Evening star., 1946-05-13
Southern Organizers
Of AFl Begin Drive
To Induct Workers
BY Chris A. Mothisen
Stor Sto@ Carr>..>,J..


stor stoff Correspondent
ASHEVILLE, N. c., May 13.-
American Federation of Labor
staff organizers were meeting
here today in executive session
as delegates to it's third biennial
Southern Labor Conference re-
turned to their home communi-
ties with policy and procedural
instructions for a major South
ern organizing drive.
President William Green was back
in Washington, preparing for open
ing of the AFL Executive Council
meeting Wednesday. In 10 days or
more Of planning sessions, the coun-
Gil intends to determine the amount
OF financial and manpower assist
ance to be given local and regional
constituent groups in their efforts
to sign up Southern workers. In a
press conference held before his de-
parture from Asheville yesterday
Mr.. Green said he couldn't estimate
how much money the AFL would
pit against the $1,000.0OO the CIO
intends to use in its rival Southern
drive.
Probe Demanded.
Conference members today called
for an FBI investigation of the wire
Slashing incident that cut Mr.. Green
off the air Saturday night.
A group of some so, assembling
the day after the conference ad-
journed, adopted a resolution asking
Attorney General Clark to order the
FBI to investigate the case and
continue the investigation until the
guilty culprit shall have been dis
covered and prosecuted to the full
extent of the laws of the United
States"
The resolution said the wire cut
ting violated "the Civil Liberties Act
and the Federal Communications
Act and all the laws of common
decency.''
The group included George Googe,
Atlanta, the AFL's Southern repre-
sentative: Southern AFL organizers
and officers of II State declarations
of labor
Outline of Campaign.
The AFL program, which Mr..
Green insisted was only a continu-
alton OF organizing work started in
the South by the federation so years
ago, will seek to win members in
the textile, garment, lumber and
chemical industries. the service
trades, white collar workers and en-
p]oyes of Federal, State, county and
city governments.
With respect to organizing activ-
ity by District so of the United
Mine Workers, which was set up by
John L. Lewis to recruit nonmining
workers when his union was indie
pendent, Mr.. Green said he antici-
pated no trouble. He explained that
Mr.. Lewis has agreed to arbitration
OF any conflicts developing between
District so and old-line AFL unions
by the AFL Executive Council if they
were not settled on lower level.
Asked whether he approved Mr..
Lewis current demand for a union
administered miners welfare fund.
Mr.. Green said he was mot pre-
pared to say how it should be ad-
mlnlstered," feeling the miners and
operators should decide.
But, I'm firm in my conviction
that such fund should be created !"
he added.
He emphasized that Mr.. Lewis
had the united, full, complete
measure of support" from the AFL
and said his own 20 years as a miner
convinced him of the Justice" of
the miners demands. He also said
he saw "a great need for improve
ment' in Federal and State mines
safety laws.
In policy statement approved at
the closing session of the confer
ence, the representatives of AFL
afflllates in II Southern States ae-
clared:
1--WE denounce as deficient in
craftsmanship further deliberations
on the various antilabor bills intro
duced in Congress and urge depend
ence on collective bargaining as the
basic instrumentality for sound
labor standards and policies"
Urges Federal Pay Boost.
The conference called for in
creased salaries for Federal en-
ployes together with shorter hours
OF work and liberalized retirement
plans for those in Government
service.
Other legislation asked by the
meeting in its policy report included
national compulsory health in
surance program, a Federal unem-
ployment insurance act making
benefits uniform throughout the
country, an increase in the Federal
minimum wage to IS cents per
hour with yearly boosts of 5 cents
to 75-cent figure, an employment
service under national direction
and with Nationwide clearance to
help workers to the best possible
work opportunities" and IAN ade-
quate social insurance system to
provide income for emergencies
which they deny workers oppor-
tunity to earn living, together with
adequate provisions for medical
care"
In explaining policies of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board, Board
Member Gerard D. Reilly told the
conference:
I'VE have not thought it was our
duty to interpret the act narrowly,
so that it would have as little effect
as possible. We have supposed that