Evening star., 1945-02-16
AH Expected 10 Meet
Lewis Condition Later
For Place on Council
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.
star staff Correspondeut


BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.
Star staff Correspondent
MIAMI, Feb. 16.--John l.. Lewis
cagey game Of "hard to get" soon
may land his United Mine Workers
back in the AFL with a place for
himself on the organization Execu-
tive Council as dividend, it was
believed here today.
Federation President William
Green announced at the conclusion
of the councils sessions here yester-
day that efforts to bring back the
miners to the AFL had failed, at
least temporarily, because Of Mr..
Lewis insistence that UNIV be
guaranteed a council place. He said
full understanding was reached on
all other points of difference.
Mr. Lewis well knew, 1t was point
ed out, that the federation could
not guarantee" him representation
on its governing body, but he knew
also that if council post was the
only obstacle before the re-aff1lia-
ton of the 1000 UNIV members,
AFL leaders would make pretty sure
that he got it.
Leaders Assure Support.
Private assurances of support for
Mr.. Lewis from federation leaders
when new council is elected at the
1945 AFL convention was believed
to be the next and final step to
the miners readmission.
Such promises will be made soon
in Washington Then, Mr.. Lewis
could be readmitted either at the
next council meeting in May or a
special session could be called.
1--WE have advised the United
Mine Workers of America a brief
council statement read, that they
will be re-admitted to the Amer
lean Federation of Labor with all
the right and privileges of affilia-
ton enjoyed by all organizations,
and such re-afflliation carries with
1t assumption of the obligations at
tached to affiiation"
Understanding Not Obtained.
Mr.. Green who earlier told re-
porters the mine workers ques-
ton would be resolved finally al
the sessions here, elaborated on the
prepared statement at news con-
| ference. He said:
I'VE have failed to obtain a salts
factory understanding that would
bring about re-afiliation of the
United Mine Workers with the
American Federation of Labor.
I'VE had worked out an under
standing for re-affiliation. but al
the last moment the mine workers
stipulated condition for returning
that was impossible for the council
to meet. Impossible because the
laws of the Federation would not
permit the council to do it."
Mr.. Green explained that the
council may appoint a member
when vacancy arises between con-
ventions. However, since there wa.
no vacancy, he said, the council
was helpless to deal with the sit
uation"
He added that Mr.. Lewis tele.
graphed terse reply to the effec1
that decision of council had beer
duly noted" to his message inform.
| ing the mine leader that no guar.
antee of council representation coule
be given.
Mr.. Green said no arrangement.
were made for continuation o.
negotiations, but added as hi.
opinion that they UMW1 car
come back if the stipulation is with.
drawn, since all other arrangement:
have been made Included in the
arrangements was settlement oI
jurisdictional disputes by the coun.
Gil. The mine workers would be re.
admitted in their present form with
District so intact.
Lewis Knows Rules, Green Says.
The AFL head was asked why hi
thought Mr., Lewis posed the guar.
antee of council seat. He replied
that "he is very well acquainted witt
the laws of the federation. TIL,
only reason I know is that he knew
that number of jurisdictional dis.
putes would leach the council, ane
that some of the parties involved
would be on the council He wanted
some representation to protect the
interests of the mine workers"
Mr.. Lewis and the UNIV wer,
suspended from the AFL in 1896
and finally expelled in 1888 along
with the rest of the newly formed
CIO movement.
In another development of tn,
final council session, Mr.. Green at
tackled Sidney Hillman, currently ,
CIO delegate to the World Trad,
Union Conference in London. H,
said, lit is interesting to note tina
he has now extended his destructive
and divisive influence, hitherto con
fined to labor and political fields il
this country, to the internationa
labor sphere.
Hillman Sarcasm" Cited.
His sarcastic address the othe
day before the so-called World La
Dor Conference was typical of tn,
man and his methods. Again h.
has allied himself with his Com
munistic friends in order to promot,
disruption and discord and plung'
labor's economic objectives into tn,
stormy sea of world politics"
Mr.. Green expressed hope that tn,
First Trust
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