Evening star., 1948-11-22
C|0Convention Open,
As Right Wing Plans
More Curbs on Left
By the Assoeioted Press

BY the Associated Press
PORTLAND, Greg, Nov. o.
The Congress of Industrial Or
ganizations opens its 10th con-
vention today with the anti
Communist right wing in full
control and determined to deliver
further heavy blows to the dwin-
ding left wing.
Right-wingers were not agreed
on how far to carry their crusade
The group of left wing leaders
who supported Henry Wallace for
President and have opposed the
Marshall Plan of European aid had
their problem, too: how far to re-
sist. Lee Pressman, former CIO gen.
eral counsel, arrived in Portland to
advise them on strategy.
Philip Murray. CIO president
swinging the gavel over an organ
ization that is delighted over the
National elections and Is more near
ly united than it has been in years,
issued his annual report without dis
cussing the Communist issue.
But that was the subject in every
body's conversation as about TOO del
egates from 40 unions assembled in
Portland's Masonic temple.
Mr.. Murray in his report laid
down an S-point essential" eco
nomic program for insuring a
healthy domestic economy"
He listed Cd price controls, (2l
an excess profits tax, 80 control OF
essential materials, % an "all-out
attack" on business monopoly, 60
farm price supports, t6) q minimum
wage of 81 an hour. CD low-cost
public housing, "a plant expansion
in basic industries.
He did not demand a fourth
round of postwar wage increases.
But that subject will be discussed
in the convention.
The right -wingers have already
scored. one impressive victory. The
CIO Executive Board by 1875 vote
revoked the charter of the New York
City CIO Council on the ground OF
'slavish adherence" to Communist
Party dictates.
Other Changes on Way.
In the convention proceedings the
CIO leadership. with overwhelming
voting strength. planned to adopt
a number of resolutions that the
Ieft-Wing objects to.
For example: Indorsing the Mar
shall Plan. paving the way for q
possible withdrawal from the World
Federation of Trade Unions, and
raising from 5-cents-a-month to 8
cents the per capita tax which
unions pay to the National C1O Tor
each Of their members.
The leftists were reported to be
planning a minority report" on
these and other matters If so, 1t
would be the first minority report
ever to come out in CIO conven-
ton.
In the past, policy statements have
been argued out in committee. and
compromises reached, so that unan-
imous approval could be had from
the delegates. This year the right
wing leadership didn't need to COM
promise.
But the most militant anti-Com-
munists, men like Walter Reuther
of the auto workers and Emil Rieve
and George Baldanzi of the textile
workers, are anxious to go further
than resolutions and speech-mak-
ing.
Here are some of the suggestions
that have been discussed by various
rightwingers:
/. A change in the C1O consti-
tuition to require all CIO officers
and members of the 5l-man Exec
utive Board to follow national CIO
policies or resign their CIO posi-
tions.
2. An election campaign to pre-
vent Albert j. Fitzgerald from be-
ing reelected as a CIO vice presi-
dent. Mr.. Fitzgerald, president of
the United Electrical Workers, was
the only one of the nine CIO vice
presidents who supported Henry
Wallace in defiance of CIO policy.
Some are talking about running
Willard Townsend, president Of the
Transport Service Workers, against
him.
3. A change in CIO rules to per-
NIT Mr.. Murray to revoke charters
of city and state CIO councils with
out going through the lengthy pro-
cedures which had to be followed
in the New York CIO council case.
4. A movement-or at least the
threat of a moyement-to expel
any union from the CIO whose
leaders refuse to conform to CIO
policies.
Today it seemed most unlikely
that such a drastic step will be
taken. Hardly anyone expects the
CIO unions to split apart into two
separate organizations.