Evening star., 1954-05-10
Truman 10 Address
Special Session Of
CI0 Leaders Today

Former President Truman ar
ranged to address a special ses-
sion of the CIO Executive Board
this afternoon.
The meeting was called to en-
able the board to take final ac-
ton on the CIO-AFL "no-raid-
ing" agreement which has been
kicked around for months be-
cause of refusal of some of the
larger unions to sign it. Indi-
cations were the peace pact would
be approved with some dissents.
A CIO spokesman said that
Mr.. Truman, in the city for a
luncheon speech at the National
Press Club, was invited to ad-
dress the board and he accepted
readily. The former President
was represented as saying he was
happy to have the opportunity to
visit with "old friends at the
CIO.
Advance word from CIO in
formants was that, barring an
upset, the board members would
decide to ask the AFL to go
ahead at once with the labor
peace plan negotiated last fall
by the rival labor groups.
The agreement would bind
union IN one federation against
seeking to take over members
already organized by union IN
the other federation. The pact
is regarded as a necessary first
step toward any AFL-C1O
merger.
The CIO, worried that not too
many AFL unions would join the
pact, decided last March to de-
lay ratifying it. Later it learned
that nearly 70 of the AFL's ITO
unions were willing to go along.
so today's Executive Board ses-
sion was arranged to reconsider
the March action.
Opposition seen.
There remained the possibility
of some powerful opposition,
however: The CIO Steelworkers,
headed by David j Mcdonald.
one of the CLOS largest unions.
may balk at approving the mo
raid" plan.
$ Mr.. Mcdonald had a private
talk here 10 days ago with Dave
Beck, president of the AFL
Teamsters Union. one of the AFL
groups which is opposing the
plan, and with John L. Lewis,
head of the United Mine Work
erS.
Mr.. Lewis is friendly with
neither AFL President George
Meany nor CIO President Wal
ter Reuther, who are the prime
movers behind the mo raid"
pact.
Mr.. Reuther has said virtually
all the CIO unions have been
ready for some time to go along.
But with Mr. Beck'S teamSterS
refusing, Mr. McDonald's steel
workers may object, too.
No Binding Effect on Others.
Presumably, if the CIO gives
q new go-ahead, Mr.. Meany and
Mr.. Reuther will be ready to sign
for all their unions willing to go
along.- However, the agreement
has no binding effect on unions
refusing to Sigf1.ssg sess
Whatever the CIO decides will
be discussed by AFL leaders at
their meeting opening in Chicago
Thursday. At that meeting the
AFL will also consider a separate
plan designed to minimize feuds
over representing workers be-
tween tn Calls own unions.
Mr.. Lewis, appearing on the
NBC television show Meet the
Press" last night, adopted a
plague on both your houses" at
titude toward his giant rivals, but
he did not mention the "no-raid''
plan.
He said his talks with Mr..
Mcdonald and Mr.. Beck did not
necessarily herald bigger things
in labor unity, but he declared
they mean that the present
leadership of neither the CIO nor
the AFL is meeting the require
mentS of organized labor in pro-
tecting the interests of their
members.
Its obvious that labor is
badly organized into respective
SegmentS and that the collective
strength of labor cannot be ex-
erciSed on any given matter, "
Mr.. Lewis said, making clear
also that he sees no immediate
prospect of his union rejoining
either the AFL or CIO.
The bushy- -browed mine work.
ers' chieftain was interviewed
by a panel including Star Re-