Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-04
Labor BUILDING
Dedicated Here
.ByEEenhower
New Responsibility
Faces Union Since
Merger. He Says
BY GARRETT D. HORNER

DULL AdUOA anu OONcIIlIileIll
must be dedicated to the service
of people, President Eisenhower
said today in dedicating the
new AFL-CIO building at BIS
Sixteenth street NV.
Mr.. Eisenhower stressed that
the recent merger of the AFL
and the CLIO gives organized
labor vast new responsibilities
as well as new opportunities.
He emphasized that the
greatest responsibility is to sus-
tain Democratic traditions in
the labor movement so that it
serves the individual and does
not seek to dominate him.
Mr.. Eisenhower spoke briefly
at dedication ceremonies held
Il in front of the building on Six
Iteenth street after AFL-CIO
President George Meany said
the new eight-story national
headquarters of the labor organ
ization was dedicated to 1.-THE
is million American working
men and women who are now
united under the banner of the
merged labor movement"
Block Closed to Traffic
The block of Sixteenth street
between H and I streets was
CLOSED to traffic for the cere-
monies. Several hundred people
lSat on folding chairs or stood
lin the street and sidewalks tx
witness the ceremony. held ii
warm sunshine.
Mr.. Eisenhower spoke of hi!
part in the ceremony as
"neighborly call from my place
across the square" The ALL
ICIO building is adjacent to st
Johns Episcopal Church, just
across Lafayette Park from the
White House.
With a smile, the PreSiden
remarked that his lease on thu
White House is temporary, bu
that he has indicated willing
ness to renew the lease for foul
years by running for a second
term.
One of the things he likes 81
much about the place, the Presi,
dent said, is his neighbors. HI
added that he hopes he always
will be "as welcome over here
as the labor leaders are in hi,
Office.
Beginning tomorrow the 30.
man AFL-CIO Executive Coun.
Gil will hold a four-day meeting
on politics, organizing problems
and internal troubles.
Teamster Issue Up
One of the first orders of bust
ness is an airing of AFL-CIC
complaints against the Team.
sterS Union, the organization:
largest member union. Teamstel
President Dave Beck stayed
away from special executive
council meeting a month age
but is due to attend this week,
sessions.
Mr.. Beck's insistence on con.
tinued teamSter union relation!
with the International Long.
shoremen's Association ola
has incurred Mr.. Meany'.
wrath. The lila was ousted BY
the former AFL for alleged
lgangster domination.
Mr.. Beck dropped plans to ex.
tend a 100000 loan to the ILl
but has insisted on keeping III
friendly relations with the exilec
dock workers group.
Another problem due for ar
AFL-CIO council showdown /:
the "go slow" order issued BIZ
the teamsters and building
trades unions to their locals or
supporting mergers Of ALL anc
CIO state organizations.
Meany Asks Speed
Mr.. Meany has said pointedly
that AFL-CIO policy is "gC
faster" on these state mergers
and he has demanded the build.
ing trades. at least, reverse
their stand. The building trade.
group thus far has refused tC
do so.
Consideration also is to bc
given this week to drafting ALL
CLIO recommendations for pres.
lentation TO the Democratic ano
Republican convention platform
committees. and to making other
labor union political plans fol-
1856.
\ Still another problem is the
slow pace of AFL-CIO organic.
ing activity. A small army OF
AFL-CIO staff organizers i.
ready to hit the road on mem.
ber-getting drives but disagree.
ments among rival Unions ovel
which one would get che mem.
bers has prevented any zeal cam.
paigns. Mr.. Meany has beer
working to get rivals 70 divide
UP organizing targets by advance
agreements.