The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-03-06
Green Regrets
(Confinned From Page OSeJ

which lies ahead through continued
disunity between the American
Federation of Labor and the or
ganization which you represent.
This is a simple truth which you
set forth in the first paragraph of
your letter. A divided movement
cannot as successfully resist the
attack which is being made upon
labor by our common enemies as
can a united movement whose mil
lions of members stand immovable
in defense of a common cause.
at must be clearly obvious to
the most unsophisticated person
that the division which exists with
in the ranks of labor serves as a
basis for the advocacy of anti
labor legislation by our enemies.
Such situation could be remedied
through the establishment of a
united labor movement.
"The committee representing the
American Federation of Labor is
prepared to meet with the commit
tee representing the Congress of
Industrial Organizations for the
purpose of mobilizing our eco
nomic strength into one united
movement and for the purpose of
ending division, rivalry and dis
cord within the ranks of labor.
The committee representing the
Executive Council believes in do
ing first things first. Surely time
and experience have shown that
the first step we should take in
order to convince all classes of
people of our sincerity, would be
to meet and agree to terminate
division within our ranks and
establish, instead, unity and soli-
darity.
"The representatives of the
American Federation of Labor
stand ready to meet with you and
your associates for the purpose of
creating organic unity and soli-
darity within the ranks Of labor.
Until this is accomplished, no good
purpose will be served by attempt
ing to deal with a vital problem in
temporary and make-shift way.
We believe the rank and file of
labor are tired of the rivalry and
division which exists within the
ranks of labor. ] am confident they
wish to become part of strong,
united labor movement. We Of the
American Federation of Labor are
anxious to translate these hopes
and desires Of the rank and file of
labor into an established fact"
To Senator Taft, before whose
Senate Labor Committee Mr.. Muir
ray had made the casual" sugges-
ton that his organization would
consider consultations with AFL
leaders on merging after legisla-
tive matters had been disposed of,
Mr.. Green said:
Text of the Letter to Senator Taft
Dear Senator Taft:
"The American Federation of
Labor is endeavoring to bring
about a termination of the division
which exists within the ranks of
labor through the acceptance of
an agreement to establish labor
unity. This fact is made plain in
letter just sent to President
Murray of the Congress of Indus
trial Organizations.
"If an agreement to establish
labor unity was reached rivalry
between contending unions termi-
mated. and one united labor or
ganization established, the juris-
dictional differences which arise
between rival organizations would
cease.
"No good purpose could be
served by Mr.. Murray and myself
meeting with the Senate Commit
tee on Labor and Public Welfare
for the purpose of trying to settle
jurisdictional disputes which arise
between the two organizations.
Such action could only be i'm
terpreted as evasion--a refusal to
face the facts.
Continuation of rivalry and
Of the jurisdiction Of each
means the continua-
tion of jurisdictional conflict. A
united labor movement would mean
one organization acting in unity
instead Of two organizations fight
ing each other twenty-four hours
of each day. This is the remedy
which the Executive Council of
the American Federation of Labor
proposes for the settle
ment of the internecine warfare
within the ranks of labor and the
termination of jurisdctional diff
ferences.
"Mr. Murray has thus far re-
fused to respond favorably to the
offer Of the American Federation
of Labor to meet and agree upon
labor unity and through the estab-
lishment of labor unity bring an
end TO the conflicts and jurisdic-
tional differences which exist.
have no knowledge that Mr.. Muir
ray has ever attempted to get to-
gether with the American Fedora
tion Of Labor on the jurisdictional
issue as he stated in the testimony
he submitted TO your committee OH