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Show THE Fok L. Lewis Censured By CIO (From the Munitions Worker) Head of Coal Miners Union Condemned by United Steelworkers for Violating No-Strike Pledge and Endangering National Security; Motives Questioned in Attempts to Undermine War Labor Board. Reports have reached the editor of the Munitions Worker that many employees of Remington Arms Company at the Utah Ordnance Plant are under the impression that John L. Lewis is identified with the CIO and the United Steelworkers of America. That is a completely erroneous supposition—a plain misunderstanding. John L. Lewis is in no way identified or connected with the United Steelworkers, nor with the CIO. Indeed, he is unfriendly to both. John L. Lewis is president of the United Mine Workers of America— the coal miners union. He has absolutely nothing to do with the CIO, nor with any of its affiliated unions. The United Mine Workers at present are Strictly unaffiliated and independent. However, Mr. Lewis recently made application to re-affiliate the coal miners with the American Federation of Labor. Without exception, all divisions of organized labor—CIO, the Rail- road Brotherhoods, and the A. F. of L.—pbelieve that something should be done for the coal miners. By common consent all organized workers in America agree that the coal miners are entitled to wage adjustments, and to many other over-due considerations. But American workers are virtually unanimous in the view that the coal miners are wholly ill-advised, and utterly remiss in their duty toward the Nation when they follow John L. Lewis—or anybody else—into any strike or work stoppage at a time when the outcome of the war hinges upon the uninterrupted production of coal and other vital SEARCHLIGHT war (Continued materials. on page 8) Elsewhere in this edition we carry a story from the Munitions Worker and Steel Labor to give readers the ClO view of John L. Lewis and the coal controversy. Perhaps the most important long-range aspect of the Lewis affair is the public reaction political consequences Undoubtedly to his methods, and the of his moves. the probable passage of the Connally bill and the tendency in Congress to break down the safeguards surrounding collective bargaining are directly attributable to adverse sentiment aroused by the Lewis tactics. In the long run all American workers are bound to suffer from Lewis’ uUl-advised methods and his studied to diseredit the War Labor Board, the formation expressly consented attempt of which he to. On the political side his moves are even more reprehensible. Not only is he creating and solidifying formidable op- position to labor, but it is apparent he is joining hands with Bill Hutcheson to elect a Republican—any Republican—as the next president of the United States. More than ever labor needs the friendship of Franklin D. Roosevelt, a fact which brings out into bold relef the political dis-service L. Lewis is doing to all American workers. His application to be re-admitted to the American eration of Labor can only mean that he has hooked up Bill Hucheson to strike at President Roosevelt. If Lewis is permitted to come back into the A. F. John Fedwith of L., he and Hutcheson will dominate the Federation. The influence of Tobin, Harrison, and other high class leaders will be all but destroyed. The attempt of the AFL and the CIO to re-unite will be frustrated. Lewis will be the AFL dictator. And no responsible CIO leader will return to the AFL under that condition. Mau-Welling Politics Not content with ing-Eggmonds ordinary State. Shaw made of the Peterson, is of the nearing Farm Well- pushed its dirty paws into the educational system of the The gang is attempting to install its favorite, Seth T. of the State Department of Agriculture in the place it has highly uncomfortable for Dr. William Peterson, director Dr. control the Tracy has service. -in intrigue Bureau extensien combine political the retirement age. Logan people want to have W. W. Owens, assistant extension service director succeed Dr. Peterson. But the State administration clique want Mr. Shaw. We do not question the calibre of Mr. Shaw. But we do question the metives of the Welling clique which seems bent on turning the extension service into a political adjunct of the Maw machine. The Governor needs “rehabilitation” in the rural districts. |