,
would throw his full influence
behind the move to- readmit al
old rival-John Lsaewis.-ints
the American Federation O
Labor.
Mr.. Green apparently was sup
ported by most of the AFL Execu
tive Council, holding midwintel
meetings here. Opposing him, how
ever, was another power of Ameri
can labor, Daniel j. Tobin, presi.
dent of the Teamsters Union, whit
let it be known he would fight rein
statement of Mr.. lewis and hi!
United Mine Workers.
AS Mr.. Green and Mr.. Tobir
squared off for a showdown flgh'
probably tomorrow on the Lewis
issue, it was said the Federation
president had gained the support o.
George w. Harrison, head Of the
railway clerks, and only representa-
tive of the powerful rail brother
hoods on the council. Mr.. Harrison
it was said, was confident the mine
workers would be brought back into
the AFL before sessions here are
ended.
Two Important Reasons.
Federation leaders were described
as anxious for early reconciliation
with Mr.. Lewis for two important
reasons. First, they believe the ad-
dition of such a potent figure as
Mr.. Lewis and his 100000 miners
would give them superiority as q
labor force over the fast-growine
CIO and, secondly, that with Mr.
Lewis aid they would break the
Governments wage ceilings OF the
Little Steel" formula and gather all
the prestige with labor accompany
ing such a feat.
Mr.. Tobin's objection to union
with Mr.. Lewis, as year ago, re-
portedly was based principally on
the mine leaders opposition to
President Roosevelt in the last two
elections. Mr.. Tobin is one Of the
Presidents stanchest friends In
labor. He was said to be fearful of
another powerful anti-administra-
tion force in the AFL.
The Lewis issue originally was
slated to be fought out today, but
was postponed when William
Hutcheson, president of the Car
penters' Union, was delayed by Ill
ness from attending. Mr.. Hutche-
son, who has led the fight to re-
admit the UNIV chief at previous
meetings, was expected late today.
Mr.. Lewis, whose influence helped
boost Mr.. Green to the AFL presi-
dency q years ago, took his miners
and the newly formed CIO out OF
the Federation in 1885. Seven years
later Mr.. Lewis broke with the ClO.
Production Picture Excellent"
The AFL Council, in another at
tack on compulsory war work fea-
lures of the May bill, yesterday de-
clared that a review of all informa-
ton at its command found that the
general war production picture is
excellent"
Reports Of tagging production
programs, the council said, were
due to poor planning and lack
of foresight by the military authorl-
ties" It was admitted that some
shortages still exist in important
munitions programs, but these were
ascribed to lack of facilities and
changing and increased require
ments made necessary by new mill
tary and strategic developments.
"It is not fair" the council said,
ITO castigate industry and labor
with shortcomings when production
plans and requirements are changed
overnight by the military authori-
ties"
Only a year ago these authorities
decided that surplus quantities OF
tanks, aluminium, cotton duck and
certain types of ammunition already
had been produced. Cutbacks were
ordered. War factories were con-
verted to other lines of production.
The war situation changed suddenly
Instead of having surpluses, the
armed forces discovered shortages
Schedules we're doubled and tripled
without advance warning. And then
oficial announcement was made
that production was tagging behind
schedule"
THE Executive Council submits
that no law short of Q magic wand
could keep war production in pace
with schedules arrived at on such
a basis"