Evening star., 1940-11-06
John |. Lewis Silent
As Roosevelt Votes
Give Cue 10 Resign
Movement Is Started
To Have c. |. o. Leoder
Reconsider His Vow
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
John L. Lewis watched silently
today the mounting roll of Roose-
welt votes which sounded the call
he had set for himself to exit as
president of the C. I. o.
Mr.. Lewis, who sharply criticized
the Roosevelt administration two
weeks ago and called for the elec-
ton of Wendell L. willkie, appeared
in cheerful mood as he met news
papermen at his ONCE.
The c. I. o. leader, who was one
of the outstanding New Deal sup
porters four years ago, said he
would not make any public COM
ment on the results of yesterdays
election.
A New Deal backer in 1896. Mr..
Lewis announced in his Willkie ap-
peal that If third term were given
to President Roosevelt, he would re-
gard it as a vote of mo confidence"
in his judgment and retire from his
Office when the c. l. o. meets in
convention November Is.
Move to Reconsider Launched.
Despite this, however, a movement
got under way at the first sign of a
Roosevelt victory to have Mr.. Lewis
reconsider and continue in his pres
ent No. c. I. o. post.
If that move fails. Philip Murray
of Pittsburgh, c. I. o. vice presi-
dent, probably would be the choice
to carry on the leadership of an
organization which split into two
political camps as soon as Mr.. Lewis
came out for Mr.. Willkie.
Qn Pittsburgh, Mr.. Murray
said today he was happy to note
the history-making victory" of
'Flabor's friend, Mr.. Roosevelt"
Mr.. Murray, who also is chair
man of the Steel Workers Orga-
nizing Committee and vice presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers,
declined to make any statement
regarding Mr.. Lewis.)
Labor leaders said it would be
largely guess work to gauge at once
the effect of election outcome on the
pro-Lewis and pro-Roosevelt ad-
herents within the C. I. o. camp
where Lewis leadership has been the
dominant force for the last five years.
Lewis aides said they were con-
fident the G. I. o. would be able
to survive campaign bitterness and
that the job ahead, with or without
Mr.. Lewis at the top, was one of
reconciliation.
Peace Settlement Forecast.
The triumph of the pro-Roose-
welt leaders in G. I. o. brought pre-
dictions from some sources that an
A. F. of Lie. I. o. peace settlement
within six months would be worked
out. A. r. of L. leaders have blamed
Mr.. Lewis for the failure of past
conferences to produce labor set
tlement.
On the other hand, the pro-Lewis
forces asserted Mr.. Lewis would con-
tinue to exert major influence
over c. L o. policy and direction
since, along with his c. l. o. presi-
dency, he has been the leader and
outstanding figure of the powerful
United Mine Workers Union, re-
garded as the key unit of the c. I. o.
The C. !. o. presidency paid Mr.
Lewis no salary. The mine union
post carries a salary of $4,000 a
year.
If Mr.. Murray succeeds Mr.. Lewis
as the top man Of C. I. o., Mr.. Lewis
will be handing over the title to one
Of his closest associates for 80 years.
Mr.. Murray, like Mr.. Lewis, is q
miner and ranks next to Mr.. Lewis
in the miners union.
Mr.. Lewis was the founder and
first president of the G. I. o.: 1t grew
out of a break with the A. r. of l..
over organizing policies in the big
mass production industries in 1885.