Evening star., 1948-11-18
AFL Leaders Predict
Early Conferences
On Unity With Clio
BY james Y. Newton

Stor Sioff Correspondent
CINCINNATI, Nov. 18.-Top
officials of the AFL predicted
here today that new talks will
be held soon with the CIO look
ing toward unification of the two
big labor organizations,
This prediction followed .unani-
nous adoption by the AFL conven-
ton of a resolution highly favorable
to organic unity with the younger
organization. 1t was noted that
attacks on the CIO have been sin
gularly missing from the conven-
ton In fact, nearly every speaker
here has made point of telling how
well they got along with the C1O
people in the recent highly success
full election campaign.
Oflcials indicated that invitations
to unity meetings will be extended
to the CIO within matter OF weeks
and probably right after the week
long CIO convention which opens
in Portland, Greg, next Monday.
Resolution Adopted.
There is no question but that the
possibility of unity has been in
creased greatly by ability of po-
litical workers of the two organiza-
tions to get along together during
the campaign and by the great re-
cent efforts of CIO President Philip
Murray to rid his group of Commu-
nists and fellow travellers.
The resolution adopted by the
convention stated I'VE suggest that
1t is not enough for us to open the
door and hope the prodigal CIO
will return, but that we should now
reach out and grasp them by the
hand and urge them to come back
into the American Federation OF
Labor.
THE recent political victory was
won only by the cooperative ef-
forts of all labor. The greatest pos
sible impetus toward the organiza-
ton of workers would come from
extending such unity. All of the re-
sources and energy now consumed
in civil war could then be turned
toward advancing the economic and
social welfare of labor of our Ma
ton and of the world.
Your committee therefore recon-
mends that the executive council
of the AFL pursue with new vigor
its efforts to bring about unity be-
tween all bona flde labor unions in
our Nation"
1916 Move Collapsed.
The last unity talks were held
nearly two years ago and broke
down when the two factions were
unable to agree on basis for
merger.
Russell Long, son of the late Huey
and Senator elect from Louisiana.
will be a convention speaker today.
Some delegates expressed surprise
that Mr.. Long had been invited to
speak
A speaker tomorrow will be w.
Averell Hartman, Marshall Plan
ambassador Large. Paul G.. Hof1-
man. economic cooperation admin
istrator. addressed the convention
yesterday, and praised the efforts Of
labor officials in helping sell democ-
racy in Europe.
The convention adopted seven
point program for continuing the
AFL's political league on perman-
ent basis and voted to assess the
more than 100000 members 10
cents each to finance political activi-
ties in the interim before the 1850
election campaign get under way.
The FUNDS gathered from the assess
ment will be augmented by an in
tensive drive for voluntary contri-
buttons among all AFL unions.
Joseph ID. keenan,. director of
labor's League for Political Educa-
ton, said that organizations will be
established in the 10000 precincts
of the country before the off-year
congressional elections of 1850.
Every speaker stressed the impor-
tance of getting by the 1850 elec-
tions without a letdown of efforts
expended in the recent campaign,
which represented the AFLs first
major venture in the political field.
Mr. keenan, outlined what he de-
scribed as achievements of the
league in defeating members of Con-
gress who supported the Taft-Hart-
ley Act in the Eightieth Congress.
He will continue to direct the
leagues activities.
Mr.. Hoffman said that "pesSi-
mists" believed the ECA faced an
impossible task in raising the econ
omy of Western Europe and saving
its countries from communism, but
that he disagreed with the view
heartily. He said the spirit of West
ern Europe, with exception of lone
or two countries" had improved
greatly in recent months and that
he was especially impressed by the
progress made in Austria and Italy.
He refused to name the countries
still in the doldrums.
He said that in the Marshall Plan
we were embarking on new brand
of dollar diplomacy, that we were
not just doling out loans and grants
regardless of objectivity, but that
we now were making them with
specific objects in view. He said that