The Wilmington morning star., 1946-02-03
John Le1uis 7owers Ouer
u. S. Labor Scene Today

MIAMI, Fla, Fep. z.-tRAThe
massive figure Of John L. Lewis
lowered over the American labor
scene this week.
At psychological moment
when the CIO was locked in a
nationwide struggle with big in.
dustry, Lewis. rolled grandly into
Miami in his limousine and Joined
up with the AFL as 18th vice pres
ident.
Most labor reporters believed
that the strong man Of the United
Mine Workers was rolling toward
the eventual leadership Of the
AFL-t though the old-line bosses OF
AFL unions certainly Didn't con-
cede any such thing.
And it was freely speculated in
Miami that Lewis was on his way
toward taking over the reias of
the VIII ole labor movement
though C1O chiefs would surely
deny this.
Lewis sat alongside AFL Presi.
dent William Green and, while
note-taking newsmen raced to
keep up with his flowing phrases,
delivered one Of the most signifi-
cant labor statements heard In
years.
He declared that the miners re-
turn to the AFL has a great
portent for the future" and that it
indicates a definite turning point
in the history Of labor"
What did he mean by that?
One thing he meant was that he
believes that a trend toward uni
fication Of the labor movement is
under way at last. The man who
split the labor movement ten
years ago = when he formed the
CIO-now asserted that labor has
an obligation to the country to
place its internal house in order"
It was clear, too, that Lewis
meant that the fundamental diff
ferences which tore organized Ia
Dor apart have finally been re-
solved.
The big issue in 1895 was: craft
unions versus industrial unions.
The old, established American
Federation of Labor was COM
posed largely Of unions of carpen-
tiers, teamsters, ba rbers, mu-
sicians and other "crafts.' Lewis
thought the situation called for or.
gaaizing whole industries. For ex-
ample, people working in steel
plants. from janitors to skilled
machine operators, would be en-
rolled in the same union.
How has the situation changed?
In the last ten years, both the
AFL and C1O have organized huge
numbers Of workers. Labor union
membership has doomed to the
neigAborhood Of IA million work.
ers. Craft unions are still the basis
Of the AFL, but they have tended
to take in more territory, and in
dustrial unionisn is no longer
frowned upon in the AFL as it
once was. Industrial unionism is
here to stay. The mine workers
union itself is an Industrial union.
and incidentally it always has
been.
What else did Lewis mean when
he spoke Of a turning point?"
He obviously meant he considers
the AF'L the organization that can
best unity the labor movement. He
strongly implied that he expects
CIO unions to break awav and
gradually return to the AFL fold
giving labor one powerful voice.
Lewis broke away from the CIO
four years ago.
At the Miami press conference
this week, a reporter asked. .Do
you anticipate leading a move
ment to-
|. Lewis interrupted, IT wouldn't
spell that out today. I'll leave
something to your imagination"
The reporter had started to ask
It Lewis planned a movement to
win over the CIO unions.
Although Lewis thus blocked dis.
cussion of his plans, a few minutes
earlier he had declared that tha
AFL now will be beyond cav;1
and beyond peradventure the mos
representative and tn donin snt
labor organization in the coun.
try"
He added significantly. IT tbink
people will recognize that fac+ 80 -
creasingly." 40
Note the word Increasingly"
He also said the merger Of +ha
AFL and the mine workers ..u,;I1 I