Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05

Organized labor. nationally speaking,
appears bent on neutrality in its atti-
tude toward the nominees OF the Re-
publican and Democratic parties for
President. Both Gov. Smith Of New
York and Herbert Hoover are well re-
rarded by labor. and organized labor.
as organized labor. would be glad to
see either of them in the White House.
This does not mean there are not ar
dent Republican and Democratic par
tisans this year in the ranks Of or
sanized labor Anthing but,
The situation this year is different
from that which obtained in some OF
the more recent national campaigns.
For example, in 1924 the great railroad
labor hrotherhoods oficially took sides
with the late Senator La Follette of
Wisconsin in the presidential race The
American Federation. through its ex-
ecutive council, supported woodrow
Wilson in his races for the presidency.
1t is true that the official action of
these great labor organizations did not
have the effect Of swinging all labor,
or even all organized labor. to one
candidate or the other But. naturally,
the Endorsement of such organizations
must be considered an aid and not a
disadvantage TO candidate.
The executives Of the twenty-five rail-
road labor organizations, meeting here,
determined not to indorse either can
uidate this year for the presidency.
They left the organizations, however,
to act as they may see At individually.
The executive committee Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor Is now meet
ing at Atlantic City, and reports indi-
cate that it, too, viii keep neutral
attitude this year toward the presiden-
tial candidates.
During the preconyention campaign
the railroad brotherhoods worked as
siduously to bring about the noSnina-
ton Of Mr.. Hoover by the Republicans.
They took an active part in the cam
paigns waged In Ohio, Indiana and
other States. Not only did they desire
the nomination Of Mr.. Hoover because
they believed him friend Of labor. but
they also opposed the nomination Of
Vice President Dawes. whom they
looked upon as q compromise candidate
II Hoover were denied the nomination
at Kansas City. At the same time that
the brotherhoodS were working for
Hoover they made it clear that they
we're not taking sides as between
Hoover and Smith. in the event the
two should be nominated by their re-
spectfve parties. To that stand the
brotherhoods are now adhertng.
Hoover's record. like that Of Smith,
Is acceptable to the labor unions. This
is fortunate both for the candidates
and for labor. The entry Of organized
labor into partisan politics usually has
not been productive Of results. The
labor leaders have found that 1t is far
wiser to strive for the nomination of
men and women in both parties who are
friendly to labor. and for their election
irrespective Of parties after their nomi-
nation. As a matter of fact, organized
labor leaders and the rank and file are
as strongly Democratic and Republican
as are men and women In any walk of
life in the country They might unite
against q nominee 70 Office whom they
considered positively ininical TO or
Eanized labor, but with the candidates
Of the two parties acceptable TO labor,
the labor vote viii divide on the lines
Of political preference. just as the vote
OF other citizens divides. Which is as
it should be. The great majority OF
the people vote as they believe their
interests lie. In this way the interests
of a majority OF the people are served
IN the elections To vote otherwise
would destroy the idea OF popular
government.