LBJPresses Closer THE Tothe Atomic Brink MILITANTPublished in the Interest of the Working People By George Novack Vol. 31 - No. 34 Monday, September 25, 1967 Price 10c The Pentagon has widened the air war in North Vietnam by de­ liberately bombing closer than ever to China, and bombing the port facilities at Hanoi and Hai­ phong for the first time. Accord­ WetWar Vote Set ing to U.S. military sources in Saigon, these attacks on the clocks were made in response to those who have been calling for some means of closing the channel short of mining ft. InSan Francisco Johnson decided to escalate the By Mary Kraft air strikes after a prolonged con­ troversy between the Joint Chiefs SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18 - visors had adopted a resolution of Staff and certain members of A major victory for antiwar and commending President Johnson the administration who resisted civil liberties forces was scored "for his stand on the present Arab­ further extension of the bombings. here when the state Supreme Israeli crisis." The court said that Court overruled a lower court and the city charter allowed people, The raids came only two weeks ordered an anti-Vietnam-war re­ after Defense Secretary McNamara as well as elected officials to ferendum to be placed on the bal­ adopt such resolutions. ' had told the Senate Preparedness lot in San Francisco. This ruling Subcommittee that bombing of the The Citizens for a Vote on Viet­ that the people have a right to nam met this evening to lay plans port area was too risky because express themselves on the war for a massive campaign to get the Soviet, Chinese and other Com­ will give a big boost to antiwar people of San Francisco to vote munist bloc vessels might be hit. fighters in other cities where offi. Attacks on such targets, he tes­ "Yes" in November. A mass meet­ cials have blocked similar referen­ ing is planned for Saturday at tified, run "the risk of direct con­ dums from being placed on the Galileo High School, at which the frontation with Communist China ballot. leading speaker will be Dr. Spock. or the Soviet Union" and these The referendum will place be­ Neighborhood meetings are dangers outweigh the military de­ being planned all over the city, sirability of striking them. fore the voters of San Francisco the following proposition: "It is and the group will enlist the aid The overriding of McNamara's of every artist and sp.eaker it can arguments indicates that the Presi­ the policy of the people of the city and county of San Francisco get. A small pamphlet is being dent is now bent on maximizing prepared, which the group hopes the air war even though that in­ that there be an immediate cease­ fire and withdrawal of U.S. troops to put in the hands of every voter. volves greater risk of conflict with It will explain why immediate China and the Soviet Union. Be­ from Vietnam so that the Viet­ PREPARE DEFENSE. Young North Vietnamese women working namese people can settle their own withdrawal is the only alternative hind and beyond this decision to on defense project. problems." to American involvement in Viet­ press ahead regardless of conse­ nam. Ads will be placed in news­ quences looms the specter of the The Citizens for a Vote on Viet­ ghastly, irrational and inhuman Its occupant has considered re­ nam had submitted over 22,000 papers and magazines. There may nuclear mushroom cloud. even be a Citizens for a Vote on General Curtis Le May, former that many people incline to con­ sorting to atomic weapons at sev­ signatures on a petition to the eral junctures over the past 15 San Francisco registrar of voters, Vietnam float in the local Colum­ head of the Air Force, who has fuse their spontaneous revulsion bus Day Parade. been demanding total destruction against such a possibility with its years. Kennedy, the most liberal Basil Healy, on Aug. 22 (12,000 postwar Democratic president, was are required to put an issue on Chairman of the group, Ed Far­ of the port of Haiphong and all rejection by the U.S. military ley, feels "We'll win the vote, be­ installations allowing North Viet­ strategists. However, the Pentagon ready to bring nuclear weapons to the ballot). Healy at that time bear in the 1962 confrontation would not even accept the peti­ cause the overwhelming majority nam to receive supplies from has prepared contingency plans for of the American people are un­ abroad, is also one of the most nuclear warfare which can be set with the Soviet Union in the Carib­ tions, declaring that the Vietnam bean. vote issue was not a proper con­ alterably opposed to Johnson's in­ vociferous advocates of wiping out into motion whenever the com­ sane war." He cited figures