Montana labor news., 1944-09-28
LEWIS AUTHORITY
UNCHALLENCEDA AS
UNIV MEET ENDS


CINCINNATI-(FP)-A GRITTY Of
Pres. John L. Lewis over the United
Mine Workers CunaffiliatedD remained
unchalIenged as $500 delegates to its
38th convention headed home for the
coal fields September 81.
Assuring himself of an uncontested
election for a 4-year-term, Lewis ruled
his only opponent, Ray Edmundson
leader of the autonomy movement, in
eligible to run for office. Earlier Ed
munson was barred as a delegate after
he chaired a pre-convention autonomy
caucus.
Although there was strong expression
of pro-Roosevelt sentiment from the
miners throughout the convention, the
political report of the resolutions com
mittee attacking FDR and tacitly in
dorsing Thomas E. Dewey was passed.
The report devoted seven out of 10
pages to attacks on the Roosevelt ad-
ministration and ended with the recon-
mendation: your committee feels that
the UNIV should not depart from its
traditional political policy and its con-
stitutional provisions and indorse a AN
or party in the 1914 campaign"
In his keynote address Lewis advised
the convention and the nations 600, 900
miners to vote against the fourth term
in November. Absence of any specific
political Endorsement in the final report
was conceded by the press as due to the
strong Roosevelt feeling shown by the
delegates.
Boos swept through the hall when
Hefferly, president of Colorado
District Is and chairman of the COM
on officers reports, demanded
that the convention vote this Roose-
welt administration out of power The
applauded when John Masarco.
Of Canonsburgi Pa, rose and answered.
I'VE love President Lewis for his cou-
rageous leadership, but we will not turn
down the savior Of humanity, the man
who opened the gates to the morgan
.zed Of the land so that they could or
yanize ana who thus made it possible
Tor us to have our great union"
Pro-Roosevelt expression was still ris-
.ng in volume on the convention floor
when Lewis suddenly demanded that the
convention mot waste time" and insist
ID the debate be closed. Some 300 dele
gates voted against adoption Of the po-
itical report.
The movement for district autonomy
vas put down after a ~day-long debate
on despite the enforced absence
If Edmundson from the convention floor.
Delegates were still standing five deep
It each of the four %microphones in diff
'erent parts of the hall when the pre-
rious question was moved. During the
Lewis threatened autonomy cham
)ions would be expelled from the union,
,ut more than 200 delegates nevertheless
TODD up to vote for autonomy.
Last hope Of the opposition disap-
Feared when Lewis annunced that Ed
nundson was not eligible to run against
i'm for president in the December 10
lection. Grounds given were the same
.dvanced earlier to bar Edmundson from
seat at the convention-that he was
,ehind in his dues and not at present
working in a mine. Lewis asked the
onvention if there were any objections.
10 one rose.
A few minutes later a provision eX-
ending the term Of international off
ers to a 4-year period instead Of the
revious and traditional two years was
nut forward and hastily approved. There
,ere shouts of No and about 100 dele
ates stood in opposition during the ris-
ng vote. A resolution in favor of hold
lg conventions every four years instead
f two was adopted.
A direct appeal to Lewis by Secretary
f the Interior arold L. Ickes to end
he current mine strikes in Kentucky
nd to prevent further coal strikes for
he duration was ignored in the reply
emit by the UNIV convention. Lewis was
uthorized to send a 7O0-word telegram
evoted mainly to attacks on the gov
for a rotten DEAF to the Cler-
,al Technical & Supervisory Employees
-nion. a UNIV affiliate. Lewis suggest
d that Ickes ask Roosevelt and his adj
isers to LAY off us for a while, at least
ntil after election"
In his final address Lewis said he
new of no other public assembly in
ne U. S. where greater freedom of ex-
ression was permitted to delegates than
n the floor Of the miners convention
When you leave the convention you may
e told that the UNIV convention is not
emocratic and the chairman is an auto
rat wreaking his will on the assembly"
evils said: "Of course, you won't be-
eve that"
WI,B Saws Ward Treated