Evening star., 1946-11-24
|Amyefs Convention
Rebukes Commander
For Anti-lewis Stand
BY q s.aff Correspondent Of IN. star

can Veterans of World War II to-
night agreed unanimously to keep
away from national policy stands
on labor management issues, and
classified Jack w. Hardy, their COM
mander, for statement last week
condemning John L. Lewis.
After making his statement, Mr..
Hardy requested the AMVETS con-
vention to propose an anti-Lewis
resolution. In face of a flood OF
both anti and prolabor resolutions, a
special committee, including union
members and residents of coal min
ing regions recommended that dele
gates pass on labor controversies
"only when they refer to the eco
nomic and social welfare Of the
American people"
That the recommendation was ap-
proved without much debate was a
tribute to the committee chairman,
the Rev. Joseph T. O'Callahan, AM
vets national chaplain, and his ex-
PLANTATION Of the committees action.
Urges Community Study.
II know this might subject us to
criticism as middle-of-the-road
position" he declared, "but this is
the American position. Because we
are representative of all groups, we
should not take such action unless
issues relate specifically to the gen.
eral economic and social welfare"
Father O'Callahan also asked that
each State department form 10
man labor-management board, in
cluding five union members to eyal-
uate local labor problems in each
community.
The resolution aimed at Mr.
Hardy's statement declared that mo
national officer shall issue state
ments that could be construed as
discriminatory to any segment Of
the American people, without the
express approval Of the National
Executive Committee"
Extension Of the Sdective Serv-
ice Act beyond its March expira-
tion date, followed by early legisla-
ton for universal military training,
was urged by Maj. Gen. Lewis B.
Hershey, selective service director,
as essential to the Nations defense
needs.
Speaking at the convention BAN
quet, Gen. Hershey declared that
1--WE are already on borrowed time"
in the matter of preparedness.
Twice In my generation we have
been caught rich and weak" he as
serted. "We have paid in the blood
of our youth and in the resources
of our Nation because we avoided
our responsibilities and convinced
too much of the world that we
would not and could not fight"
Many Questions Left Open.
The convention due to end tomor-.
row and the delegates face an almost
impossible task of acting on a host
of controversial veterans and ma
tional issues and nomination and
election of national officers. Pend
ing resolutions deal with the bonus
question, universal military training
and other national defense issues,
dozens of veterans rehabilitation
resolutions and recommendations Of
several internal organization COM
mittees.
The question of racial discrimina-
ton arose in discussion of selection
Of a city for the 1947 convention
when John n. Scott, colored, an
AMVETS officer in the Ohio De-
partment, declared many Negroes
stayed away this time because we
met in st. Louis"
Mr.. Scott said he was forced to
eat lunch in the kitchen of large
hotel here today. He spoke after
the group was invited to meet In
Miami next year.
Omaha finally was selected as the
convention city.
The Amvets housing program, pre-
sented by Ray Sawyer of Washing
ton, Federal Communications Com
mission lawyer and leading can
didate for the post Of national COM
mander, called for retention of most
Federal controls on housing. includ-
ing rent restrictions, channeling of
materials into veterans housing and
a $4,000 ceiling on veterans homes.
The conventions most heated
battle is expected to develop with
election of officers. Interest is CEN
tered around the national comman-
der post, with the two top pre-con-
vention candidates Mr.. Sawyer
and Warren Wright, Chicago banker,
still leading the field.
With widely divergent ideas about
what kind of organization AMVETS
should be, Mr.. Sawyer has proposed
a liberal program of active partici-
patton in national affairs. Mr..
Wright subscribes to the view of
stronger organization in commun-
ity posts and a lesser voice in ma
tional issues.
An independent group Of dele
gates, meanwhile, has scheduled
all-night caucuses tonight in efforts
to select a third candidate.
Scognu Heads Lido Club