The Union of Fifteen Million
BOHN, WILLIAM E.
By William E. Bohn The Union of Fifteen Million The new AFL-CIO is the most powerful trade-union federation in the world ?and its leaders know it The New Leader published many an editorial praying...
...He summed up what they were thinking better than they could say it themselves...
...Practical labor politicians always told us that we were naive, that the reunion was impossible as long as human nature remained what it was...
...Folsom...
...Two Negro labor leaders, Willard Townsend and A. Philip Randolph, sat conspicuously on the platform along with the other 27 members of the Executive Board...
...They were in their own family...
...I am sure that these men would compare favorably with any other body of equal size--whether representing big business or anyone else...
...How will they use their power...
...Any listener quickly realized that these delegates, from Meany ond own, were deeply in earnest about cleaning grafters and thieves out of their house...
...He was their man...
...In orderliness, in efficiency, in their ability to get business done though paying strict attention to the rules of democratic procedure...
...And there were college professors enough to start a university...
...in fact, he gave an enthusiastic send-off...
...At any rate, the great reunion was consummated in the old 71st Regiment Armory in New York on Monday morning, December 5. Even on the surface, this seems like an enormous achievement...
...And in the convention much thought went to the 30 million workers who receive less than a living wage...
...They were obviously eager to make a good impression...
...The way in which the program was run off on time did great credit to the officials...
...These intellectuals have studied their history and economics, and they are skittish about prophecy...
...The important question is...
...Some of the attention of the delegates was...
...And there were Negroes scattered all through the great armory...
...And, I suppose, the general sweep toward amalgamation and bigness came to include labor as well as business, religion and practically every other phase of our life...
...For good or ill...
...Yes...
...And these men, including President Eisenhower, spoke very well...
...Over and over, various speakers and resolution committees declared that we cannot be sure of a good life in America unless people are free and prosperous in other parts of the world...
...This applied especially to Adlai Stevenson--no matter how high-brow he is or how much given to wisecracks...
...It has produced, too, the largest trade union group in the world--that is, if we disregard the Government-controlled workers of Russia...
...it will be carried on systematically by all units and at all levels...
...Things will never be the same again...
...The Democrats, on the contrary, were at home...
...Meany has never believed that the principle of union autonomy should protect a crook...
...More than one speaker on this convention platform mentioned the fact that, without the efforts of these and many myriads of other less distinguished but equally devoted members going 'way back to the early years, this great reunion could not have taken place...
...The delegates were better-trained, better-dressed, better-acting and better-looking than their predecessors were forty or fifty years ago...
...the new president of the Industrial Union Department, stood beside President Meany--and it seemed to me more than once that I caught in his look, in his words, in his whole way of acting and thinking, the idealistic spirit of old Gene Debs...
...President Meany introduced them in the most gracious way...
...Thurgood Marshall delivered a magnificent address on the whole race problem and was received with rousing enthusiasm...
...The figures in the books are to be checked by accountants and the members are to know what becomes of every cent of their money...
...The fight for honesty has been openly and vigorously waged ever since George Meany came to the top of the old Federation...
...Many of them recall the tough times which followed the split in 1935-6 or-even--the massacres at Homestead or in the mine fields...
...Wages and working conditions were thought of in this convention--and are today generally thought of in the labor movement--as a part of the general welfare...
...The Republicans were well received...
...The Communists were the little men who weren't there...
...Is prepared to spend $4 million to bring new members into the constituent organizations...
...Is this great new organization likely to drive ruthlessly ahead without giving consideration to other people or other countries or any interests except their own...
...As I wandered up and down the great floor and talked with old friends from every part of the country, I heard from the mouths of labor people themselves an expression of two quite different attitudes...
...Better wages, shorter hours and better working conditions are important now, as they have been since the beginning of the trade-union movement...
...I inevitablv thought of old Gompers...
...Persons concerned with national and state affairs--including such politicians as Senator Barry Goldwater (R.-Ariz...
...The delegates themselves were, for the most part, seasoned trade-union officials...
...In such idealistic and humanitarian movements, it was explained, men drawing down salaries of $25,000 or $50,000 were somehow able to persuade themselves that two federations were better than one...
...They have been through the mill...
...First, there was the race problem...
...Those of us who could recall the bitter struggles against the Communists in many of our trade-union conventions must have been impressed by the complete absence of Kremlin followers from this gathering...
...There will, of course, be a great organizing campaign in the near future...
