The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-08
Matter Of Fact
BY Joseph And Stewart Alsop

II 10y AIN
Shadow of a Forthcoming Event?
WASHINGTON, July ct is not
impossible that. for a curious va
riety Of reasons, an exceedingly
important event-a marriage be-
tween the A. F. of L.. and
the CLIO. - may be arranged in
the not too distant future. This
union of the two great labor or
CARNATIONS is still, in the opinion
Of close observers of t h e labor
Gene a long shot. But a whole
series of recent developments has
m%easurably reduced the odds
against it.
The new labor measure, which
the A. F. of L. leaders resent at
least as bitterly as the CLIO.
chiefs, has acted as a sort of cata-
iyst. It has provided the labor
leaders with a mutual object of
hatred, always an effective means
of drawing people together. B u
the labor act has merely served
to set the ball rolling. The other
forces making for what labor men
call "unity'' may be briefly item
lied.
First, there is the remarkable
victory which now appears to be
in prospect for John L. Lewis IL
the coal struggle. Lewis appears
in a fair way to win, from most
c. the coal operators without any
prolonged strike, concessions
more than double the natinal pat
tern established by clio. presi-
cent Philip Murray in the steel
settlement. Moreover this victory,
if it comes about will have been
achieved within a matter of days
after the hated labor measure be-
came law. There a be little
doubt OF the compelling ambition
long nursed in the Lewis bosom,
to become the u~ndisputed grand
panjandrum of all American la
Dor. A coal victory will mean that
Lewis has vastly out-distanced all
possible contenders for the labor
throne.
Second, Lewis is being backed
for the job by David Dubinsky,
the able and powerful leader of
the immensely rich International
Ladies' Garment Workers. The
history of the Lewis-Dubinsky re-
lationship has been one of violent
rows and amiabIe reconciliations.
A period Of recorc Citation is now
in progress. The men are close
or many matters, especially in
that they r two of the most
effective anti-Communists in tn e
labor movement. Like Lewis him.
self, Dubinsky has many admirers
in the C.I.O., and his backing for
Lewis will heavily weight the
scales.
Third, there is Philip Murray,
The CLIO. president is the b 6
question mark. For years Murray
and Lewis worked closely togeth-
err, when Murray was second in
command Of the mine workers.
But much bitter water has flowed
under the bridge since those days.
Many In the labor movement are
certain that Murray could never
bear to serve again as a subordi-
nate to Lewis, or to see his below
ed CLIO. merged with the larger
AFT. Of l.. Yet there are others
who disagree.
Murray is harried and tired.
The atmosphere of Borgian intri-
CUE which prevails at CLIO. head
quarters, brought On by the con
slant Communist pressure, is said
to exhaust him. Moreover, the
Communist-enginered attempt to
capture the automobile workers,
biggest CLIO. union, has by no
means been squashed. II it suc-
ceeds, Murray will be in a fair
way to finding himself prisoner OF
the Communists in his own Or
g~anization. It is probable that only
the AT. of L. and John L. Lewis
could free him from this bondage.
Thus it is significant that at a
recent closed meeting Of the
CLOS executive board, Murray
is reported to have made an i'm
portant about-turn. Some weeks
before Murray had said that it
was too late in the day for merger
with the AT. Of L., which would
Only serve to spread confusion in
the CLIO. ranks. On this more re-
cent occasion, however, he revers-
ed himself. He called for unity at
almost any price. One price is
evident - Murray's agreement to
become second in command with
John l.. Lewis.
The fourth important factor is
the Communists. Like their bitter
est enemy, David Dubinsky, the
Communists are working for
unity" At first glance this seems
passing strange. For they would
appear to be fighting for the priv
ilege of placing their heads in the
lions mouth-with the upper jaw
David Dubinsky and the lower
John L. Lewis. There is no doubt
that il Lewis took first place in
a combined oranization, he would
move far more decisively and
ruthlessly than Murray has ever
moved to root out the COMMIT
nists.
Various explanations have been
offered of the Communist posi-
tion-the desire 10 hide behind the
skirts of a massive united organ
ization in the difficult days ahead;
the welcome opportunity 70 bring