LABOUR UNION SPLIT IN U.S.

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21639, 25 November 1935, Page 11

LABOUR UNION SPLIT IN U.S.

RADICAL LEADER RESIGNS BIG NEW ORGANISATION MAY BE FORMED (Received November 24, 11.2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 23. A long-smouldering feud within the ranKS ox tne .American .feneration oi i-iaoour came to a head today as ivir jonn ijewis, presment of tne powenul Coal Miner./ union, sent a curt letter resigning the vicepre'sidency oi tne ieuerauon to Mr Green, in tne broadest terms, the controversy between tne two hinged on conservative versus radical policies, Mr Green upnolding traditional, . non-partisan trade unionism and Mr Lewis wishing to organise the workers in mass production industries, such as the motor-car industry, into great industrial unions. At the recent convention of the American Federation of Labour, MiLewis attacked Mr Green and his associates for their failure to organise more than 4,000,000 of the nation's 25,000,000 or more workers. Incidentally, Mr Lewis, while renouncing Communism, objected to Mr Green's policy of completely purging the federation of such elements. Mr Green's policies generally were supported by delegates to the convention, and apparently feeling in a strong position, Mr Green later made a bitter attack on Mr Lewis.

In the face of this attack Mr Lewis resigned. For the present, the miners will retain membership of the federation, but it is predicted that Mr Lewis will eventually attempt to form a national organisation in opposition to the American Federation of Labour, which would inevitably lead to a long period of strife within the ranks of American labour.