Evening star., 1947-05-04

WHICH We're held here thursday al
doubt but that the objective is a de
as whole.
Yet both groups act rather like
they are taking part In something
which has been forced upon them.
Like couple of children who are
dragged out to put on an act for
their elders.
1t was clear from the first two
meetings of the unity committees
| that there will be no merger and,
perhaps, no real unified action" by
the AFL and CIO unless something
! occurs labor considers downright
calamitous. That something in
this instance would be enactment of
stiff new labor law.
The unification talks were forced
on the AFL and CIO. They were
forced into the peace conference
by Congress bent on passing union
restricting measures and by indi-
vidual State Legislatures which put
new clamps on organized labor al
most weekly.
Labor Aware Of Dangers.
Despite all of this pressure of
events for one labor in this coun-
try, even the most optimistic adyo-
Gates of unification admit 1t Is
something that probably will require
years, to bring about The cleavage
between the two organizations is too
deep, the jurisdictional problems too
great, to be solved in any short time
There has been real awakening
Of organized labor to the dangers
confronting 1t in the way of un-
favorable legislation. The demands
OF unions, especially those in the
big production industries, have
been more temperate. This aware
ness to danger also has been re-
flected in desire for cooperation
between members of the CIO and
AFL. Still there seems to be no real
enthusiasm, except among a few
leaders, for formation of a Congress
of American Labor, as the CIO at
an earlier peace meeting suggested
the merged groups be called.
There Is, however, a good chance
that the two will work together for
objectives they find mutually desir-
able" unified action" as the CIOl
calls 1t.
Joint Action Probable.
If the big labor bill Congress is
working on becomes law, either with
President Truman's acquiesence or
over his veto, there will be some real
joint action by the labor organiza- |
tions. It Is safe bet the charges
will be fought through each step of
the administrative process and to !
finish in the courts.
OF importance to the country is
the possibility that new Federal
labor laws will lead to joint AFL-
CIO political action. Labor is scared
and even should legislation in this
session of Congress be killed by pres
tdential veto its leaders will make an
early start in battling unfavorable
bills certain to be introduced when
Congress meets again.
: Since Samuel Gompers' day the
AFL has maintained nonpolitical
position in national politics, al
though many of its leaders have
been active on both sides of the
political fence. George Meany, AFL |
secretary-treasurer, pointed to the
organizations traditional neutral /
stand in recent radio address.
However, referring to the drastic !
labor bill passed overwhelmingly by
the House, Mr.. Meany warned:
Politics Not New to CIO.
"In the face of the political as
poets of this proposal to destroy
trade unionism, the question arises |
as to whether or not we will be COM
PEELED by force of circumstances to
revise our basic position in order to
protect the future of the wage-earn-
ers of our country who in themselves
constitute the vast national wealth
of which Americans so often boast ;"
Mr.. Meany referred specifically to
the fact that the most drastic labor
proposals have the backing of the
Republican leadership in Congress.
The CIO, of course, is no new
conner to national politics. It's
Political Action Committee already
has marked the members of Con-
eress who it hopes to eliminate in
the 1948 elections.
There can be no doubt that the
1880 900 members of the two
organizations, If sufficiently aroused,
could carry next years presidential
election as well as bring about con-
siderable face-lifting in Congress.
Right now, their leaders say, the
members are aroused and, come
what may. the leaders intend to
see they stay aroused.
AFL AdvertiSeS.
The AFL currently is engaged in
spending $500. 900 for a huge
advertising campaign against labor
legislation. 1t admittedly is too late
to have any appreciable influence
on the Senate. The fight is being
carried ito the people After all,
laws can be changed provided there /
can be brought about new align |
ment of lawmakers.
The prospects for welding the
AFTL and CIO into one organization
are mot bright, posing far more
difncult problems than the business
of legislative or political team work.
The breach between the two has
wtdened with the passing years
since that day in November, 1885,
when a group of AFL leaders formed
the .Committee for Industrial Or
ganization and set about organizing |