Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1949-09-30
CIO Shops
Officers PIedqe
Him Support
LARGE Crowd Attends
Meeting Officially
Opening Campaign

Spacious Parlor A at Local
II was packed to capacity
last Wednesday evening by
shop stewards, chairmen and
committeeman a t t e n ding a
kickoff meeting which officially
marked the opening of the Ber-
lacher for Council campaign.
The group also by unanim-
Gus vote approved the endorse
ment given to Mr.. Berlacher by
the United Labor Committee as
labors choice for city council.
The ULC represents all seq
ments of labor in Toledo.
AOther Labor Candidates Agree
y Other aspirants from labor
seeking a council seat in the
November election were intro
duced at the meeting by Richard
Gosser, a International UAW-
CIO Vice President and chair
man of the Wednesday meeting.
Other candidates in addition
tn Mr.. Berlacher who gave brief
talks were Harry Shell, of the
MESA Union; Mike Burke for
mer city policeman and mem
Der of WHY'S s-Overland Unit;
Herb Russell, chairman of the
Toledo Steel Tube Unit and Jack
Thomson of Auto Lite Unit. In
troduced but not present at the
meeting were Emmeth Wheaton
and Charles Clark and Clint
Whittacre from Spicer.
John Begg In Favor
John Begg, chairman of Auto
Lite Unit, said at the meeting
that speaking for Auto Lite
members that Unit is in accord
with the selection made by the
United Labor Committee for
Berlacher adding that its mem
bers will also support Jack
Thomson, a member of that Unit.
Harry Shell, the MESA can
didate in his talk said that he
too is in accord with the selec-
ton by the ULC and urged that
all labor support Berlacher but
at the same token also. cast
vote for the other labor candi-
|dates. Mr.. Burke took the same
position as did Herb Russell.
Backed Financially
Mr.. Gosser in addressing the
union members at the meeting
said the ULC voted to support
one candidate financially and he
being Franz Berlacher. He added
that support will be given
other labor candidates. The
UAW Vice President in his ap-
peal for an all out campaign
said that he fully realizes that
the other labor candidates will
receive first choice votes from
friends and urged that the sec
ond choice vote be cast for Ber-
lacher.
Mr.. Berlacher is in the race
as an independent candidate
backed and supported by the
ULC and as voted at the We'd
nesday meeting by the UAW-
CIO Units too.
Berlacher's Proud
In his talk Mr.. Berlacher en-
phasiZed how proud he is to re-
ceive the backing of the CIO
even though he is a member of
the AFL being president of the
Milk Drivers Union. He stressed
the Importance of the United
Labor Committee telling the
group that Unity is the answer
to electing labor representatives
to office, who will serve in Of
flee as peoples choice. Mr.. Ber-
lacher, who is we'll known in
local sport circles, being a star
halfback of the many better To-
ledo teams in the 1920's, urged
that all union officers work un-
thrilling and campaign to have
all union members registered so
they can vote at the November.
election.
Enthusiasm OF Crowd
Mr. Gosser, noting the en-
thusiasm of the stewards, shop
and committeeman
said that there was no doubt
that 85 per cent of the CIO
would support Berlacher and
those at the meeting gave every
that it was a true
statement. He told the group
that the Democratic party did
not favor labor in its selection
a majority of party
votes are cast by the working
people,