The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-19
-FOUR OPPOSE
SECRETARY FOR
S4,5 0 0 POS 7

The sanual election OF officers
OF the worlds greatest local union.
Ford Local 900. UAW-CIO. began
Monday with opposing candidates
for top offices promising stiff COM
petition before the final runoff In
about two weeks.
Shelton Tapes. running on a
slate which includes w. J. Grant
for president. Tommy Thompson for
vice president. Tom Spowart for
financial secretary. Andy Dewar for
sergeant-at-arms, John Gallo for
guide and Bill McKie for trustee.
Is again a candidate for the $4,000
. year post OF recording secretary.
Tapes is opposed by Marcellius
Ivory (colored), Ted Stack, Mickey
Murdoch and Bud Gore. Others
opposing the Tappes-Grant slate
are: Wise Stone for financial secre-
tary. Walter Bell and Leroy Bell
fcoloredD for trustee, Jim Murphy
for sergeant-at-arms and Joe
Vranich for guide.
Seek Seniority for Women
Tapes said Monday that he and
other liberal unionists are now en-
gagged in formulating plans whereby
seniority of union members now
IN the armed forces will be accred-
tied to their wives in the event
these men are killed or injured TO
the degree that they will be unable
TO support themselves and families
Tapes said his slate Is also backing
the no-strike pledge: is opposed to
the proposed plan for a national
service act and Is backing every
effort to break the Little Steel
formula so that wages can be ad-
justed commensurate with rising
costs OF living.
Tapes issued the following state
nent ir support Of other candidates
on his ticket Monday: ~
II am supporting men who stand
FOR Full support Of the JAW and
CIO Policy in the current election
at Ford Local 600: w. J. Grant for
president. Thomas Thompson for
vice president. Thomas Spowart for
financial secretary. Andy Dewar
for sergeant-at-arms and John
Gallo for guide.
These men have proven them
selves 10 be able and qualified to
hold the positions 10 which they
are aspiring and have the liberal
attitudes that deserve for them the
votes OF all Ford workers.
Brother Grant. the leader OF the
group. has time and again proved
himself the champion OF the minori-
ties in our union. A better choice
for president could not be made.
have worked with him as a brother
officer for two complete terms and
have complete faith in him.
The others TO a man have stood
out as the type Of union men we
should I'll be proud 70 consider for
leadership in Local 800. From the
organi.ationai days to the present
time there has never been any
union position ON any issue.
."All are incumbents with the ex-
ception Of Thomas Spowart who Il
running for financial secretary. He
IL at present chairman Of the Spring
and Upset building - Signed.
Shelton Tapes.
Twyman's Position
Otis Eaton issued the following
statement in behalf OF Twyman.
Monday:
Joseph Twyman stated that he
was seekin.S reelection 10 the office
Of president OF Ford local 800.
UAW-CIO. on platform based
upon strict Clio policy. A policy
that he explained stands for abso-
lutely no discrimination whether II
be racial. or otherwise. Mr.. Twy-
man explained his reason for in
Guiding his opposition TO discrimi-
nation was caused by, what he
termed spurious seniority issues
being raised by his opposition. A
slate headed by w. C.. Grant and
including other incumbents. who
are seeking reelection 10 the posts
that they have held for. the past
three years.
The Grant slate would add the
seniority Of incapicated soldiers or
those killed in the war to that OF
their wives who are employed by
the Ford Motor company. Mr.. ivy
man stated that this is and has been
the policy Of the local since women
have been employed.
'Twyman stated further that
Insofar as racial discrimination was
concerned Local Union 800 stands
alone 10 the extent that il has
earned the respect Of every pro-
grcssive organization in the coun-
try. both in and outside Of labor
circles. His particular interests at
this time, he stated. however, is CEN
tered around his opposition to any
form OF enforced labor as he de-
scribed the request for National
Service act. made by the President
In his last message to Congress
He explained that the chief Suf-
ferers from such an enactment
would be Negroes and other mi
nority groups, and that he hoped
Negro unionists in particular would
realize the seriousness of such a
measure and rally 10 the supper,
Of the National Clio who is wag-
ing a relentless fight against this
measure"