...From now on, Negroes can stand up straight in the American labor movement, and there is nothing which they can do to advance their cause which will be more effective than to join this movement and play their part in it...
...But they all spoke as if they were scared...
...Walter Reuther...
...They will help make this nation...
...Omer Becu, President of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, was received with a storm of applause...
...Naturally, as I sat and listened and watched, I thought of old times...
...It is said that the Industrial Union Department, which contains at the start 7 million members, far more than ever joined the CIO...
...From now on...
...As one entered the brilliantly lighted meeting-place, the first thing to hold his attention was a great red white-and-blue backdrop behind the platform topped by the words: "All trades--All crafts--All colors-All creeds...
...And when he said that labor would go on fighting for all kinds of a better world but would not start a labor party, I could close my eyes and practically believe the old boy was hovering over him...
...But the subject of Communism as a world threat occupied a large place in the discussions...
...now watch IIS go to town...
...To Mr...
...It brings under one roof the most active and dynamic group operating in this country...
...No matter what influences are brought to bear against them, they will have significant influence in this country during the coming decades...
...and Presidential Assistant Harold Stassen--are perfectly justified when they speculate fearfully upon the effect of this gigantic development...
...They would say, "it's a good thing to have all of this power united--if fellows like Dave Beck and John L. Lewiscanbe kept in their places, if the organized workers don't get separated from the rest of the people, if...
...Fifteen million men and women with the members of their families and all of their connections represent a tremendous power...
...So we had to wait until death took its toll, time toned down hatreds, and John L. Lewis was shunted onto a sidetrack...
...These words suggest the sort of idealism and optimism which fired the 1,400 delegates...
...Education and Welfare, offered a detailed discussion of the present status of the measures being administered by his department--and the delegates listened with real attention...
...So far as this great organization is concerned, the old charge that American organized labor is careless of the rights of Negro workers must be abandoned...
...And I can report that alcohol played a more modest part in convention proceedings than it formerly did...
...As I listened to the political speakers, a definite notion gradually worked itself to the top of my mind...
...As anyone would expect, chief attention will be directed toward the South, and a special effort will be made to bring in great numbers of the Negroes who have been hitherto neglected...
...They didn't know quite what to say or how to act...
...At the head of the two organizations, we were finally fortunate enough to get two men who were young-minded and high-minded enough to care more for labor welfare and national progress than for their own titles and jobs...
...But I also had another fancy...
...About half the time and energy of the delegates was devoted to matters which are not especially trade-union affairs at all...
...As I saw George Meany standing there so straight and keen...
...Marion B. Folsom, Secretary of Health...
...He talked right out of the hearts of the crowd...
...of course, given to strikes and wage negotiations...
...His activity is leading to far different results, but the kinship in spirit seems to me very real...
...Everyone was on hand from the League for Industrial Democracy and the International Labor Organization to the New York Public Library...
...They talked the same language as the men on the platform and down on the floor...
...By William E. Bohn The Union of Fifteen Million The new AFL-CIO is the most powerful trade-union federation in the world ?and its leaders know it The New Leader published many an editorial praying rather hopelessly for union of the AFL and CIO...
...All of the features of our public and organizational welfare programs were painstakingly gone into...
...Practically all of them, as they looked about and enjoyed the feeling of power, would answer my questions: "Of course this is great...
...then, what do these union members have on their minds...
...And in the resolution dealing with our foreign policy, the union men spoke out for bolder, more imaginative and more expensive programs to checkmate the Conmunists...
...How often did I hear Sam Gompers, William Green and Philip Murray preside over conventions or address meetings...
...There has been a change in the balance of power...
...Among the delegates and, especially, among the ring of exhibits which encircled the big show, there was a liberal sprinkling of intellectual experts, Forward-looking committees and commissions and institutions by the dozen were exhibiting their wares...
...There have been unions which have cared little about anything except the wages of their own members...
...Walter is a much more practical man than the old Socialist leader ever was...
...Anti-union scandalmongers would have been surprised had they heard the discussion of ethical problems...
...But in the discussion of wages, a good deal of attention is now given to the effect of high wages upon the national market...
...Resolutions were adopted in favor of FEPC and integration in the public schools...
...There was detailed discussion of child welfare, old-age insurance and workmen's compensation, health and welfare administration...
...They seemed to be strangers from a different sort of outside world...
Vol. 38 • December 1955 • No. 50
