Evening star., 1949-09-25
Third Labor Faction
In U. 5. May Result
From Strife in CI0
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

LEU WAASSio d44o aQtl.IOmmu-
nists in the CIO appeared yester-
day to be rushing toward a clash
at the CIO convention in cleve-
land next month.
A third labor federation, made
up of those unions under left
wing leadership which have been
slowly squeezed under the CLOS
recent critical policy, was con-
sidered a distinct possibility
among CIO leaders.
What else can they do?" one
leading official said. ."Unless
they follow CIO policy, there's a
good chance they will be thrown
out at this convention. Then
they will be raided to death by
CIO unions which have been TAX
ing it easy up to now on orders of
President Philip Murray"
There are II unions in the CIO
with leadership regarded as left
wing by the CIO itself. Chief of
these is the .0oo-member
United Electrical, Radio and Ma
chine Workers, known as lJE. In
convention last week, the UE re-
elected its strongly entrenched
administration. At the top are
President Albert j. Fitzgerald,
Secretary-Tre Julius En-
spak, and Organization Director
James j. Matles
The UE leadership grabbed the
initiative at once-issuing a set
OF conditions" under which they
would continue paying the eight
cent tax on each of its members
into the CIO treasury.
The major condition was that
the CIO oust officers who have
been critical of UE leadership.
That was aimed at youthful James
B. Carey. secretary-treasurer of
the CIO, a former president of UE
and leader of the anti Commu-
mist faction in that union.
In addition to UE, there are 10
other unions which conceivably
might join in left-wing fedora
ton. This at the outset might
give it 100000 members. Anti
Communist CIO leaders think that
number would be quickly whitfield
down to actual Communist-sym-
pathizers, because the unions
would make a target for their
rivals and enemies.
The other unions are Harry
Bridges international Longshore-
mems and Warehousemen's Union;
the Mine, Mill and Smelter
Workers; Fur and Leather Work.
ers; Cook and Stewards; Ameri-
can Communications Association;
United Office and Professional
Workers; United Public Workers;
Food. Tobacco and Agricultural
Workers; Furniture Workers;
Fishermen and Allied Workers.
There have been repeated
rumors that John L. Lewis, who
took the lead in forming the CIO
itself in 1885 and 1886, has been
toying with the idea of joining
forces with the left-wingers~in a
new labor movement. Mr.. hewis,
of course, has said nothing % the
subject.
AS for his own 800 ,000-member
United Mine Workers-now inde-
pendent-Mr. Lewis keeps the
Communists out by constitution.
ALI "subversives" are barred from
membership under that constitu-
ton.
If Mr.4Lew4s took leadership of
q third labor federation it would
remove some Of the pro-Commu-
mist flavor, and it would give the
slow-to-forgive miners boss a
chance to get back at Mr.. Muir
rays CIO and the AFL for past
differences.
Within the CIO. it is not ex-
pected that Mr.. Murray will reply
to the UE's conditions to paying
the per capita tax before the con-
vention. A union may be in debt
three months before being tossed
out under CIO bylaws.
Mr.. Murray is expected to in
sist that no delegate whose union
has not paid the per caipta tax
to date can sit in the Cleveland
convention, which starts October
81.
The CIO chief probably will
keep his strategy to himself un-
til the Executive Board meeting in
Cleveland October 26. The decis-
ion, because of its effect on the
future of the CIO, will be one OF
the toughest which Mr.. Murray
has had to make since he took
the gavel from Mr.. Lewis at the
1910 convention.
Today, a group of public work.
ers interested in forming new
union or an organizing commit
tee for the enrolment of a mil
lion Federal and white collar
workers, will meet in Washing
ton.
This group repeatedly would
like to have the CIO revoke the
charter of Abram Flaxer's United
Public Workers.
1nroads have been made on the
1eft-wing unions largely traced
to the Taft-Hartley Acts nom
Communist affidavit requirement.
Unless officers swear they're not
Communist, the union cannot use
facilities of the National Labor
Relations Board. That means the
union can't get on a plant ballot
If a rival union succeeds in fore
Ing an election.
One after another the left
wing-led unions have decided to
submit those afidavits.
SSY.S31