Evening star., 1951-09-26
All Officers Of AFL
Are Given New Terms
By Unanimous Vote
By james Y. Newton
Sior Stoff Correspondent


The American Federation of La
Dor wound up its 10th annual
convention late yesterday on
note of labor unity after electing
unanimously all incumbent Off
GERS to new terms.
William Green, hale and hearty
at 78, was reelected to his 28th
term as president. Thirteen vice
presidents were renamed without
opposition. George Meany, heir
apparent to the presidency, was
elected retary-treasurer for the
18th time. Both Mr.. Green and
Mr.. Meany received roaring ova-
tionS.
The AFL, after blaming CIO
President Philip Murray for a
breakdown of merger talks last
year, empowered its officers to ar
range new meetings with CIO
representatives looking toward
unifying the two big organiza-
tionS.
Delegates said experience has
shown beyond shadow of doubt"
that American labor cannot meet
its responsibilities to workers at
home and abroad "as long as it's
ranks are divided"
But the AFL made it clear that
If the CIO comes back into "the
house of labor" it must do so
pretty much on the AFL's terms.
To-day, there is no reason what
soever for any bona fide free trade
union organization remaining out
side the ranks of the AFL," the
unity resolution stated. To-day,
there is no difference at all over
organizational structure or form
dividing the labor movement into
two federations.
The AFL and CIO, it was pointed
out. co-operated in the formation
of a new world organization of
free trade unions and the CIO has
''purged its ranks of Communists"
It stated the AFL will welcome
the CIO to unite organically' with
1t.
Merger Talk Plan Rejected.
One delegate urged the fedora
ton to initiate merger talks with
John L. Lewis and his United Mine
Workers, but the suggestion was
brushed aside. Mr.. Lewis took his
miners out of the AFL four years
ago.
The 13 vice presidents given new
terms were William L. Hutcheson,
Matthew Woll, George M. Harri-
son, Daniel ]. Tobin. Harry c.
Hates, w. c. Birthright, William
c. Doherty, David Dubinsky,
Charles j. MacGowan, Herman
Winter. Dan w. Tracy, w. L. Nc
Fetridge and James c. Petrillo.
In his acceptance speech, MIR.
Meany said the AFL must look to
tomorrow and not too much to the
past.
THE AFL carries a tremendous
load. This is the most important
organization of free men in the
entire world. Workers everywhere
on earth look to this convention
some to help themselves raise
their standard of living. others to
stay free and yet others to free
themselves from the bonds Of
slavery.
Must Watch Home Front.
"But we must not forget" Mr..
Meany continued. that our Or
ganization has wrung from the
unwilling hands of management
this great standard of life now
enjoyed by American workers. Inl
the future we have got to watch
the home front. Things that we
have achieved can be taken away
from us. The people who were
opposed to labor still are in busi-
ness. Let's not rest on our laurels." !"
Akin to the action urging or
ganic unity with the CIO, the
delegates approved the decision of
the AFL executive Council with
drawing from the United Labor
Policy Committee. Through the
committee, the AFL, CIO and rail
unions had worked in Washington
for common legislative and eco
nomic goals.
The convention called for really
effective" price controls and gen.
orally approved the Governments
wage stabilization program. How
ever, it said the Wage Sterilization
Board should aid in the upward
adjustment of substandard wages,
and should give more weight in
it's control policies to recognition
of the increased productivity" of
workers.
AS for taxation, the AFL urged
that any further increases in per-
sonal income tax rates "be mainly
concentrated on those in the in
come level above $4,000" year.
The delegates picked New York
as the site for their convention
next year.