052774 Election and Debate On Agenda as NOW Begins Convention

HOUSTON, May 25-The National Organization for Women began its sixth national convention today, facing its first fully contested election.

It also faced heightened debate over whether NOW is to be a mass-based, grass-roots organization, strengthened at the state and chapter levels, or a "core group and catalyst for change" with strong national coordination.

Registration and workshop at the Rice Hotel and the first plenary session at the Albert Thomas convention Center,three blocks away, indicated an attendance of about 2.000  of  the organization's nearly 40,000 members in 700 chapters, in 50 states and over       seas.

Three candidates are seeking to succeed Wilma Scott Heide of Vernon, Conn., as president. She is retiring after two terms and after having served for 18  months earlier as chairman of the board. They are Karen DeCrow, a Syracuse lawyer who is head of the organization's national study group on politics: Mary Jean Collins-Robson of Chicago, co-ordinator of its national study group, and Marceline Donaldson of Wayzata, Minn., a black member of the national board.

Candidates for chairman of the board are the incumbent Judith Lightfoot, a native of
the Bronx who lives in Decatur,Ga.. and Patsy Fulcher of Oakland, Calif.

Nearly 50 resolutions have been proposed for consideration. Some leaders have predicted less floor debate on resolutions concerning issues of feminist policy than on internal matters such as grievances, procedures and conflict of interest in the organization's contracts and other business I activities.