St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-04-12
LETTERS
DisagreeS With Editorial
On ThOmas-Reuther Fight

Disagrees With Editorial
On ThOmas-Reuther Fight
Editor: In your issue Of April
9th, there is an editorial entitled
THE X. J. THOMAS DEFEAT.
Allow me to take extre m e
exception to that editorial.
In it you assert that Thomas OPP
ponent (Reuther) had the support
Of the Ku Klux Khan, the Coughlin-
ties, the followers Of Gerald l.. X.
Smith, and other such elements who
have no legitimate roles in the trade
unions Of today" This assertion
is so indefensible and so patiently
erroneous that | am compelled to
question your sources Of lnforma-
ton.
II your information about fascist
groups and followers supporting
Reuther, comes from the same daily
press that misinfoTms US about Ne
groes and always takes position
against militancy in the labor
movement, then your information
is tainted at its very source.
Walter Reuther was victorious
because his program was one of
vigorous struggle against the cor
porations. Under the slogans of
open THE BOOKS" and WAGE
INCREASES WITHOUT PRICE
INCREASES" he led the auto
workers, Negro and white, in one
of the longest, most bitter strikes
in union history, and won great
concessions from the auto barons.
In winning, both Negro and white
benefited in equal measure.
There is an explanation as to
the close margin by which Reuther
won the presidency. 1t lies not in
your mistaken notion of fascist
support, a notion which falls apart
on mere examination. In my opin-
ion, it lies rather in the fact that
although Reuther's program touch
ed upon genuine needs and de-
mands Of the auto workers them
selves, it did not go far enough,
and on numerous occasions coin
cided with the Thomas program,
or to put it more precisely, lack of
program. The emphasis in the
Reuther victory should not rest on
the narrow margin by which the
presidency was won, but on the
fact that a majority of delegates
voted for Reuther and not for
Thomas. This should indicate a
healthy ferment in the JAW, a
ferment Of dissatisfaction with
halfway measures and a desire
for more decisive leadership on the
part Of the auto workers.
/ must point out that no out
standing union leader in the nation
is supported by fascist groupings.
Such a leader, if he existed, could
not long maintain his position in
a fighting union like GIN, much
less be elected to the highest office
Of the JAW. A case in point is
Homer Martin, former president
Of the union, who was removed from
office in 1888 and expelled after
becoming implicated in suspicious
deals with the Ford Motor Com
pany.
Since you, as editor of a pro.
gressive newspaper, have made the
accusation that Reuther received
decisive voting support from the
"Ku Klux Khan, the Coughlinites,
the followers of Gerald l.. X. Smith,
and other such elements who have
no legitimate roles in the trade
unions Of today" you owe it to
your reading public, to the Negro
community, and to the safety of
the labor movement to reveal the
evidence Of such information.
Yours very sincerely,
Irving Blumberg
1924 Russell Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MINI.
Editors Note: Giant, sprawlinR UAN
contains almost every theological ErOuI
that makes up the American scene. Nc
stigma can be attached to the JAW be
cause Of this condition. Il Is purely the re-
suit Of the UAW's natural desire for 1000,
membership In the auto industry. This in
dustry IL located mainly IN Michigan AnC
Ohio, where the Khan. CouRhlinites, RnC
Gerald l.. X. Smith followers are numerous
Smith from many platforms has bOAsteC
that his followers Joined the union with the
intention Of dividing il. In the trouble over
| project. two union leaders who were Avow'
eddy followers Of Smith led a fight TO pre-
veat Negroes from moving into the project
| They were suspended by the JAW from
their offices but until recently they were
still members Of the union. Homer Martin
whom Reader Blumberg mentions, had ties
with Father Coughlin which were exposed
| There was an element in the union which
| supported Martin TO the last In this RrOuI
were many open Ryuwcd CouHhlinites. some
are still members Of the union. The bis
4 Packard local had members who were prov
| en- TO BE- members 81 the Khan, Those VIII,
| had offices In the local were removed from
| Office but they still are in the union
Thomas, as president Of the UAw LEI
| many fights against these groups, II Is quit,
| probable that their support Of Reuther wa
based not on any liking for him but rather
on their hatred Of Thomas. Il was never
| said that these fascist groupings suppOrte,
ReutheT except In that he was prrferabl,