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Show 'REBELS' IN LABOR RIFT TO BETRIED A. F. of L. Leaders Vote To Sidestep Show- down Right Now WASHINGTON, July 15 (U.R) The American Federation Feder-ation of Labor executive council, coun-cil, sitting in judgment of 12 insurgent unions, was reported report-ed today to have decided upon a formal trial of the "rebels." This was the day which had been set for the showdown upon refusal of 12 committees for industrial organization members, led by John L. Lewis, to accede to A. F. of L. demands for dissolution. dissolu-tion. For a week the council has debated de-bated the issue. Some of the members have demanded immediate immedi-ate expulsion. Others have counseled coun-seled a more moderate course, pointing out that expulsion would complete the greatest dual split in the history of organized labor in the United States. Sidestep Showdown In llth-hour informal conferences confer-ences last night, A. F. of L. leaders lead-ers were reported to have decided to sidestep an immediate showdown show-down and vote instead a formal citation against C. I. O. members to appear for trial before the council, probably in two or three weeks. So far no formal charges have been drawn by the council. Lewis and his aides, in refusing an invitation invi-tation to appear before the council to plead their case last week, insisted in-sisted the council dared not split labor ranks during the critical C. I. O. drive to organize 820.000 steel automobile and rubber workers work-ers into industrial unions. There were sufficient votes on the council to suspend the rebel unions if the members follow their personal desires. But the ballot would be close, possibly 8 to 7, with Green voting, and under the circumstances it was believed some of the foes of Lewis would prefer not to take responsibility for splitting the federation by so close a margin. The C. I. O. leaders contend suspension sus-pension would be illegal and they have studied the possibilities of an appeal to the courts. The A. F. of L. counsel was reported to have declared the council has the right to suspend. The eight original C. I. O. unions are: The United Mines Workers of America; the International Typographical Ty-pographical Union; the Amalgamated Amalga-mated Clothing Workers of America: Ameri-ca: the International Ladies' Garment Gar-ment Workers' Union; the United Textile Workers of America; the Old Field, Gas Well and Refinery , Workers of America; the Cap and Millinery Department of the United Unit-ed Hatters and Millinery Workers' International Union; the International Interna-tional Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers. In addition, the four uninna which since have joined the C. I. O. are: The Amalgamated Association Asso-ciation of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers; the United Automobile. Workers; the United Rubber Workers: and the Flat Glass Workers. |