Evening star., 1949-07-12
JAW Voting Today,
With Victory for
2i.
Reuther Assured
By the Associotsd Press

MILWAUKEE, WIS, July H.
Convention delegates representing
. million CIO United Auto Work
ers were ready today to hand
Walter Reuther his third term as
union president.
Three other top officers also
we're assured of reelection over
only token opposition.
A left-wing caucus last night
named w. G. Grant. former presi-
dent of the big Ford Rouge Local
GOD in Dearborn, Mich, to oppose
MI. Reuther.
James Lindahl of Packard Local
100 in Detroit was picked to run
against Secretary-Treasurer Emil
Macy. For candidates to oppose
Vice Presidents Richard T. Gosser
and John w. Livingston. the left
vmgers chose William H. johnson
Of local 600 and John de Vito Of
Cleveland Local As.
De Vito Beaten Last Time.
Mr.. De Vito was surprise can
didate against Mr.. Reuther at the
last convention. He was beaten by
q margin of about Is to l.
None of the challengers was
given an outside chance of break
ing Mr.. Reuther's firm grip on the
union, which once was split by
factions. A right-wing caucus last
night drew about 1900 persons.
In the conventions second day
yesterday, the Reuther admin
stration suffered its first setback.
BY a margin of about to 2.
the 2,400 delegates beat down a
Reuther sponsored proposal to
hold conventions only once every
two years in the future. The un-
ions first IL conventions were
held at IL to 20 month intervals.
But that was not a clear-cut
test of strength. Many delegates
who preferred more frequent elec-
tions were known to be stanch
supporters of the Reuther slate of
candidates.
One delegate said he was one of
many who like to get out of
town more than once every two
years
Elections Speeded Up.
The elections were speeded up
by a rule change under which
delegates cast their ballots for all
four Offices in one trip to conven-
ton floor microphones. In the
past each election has been en-
tirely separate.
In all but the one showdown be-
tween Reuther and anti-Reuther
forces there was no question as to
who was in control.
The UAW president himself led
the vigorous debate on resolu-
ton calling on the CIO to oust
any affiliates dominated by Com
munists.
That, said by Mr.. Reuther to
be the strongest anti-red resolu-
ton ever adopted by CIO union,
was pushed through by majority
approaching 100 to l.
Mr. Reuther attempted to push
o similar resolution through the
last CIO convention in Portland,
Oreg. last November but it was
toned down by other C1O leaders.
Ask CIO to Act.
Yesterdays proposal asked the
CIO to act at its next convention
In Cleveland in october. 1t also
recommended the setting UP OF
special committees to organize the
industries in the jurisdiction OF
the Communist-d dominated unions.
Such unions were accused of be
traying" potential union mem
bers by failing to organize them.
Another lively debate preceded
passage Of a resolution reaffirm-
ing the JAWS determination to
absorb the left-wing Go Farm
Equipment Workers. The FE-
CIO has, been resisting bitterly a
CIO Executive Board order to
merge with the auto workers.
The convention earlier took
unanimous action demanding i'm
mediate FBI Intervention in the
unsolved attempts on the lives of
MIR. Reuther and his brother Vic
tor, the unions education direc-
TOR.
Delegates Cheer Victor.
The delegates cheered when
Victor. his right eye socket COW
cred by q patch and his right
arm in a sling. appeared as
surprise speaker. 1t was his first
official appearance since he was
wounded by shotgun blast
May Is.
The convention was stirred
briefly when word circulated that
Matt Evans, 81, one of Walters
armed guards. hadn't been heard
from for SO hours.
Later he was reported at his
Detroit home. Contacted there.
he said, Its all a misunderstand-
ing" He added that he had told
UAW officials of his plans. but
that they apparently failed to
notifv Mr. ReIlther