Evening star., 1948-12-05

ileft-wing opposition a resolution
continuing operations Of the Po-
litical Action Committee and con-
tinuing opposition to any third
party movement. The measure
called for the 'unstinting support"
and "wholehearted cooperation"
with PAC of all CIO affiliates. The
language did not exist when the
left-wing unions bolted to Henry
Wallace in the last campaign.
The convention definitely was the
climax of Mr.. Murray's drive
to rid his organization and its unions
Of Red influence.
Along with the tightening of con-
trolls over State and city councils,
the wedding out of leftists from in
1uential spots in the national Or
ganization, the drive. proceeded
slowly over the past two years. 1t
was accompanied by conversion" of
some of those on the extreme left
who Mr.. Murray and his men
deemed worthy of saving.
Among those who did fast walk
from left to right, and brought their
unions with them, are Joseph Cur
ran, head of the powerful National
Maritime Union, and Michael Quill
of the Transport Workers, the latter
the strongest in New York City.
Other Leftists Worth Saving
There are others still on the left
who are held to be worth saving"
as CIO leaders put it,. Chief among
them is Albert Fitzgerald, president
of the Electrical Workers. He is
not a Communist, but so far has
done nothing visible to shake of
the Communist and party-liner
leadership Of his union.
Mr.. Murray may be expected to
do considerable 'courting" of Mr..
Fitzgerald in the months ahead.
There are hopeful signs that some
thing may come of 1t. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald startled the convention by
saying, Il don't give damn about
Russia. Vishinsky and Molotov are
saber- -rattlers and war-mongers"
In another step in the right direc-
ton, the Executive Board revoked
the certificate of affiliation of the
Greater New York Industrial Union
Council, where it had centered
Communist efforts to take over the
CIO. The council was accused of
"slavishly" following the Communist
Party line.
Since Mr.. Murray always has been
regarded as an i-Communist la
Dor leader, the natural question is
why did he wait so long to begin
the house-cleaning and finally to
speak his mind about Communists
in the CIO? Not very long ago any
one who dared to say there was a
Red about the CIO premises was
promptly branded as "Red-baiter." :"
Inherited the Communists
The answer is that Mr.. Murray
for years has wanted to move and
say the things he shouted to the
applauding delegates at Portland.
But he is first for preserving and
expanding the CIO. In years gone
by he delayed a showdown because
he felt he did not have the strength
to carry it out without wrecking
the CIO.
When Mr.. Murray took over the
CIO in November, 1910, from John
L. Lewis, who had just lost an
election "bet" on Wendell Willkie,
he inherited an organization shot
through with Communists.
Mr.. Lewis used the Commies to
organize the big mass-production
industries and build up the CIO.
They were very useful and efficient
tools. No doubt, Mr.. Lewis intended
to cut them loose some day. But,
he departed in a huff before doing
anything about it. Some labor
people say that the UNIV chief
quit the CIO presidency because he
knew that sooner or later he must
tackle the Connie problem and he
didn't have the answer short of
tearing down CIO.
When he came to power, and his
power" at the time was far short
of today, he used the good or
ganizing days of the war to further
strengthen CIO. Then, Com
(see NEWTON, Page C-5D