from China under the steamy slogan of mand comes from the supreme On Sept. 10 C.L. Sulzberger, cern of the city board of super­ visors, and therefore the people a recent poll, not yet released "let's nuke the Chinks." hea<} of the armed forces in the diplomatic correspondent of the which had been taken for one locai The idea of an atomic war is so White House. (Continued on Page 3) couldn't vote on it. Healy was upheld when the citizens group candidate for office. The poll appealed, but the Supreme Court showed 43.6 percent of the people ruling now places the issue on the here for the declaration, 42.l per­ THE FORD SHUTDOWN ballot. cent against, and 14.2 percent un­ decided. Chief Justice Roger J. Traynor Bay Area residents are urged to said that the court's majority held attend the mass meeting at Gali­ that the purpose of local govern­ leo High School on Sept. 23 at 8 Whatthe Strikers Are Saying ment was to represent its citizens p.m., and to come to the head­ before the legislature and Con­ quarters of Citizens for a Vote on By Frank Lovell after they finish with Ford. Emil discussion of strike strategy. The gress in matters over which the Vietnam at 55 Colton Street Mazey, Secretary-Treasurer, wants picket lines are limited in nwn­ local government had no power. DETROIT, Sept. 18 - As the (phone 415-861-1866) to begin $200 million in the strike fund by bers and token in character. Of­ Traynor's opinion noted that work on the massive publicity UAW strike against the Ford Mo­ 1970 according to unofficial re­ ficial policy is to allow all super­ tor Company stretches to the third only recently the board of super- campaign that lies ahead. ports. This idea is being propa­ visory employes into the plants. week, when strikers begin to col­ gated at meetings of local union Strikers are requested to report lect benefits of $30 a week for officials where UAW staff men only once for picket duty every 11 !!lm111m11m1m11001a1m1mmm11m1mm•111111oom11111111m1m1m111111111m1mm111111mm1m1m11mm111 family men and $20 for the single come to explain what is expected days. No machinery is set up for man, serious attention now cen­ of the Special Convention. serving the pickets' needs. ters on the conduct of the strike Above all else they stress an There is no effort on the part over the long haul. Some of the increase in dues from the present of the UAW leadership to keep questions on the picket lines and $5 a month to $6.50. They talk the strikers informed about the around the union halls have to do about a $25 monthly assessment conduct of their strike; the stif­ = Oct.21 News with the over-all demands. How for the duration of the strike on fening attitude of the employers; much can we pry out of the auto all employed members, $20 of the present state of negotiations ~111111111111111111111111m11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111m111111111111111111111111111111111111m11111111111mm111111111111111111111111111111111111111111m1m1m~ corporations? What will we be which will be used to swell the (which have eroken down com­ willing to settle for? How much the strike fund. Little is said about pletely) ; the ever-present threat Activities are u n d e rw a y 5,000 buttons; and 4,500 copies of is "equity"? increasing cash benefits for those of federal intervention and what throughout the country and abroad three multi-color, professional­ Other questions are about the on strike, and no exact figure of this will mean in light of anti­ to build the massive antiwar Con­ looking posters calling people to conduct of the strike and ways to what the strike benefits ought to labor legislation now pending in frontation scheduled to take place Washington on October 21. Local make it more effective. How long be. Washington; the full meaning of in Washington, D.C. October 21. groups are also putting out their can Ford hold out? Why can't The strikers at Ford Motor UAW contract demands and how The action has been called by the own literature. workers still on the job at Chrys­ Company gates are expecting the they can be won. National Mobilization Committee Even more impressive is the ler and GM assess themselves UAW Special Convention to sub­ All this is left to the speculation to End the War in Vietnam, orga­ scope of the distribution: Organ­ enough to raise strike benefits stantially increase union benefits, of the striker based on what in­ nizers of the giant April 15th Mo­ izations in 45 states are working substantially, to $75 a week across especially now that it appears the formation he gets from the daily bilization that brought out 400,- to build October 21 using material the board for every striker, as strike will be a long one.