Evening star., 1946-03-10
Backers Launch Drive
To Draft Reuther as
Auto Workers Head
BY the Associoted Press

DETROIT, Mar. 9.-The 109th day
OF the General Motors strike en-
tered the record today with INC
progress" in settlement negotiations
and the launching of a campaign
for Walter P. Reuther, strike leader
as president of his CIO United Auto
Workers Union.
A Michigan group of presidents OF
auto workers locals announced a
plan to draft Mr.. Reuther, now a
UAW-CIO vice president, as a can
didate for president at the union S
convention in Atlantic City starting
March %. This was the first hint
from union ranks as to the conven-
tons political lineup.
f. j. Thomas. president, is ex-
pected to seek his seventh term at
the helm of the big CIO union,
175,000of whose members have been
on strike against General Motors
since November 81 in the auto in
dustry's longest and costliest labor
dispute.
The hackers of Mr.. Reuther. 38-
year-old head of the UAW-CIO's
General Motors Department, said in
statement today that large ma
Jority" Of the unions membership
desires a change in order to carry
out a vigorous, progressive and in
telligent program" and eliminate
factionalism."
Accused of Fostering Rivalry.
Mr.. Thomas, the statement
charged, has 'perpetuated" himself
In Office by fostering and encour-
aging rivalry" between Mr.. Reuther
and George F. Adde's, secretary
treasurer.
Mr.. Reuther said he had made
no decision as to whether to seek
the presidency of the union.
1T Is not personal matter but
one which must be considered from
the standpoint of what is best for
the union and its members" he
said. In that respect I will be
guided by the democratic will of
the people with whom I have been
associated in the union"
Mr.. Reuther said he appreciated
the support, calling it a "hearten-
ing note of confidence" Mr..
Thomas refused to discuss either
the charges made against him or
the advocacy of Mr.. Reuther as a
rival for the job of president.
Heading "Reuther-fo -for-presi-
dent" committee are Ed Varion,
president of GIN Local 594 at Pom
tiac, and Harold Wood, president of
Briggs Local 742 of Detroit. They
claimed the support of is other
local presidents, including UAW-
C1O heads in Detroit, Flint, Grand
Rapids and Bay City.
AS General Motors and union Of
f1cials completed their negotiat ton
session today, James F. Dewey, Fed
eral mediator, announced mo
progress" The meeting lasted only
q half hour.
monday Session Slated.
Mr.. Dewey, however, said the
session was cut short in order for
him to confer separately with both
sides before returning tonight to
spend Sunday at his home in Ches-
ter, Pa. He scheduled another ses-
sion for Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile Alfred H, Ward. pub-
Usher of the trade magazine Auto
mobile Topics, predicted with an
early stabilization of its labor and
supply problems, the nations car
industry may assemble 2,850,0OO
passenger cars this year.
Earlier projections by the car
manufacturers had forecast up to
100000 vehicles this year.
Writing under the heading "a
Look at the Future" Mr.. Ward said
in the current issue of the maga-
zine:
1T would appear that the first
quarter will do we'll to see 25O,OOO
passenger cars; the second quarter
about 100000; the third quarter a
little over the million mark and the
fourth quarter around 100000. .
Including trucks, the years total
output could well be between $780,
900 and 3,60O,O00"
The fourth quarter output of pas
senger cars would decline because of
indications that the switch-over to
new models must be deferred until
the latter part Of the year, Mr..
Ward said.