SPLIT IN THE RANKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 278, 26 November 1935, Page 7

SPLIT IN THE RANKS

LABOUR IN AMERICA FEDERATION DISPUTE’ CONSERVATIVE v. RADICAL [By Telezraph—Frees Association— Copyright! WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. The long-smouldering feud within the ranks of the American Federation of Labour came to a head to-day as Mr John Lewis, president of the powerful Coal Miners’ Union, sent a curt letter resigning the vice-presi-dency of the Federation to Air W. Green. In the broadest terms 0 the controversy between the two hinges on the conservative and radical policies, Mr Green unholding the traditional nonpartisan straight trade unionism, and Mr Lewis wishing to organise the workers in mass production industries, such as the automobile industry, into great industrial unions. At the recent American Federation of Labour Convention Air Lewis castigated Air Green and his associates for failure to organise more than 4,000,000 of the nation’s 25,000,000 or more workers. Incidentally, Air Lewis, while renouncing Communism, objected to Air Green’s policy of completely purging the Federation of such elements. Air Green’s policies were generally supported by the convention delegates, and, apparently, feclincr in a strong position, he subsequently bitterly attacked Air Lewis. In the face of this attack Air Lewis resigned. For the present the miners will retain the membership of the Federation, but it is predicted that Air Lewis will eventually attempt to form a national organisation in opposition to the American Federation of Labour, which will inevitably lead to a long period of strife within'the ranks of American labour.