Evening star., 1947-11-16

played a major part in his victories
here.
Just how many Communists there
are in the UAW is anybody's guess
The Reuther people say there are
not many compared to the powerful
influence they undoubtedly have ex-
erted in the union. They estimate
that only about Is of the 1000 dele
gates to the conventions are Reds,
although they were able to control
directly several hundreds OF votes
among the convention total OF 1885
1t must be remembered also that
most of the Communists were de-
feated when the JAWS over 900 10
Gals elected their delegates recently
In his campaign to control the
union Mr.. Reuther carefully re-
Trained from smear tactics, simply
! selling his program to the member
ship and saying the Executive
Board majority was preventing him
from carrying it out.
Two men among those who played
kew parts in selling Mr.. Reuthel
and his ideas to the rank and file
are Frank Winn, UAW publicity dl-
rector and a devoted follower, and
Victor Reuther, the presidents
brother, who has charge OF the
JAWS tremendous educational pro-
gram. Mr.. Winn and Victor Reu-
ther quietly worked for their man
although the Executive Board had
the authority to dismiss them at
any time.
Rising Prices Helped Cause
The sharp rise the past year OF
prices and living costs actually
Strengthened the Reuther cause
greatly because of the union heads
long battle for controls on prices
and profits. Dating back to before
the General Motors strike of No
vember, 1945, Mr.. Reuther argued
for wage increases without price
rises. He coupled the argument with
the statement that the UAW would
seek no wage hike if GIN could show
they could not raise pay without
raising prices. He demanded look
at the corpora tion's books, saying 1t
would prove his point. But GIN re-
fused to show it's books even to a
Government fact-fnding board.
A big break for the Reuther forces
was the attempt of the Adde'S
Thomas Leonard faction last sum-
ner to merge the CIO farm equip
ment workers with the UAW.
Reuther people said the union,
which claimed 10000 members, was
Communist-run and that the op-
position wanted them in the UAW
to help the battle against Mr.
Reuther. In the UAW the few was
to have virtual autonomy and 1t was
to be given voting strength at the
convention based on its own count
Of membership. Newly chartered
regular UAW locals are not allowed
to take part In q convention i'm
mediately ahead and the Reuther
people made much OF that point.
They defeated the merger idea
overwhelmingly In a membership
referendum vote.
Then, in September, Mr.. Reuther
caught the opposition by surprise.
blasting their allegedly obstructionist
tactics and left-w1ng actions in a
special report to the membership. ;"
Charges Backfred
He included In the report, which
reached every member as a supple
ment TO the official UAW news
paper, a 29-point program of def
mite union action which proved to
have great appeal to the rank
and file. The Executive Board Gen.
sored him for issuing the report
charging that 1t proved Mr.. Reuther
an advocate Of the Taft Hartley
Act, Of speedup work ideas and
that he had sold out to employers.
The charges backfired when the
opposition refused to take advan-
tage Of Mr.. Reuther's invitation to
file formal charges against him.
A part Of the long blast in the
report at communism and Commu-
nists IN the UAW gives some idea
Of Mr.. Reuther's political beliefs.
II states:
while recognizing Americas I'M
perfections and the shortcomings of
democracy as 1t Is now practiced,
we nevertheless must reaffirm our
faith in Americas future and in the
future Of democracy throughout the
world. While continuing our fight
to strengthen democracy and to
make America q better place to
live, We must at the same time re-
sist with all our strength the efforts
Of any one who would betray Amer
lea to foreign power or who would
sell democracy short"
Mr.. Reuther believes that third
political party, in which labor's
voice would be more articulate
must be started in the countrys s
grass roots" and built up on a
precinct, county and State basis
He doesn't think such a movement
can be successful without:
l. Full cooperation between the
CIO and AFL.
2. A much better relationship than
at present between organized labor
and the working farmer.
3. The support of the professional
groups, small businessmen and
others of the middle class group.
Prefers Price Rollback
Mr.. Reuther believes the failure OF
the UAW to elect candidates in the
last two Detroit mayoralty elections
were not true tests Of the unions
power of political action. In 1916
Tt~n <.~x,o ny