The Chicago Star

Mine-Mill board endorses Wallace

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--The CIO's eighth largest union--the International Union of Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers--has endorsed Henry A. Wallace, independent candidate for President.

In a resolution adopted here, the union's international executive board urged the 125,000 Mine-Mill members throughout the country "to assist in the formation and promotion of Wallace for President committees and to give energetic support on a city, state, and national level to his candidacy."

FOLLOWING a week of discussion in which more than 100 rank-and-file delegates from every section of the far-flung union also took part, the union also completed its wage and contract program for 1948.

It was announced that Mine-Mill demands will include a general 30-cent hourly wage increase, employer-financed health and accident insurance to be administered jointly by union and employer, and improved contract provisions covering paid holidays, vacations, shift differentials, and other issues.

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD'S resolution endorsing Wallace pointed out tersely that the decision was not difficult:

"On the contrary, it is quite simple to choose between peace and war, hunger and plenty, liberty and slavery."

Wallace, the statement observed, "stands for, and is ready to fight for, peace, equality, civil rights, improved living standards, trade unionism with dignity, and liberty for all people,

but 'the Democratic Party under Harry Truman is a party of witch-hunts and repression, speculation and inflation, brass hat diplomacy, universal military training and war.'"

The board went on to say:

IF Your "rent goes up" one of these days, remember that Jesse H. Wolcott (R., Mich.) is the man who bears major responsibility for blocking an adequate rent control law,

"As always, our membership will support genuine progressive candidates for Congress and for state office regardless of party labels.

Such candidates, whether Democratic or Republican, will welcome the support of union members who may also be supporting Wallace for President."

To those who cling to the "lesser evil" theory and fear that Wallace's candidacy may insure the election of a reactionary, the union pointed out that the two old parties do not "offer the people a clear-cut choice."

Without Wallace in the race, "it is a certainty that a reactionary would be elected," the resolution declared.