Evening star., 1947-11-16

of the CIO q decade ago. The Com
munists have looked to labor as the
most fertile field in which to ad'
vance their cause.
However, while Mr.. Reuther anc
his followers are violently anti-Com.
munist, it is misleading to classify
them as "rightists" as some reports
have done. Mr.. Reuther Is far from
being a conservative of the Unior
League type. In Washington ne
would be classed as a New Dealer, q
progressive. He has been called q
Socialist, but was member OF that
party for only a brief period while
attending Wayne University in De.
troit.
Reuther Grows in Stature
And, second, it is a serious setback
for the third-party aspirations o1
Henry A. Wallace and his followers
who would depend largely on labor
and especially the CIO for support
should Mr.. Wallace choose to put
himself in the 1S48 presidential race
Perhaps, a third significant point
should be added. For Mr.. Reuther's
complete domination Of the UAW
raises him 10 = powerful position
Ia the labor movement. Many per-
sons here now see him as heir-ap-
parent to Philip Murray as head oi
the CIO.
Reuther control makes certain
that the union Of 100000 members
will not be In the Wallace camp
or that Of any other third party
next year
1t probably means that the union
which boasts it Is the country's
largest, will support President Tru-
man. Right now, his close friends
saw, Mr.. Reuther would vote fol-
the President. And he probab
will feel the same way on election
day, barring. Of course, a serious
administration blow at labor OF
selection Of Republican candidate
more 10 labors liking than Mr.
Truman. None of the Republicans
prominently mentioned measure up
10 that standard.
No Admirer of Wallace
Mr.. Reuther is no admirer OF
Mr.. wallace. although he has never
said 80 publicly. He does not think
the one-time Vice President, on
ability, Is presidential timber, and
he is completely opposed to the
Wallace views on foreign policy.
While Mr.. Reuther is in favor OF
the eventual establishment OF a
third party of labor, working farm
ers. small businessmen and other
middle-class citizens, he thinks 1t
will take time to build such q
movement.
All of this is not meant to imply
that Mr.. Reuther is any great ad-
mirer of the President, either. He
can cite many Truman actions IN
making appointments to office and
otherwise which. he says, tend to
indicate no especial love for labor,
certainly not the types Of action
that would have been expected from
the late President Roosevelt, for
example. Nevertheless, Mr.. Reuther
believes, the Truman actions overall
are weighted favorably, certainly
better than could be expected from
any OF the Republican candidates.
Mr.. Reuther proved here that she
Communist problem In labor can be
dealt with effectively IN democratic
way without resort TO force or ex-
psaIsion from unions as many per-
sons have advocated. The CIO has
bssn slowly reversing tho trend
asaanst the Communists for some
time now, but the Reuther people
dsd II m o harry.
Opponents Mistakes Helped
The overwhelming way in which
he left-wingers were showed out o1
eon$rol amazed even the most ardent
stappo4ters Of the 40-year-old, red
head. who at one time worked m
Ford and General Motors plants. II
showed that the comparatively few
pasl Communists In labor, who are
ever smart bt,sybodies, can be re-
moved from positions Of power BY
hard work at the rank-and-f1le
lsyei and by offering the member
ship sn attractive program fos
Action.
Mr.. RsNthsr was benefited BY
many mistakes Of his opponents
They conducted campaign de-
ssened TO smear him with the work,
en-. They compared him to Senator
Taet Of Ohio, whose name is anath'
enaa among unionists, and even hae
him running for Vice President on
ticket Of the Republican leader
They had him advocating speedur
fsystems In factories, which have 8
sweat-shop meaning to auto work
sre. Mr.. Reuther was accused daily
Of "Red-baiting."
Reuther opposition was spear
headed by George F. Adde's, who was
onsted after IL years as secretary
treasurer. The other big leaders OF
the opposition were the vice presi-
dent, r. ]. Thomas, and Richard T
Leonard. Mr.. Adde's was the most
powerful Of the three, although Mr.
Thomas had served as president fol
wears until ousted narrowly by Mr.
He,,ther ut the last UAW conven.
tfon 10 months ago.
1hs Reuther people say they know
dsnnitsly that none Of the big three
OF the opposition was ever Com
unur,ist Party member. Nevertheless
they claim the three aided and were
aided by the Communists to such ar
extsnt that II amounted to strong