The Key West citizen., 1952-11-22
Two Labor Groups Are Without
Top Men AS Death Takes AFL
And CIO Heads In Two Weeks
Ry RoWL AND EVANs JR.

| WAS1lING1OlN Wf-1Hc udtiUu
two big labor organizations were
pilotless today in a sudden twist
of fate unforeseeable two weeks
ago.
William Green, S1-year-old presi-
dent of the American Federation
of Labor, died yesterday just IL
days after the death of CIO Presi-
dent Philip Murray. Heart trouble
was the cause in both cases.
It was Murray who took lead
ing part in the breakaway from
Green's AFL in 1885. Murray
played a major role in developing
the industrial unionism of the late
1905 and making the Congress of
Industrial Organizations a new and
independent force in the union
movement.
Both Green and Murray were
coal miners and their success was
intertwined with that of a third
mine worker, John L. Lewis.
Lewis is president of the United
Mine Workers. He is u and ap-
pears as active today as he ever
has been.
The sudden vacuum at the top
of the AFL and CI0 will almost
certainly be filled quickly. Some
union leaders speculated quietly
today that, no matter which two
men are chosen to head the AFL
and CIO, organized labor's new
leadership faces a new era.
Murray and Green were in the
prime of their years when the
Democrats took over the national
administration 20 years ago. Work
ing in general harmony with the
administration, they saw the labor
movement take some of its create
strides as they grew old in their,
jobs. Coinciding with their deaths
was the election of the first Repub.
lican administration since 1882.
One top union official, declining
use of his name. said it was too
early to make any predictions
about the future course Of the
divided labor movement under new
leaders. But he said the death of
Murray and Green might have
real implications M repeated at
tempts to explore stG feasibility of
CIO-AFL unity. Such attempts have
proved entirely fFaitless since the
split IL years ag@l2
The AFL claimX a membership
of eight million, ,Ythe CI0 six mil
lion. If the prospect of unity is to
be enhanced, it viii depend good
deal on whom these two big labor
groups choose asdtheir next presi-
dents. a
Green had been ailing for months
and much of his work passed into
the hands of George Meany, S.
year-old seeretary-treasurer since
1910. Meany in effect has been
running the AFL, with frequent
contact with Green, for year or
more. 1t is this fact which makes
Meany the most frequently men,
toned prospect for AFL president.
The AFL Executive Council is
expected to meet soon after
Green's funeral next Monday. The
council win likely designate a pres
ident to serve until the AFL annual
convention next year.
George Harrison, 57-year old
president of the AFL's Brother
hood of Railway Clerks, is also
mentioned as a possible successor
to Green. However, there was al
ways possibility some other AL
leader might be selected.
| Allan S. Haywood, CI0 executive
vice president, and Walter Reuth-
er, head of the CIO Auto Workers,
are generally conceded to be front
runners for the job which Murray's
death left vacant. Murray's success
sor probably viii be named at the
CI0 annual convention in Atlantic
City, scheduled for th.~ week but
postponed upon Murray's death 10
Dec. i.