LABOR: The Easy Way

William Green and A. F. of L. last week practiced a maneuver that John L. Lewis had used the week before. There was one serious cause of dissension at the A. F. of L. convention in New Orleans and one disturber of the convention’s peace, David Dubinsky, who wanted racketeers purged from A. F. of L. ranks. Week before, in Atlantic City, John L. Lewis had been plagued by the same kind of insurgency, which wanted Communists purged from C. I. O. Lewis had grudgingly approved an anti-Red resolution with rubber teeth. The A. F. of L. hierarchy puffed good cigar smoke, meditated, then took action.

To delegates they presented a resolution condemning racketeering in A. F. of L. as “a most difficult evil [which] calls for the application of every means available.” High-mindedly the delegates passed it.

Two days later, still deadpan, the convention re-elected George E. Browne, head of the theatrical workers’ & stagehands’ union* as one of A. F. of L.’s 15 vice presidents. Dubinsky and fellow garment workers consoled themselves by refusing to cast a vote.

When Dubinsky led his union out of C. I. O. and back into A. F. of L. last spring, he exacted two promises from President Green: 1) the executive council would give up its arbitrary right to suspend unions—the action by which Labor was split four years ago; 2) a 1¢ per month per member assessment to fight C. I. O. would be repealed, and the Federation’s regular 1¢ per capita levy doubled to make up the loss in organizing revenue. Last week the Federation made good on the second promise, but reaffirmed the executive council’s right to suspend member unions.

Sorrowed Dubinsky: “When John L. Lewis said on the floor of the C. I. O. convention that the I. L. G. W. U. [Dubinsky’s garment workers] took ‘the easy way,’ he was wrong. It was not the easy way.” Then he added philosophically: “It was the wise way and I hope others will realize it and follow it in the same spirit.”

Before the otherwise somnolent convention adjourned it re-elected William Green to his 17th term as president of A. F. of L. and raised his salary from $12,000 to $20,000 a year. Breathed a grateful Mr. Green: “This convention did its work in a dignified and orderly way. . . . The actions we have taken have been wise, sound and unassailable.”

*Onetime aide to George Browne was Willie Bioff, Chicago hoodlum and panderer. Another aide: Nick Circella, alias Nick Dean, whose record includes conviction for assault with intent to murder, arrests for robbery.