Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-09
CAMPAIGN IS SEEN
At DECISIVE STAGE
Party Managers Seeking
Labor Votes Regarded as
Not Yet Pledged.
By the Associsted Press.

By the Associated Press.
The presidential campaign approaches
its decisive stage, political managers
are concentrating on special groups of
voters in their efforts to turn the flow
of these important ballots toward their
national ticket.
One of the most important of these
groups is that of organized labor. Such
great national organizations as the
American Federation of Labor and the
railroad brotherhoods have adopted a
neutral attitude leaving their member
ship to decide between Herbert Hoover
and Alfred E. Smith. But these or
CARNATIONS frankly say that they are
laying the records of the candidates
before their membership so that they
may vote intelltgently in so far as their
ballots may affect labor.
A few individual unions have Endorsed
the Democratic presidential candidate,
while several outstanding leaders in the
labor movement. such as John l.. Lewis,
president Of the United Mine Workers
Of America, and w N. Doak, vice presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Republican candidate.
Organizations for Smith.
State bodies, which have Endorsed
Gov. Smith. include the New York Fed
Grafton of Labor. which acted after
William Green, president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, had. without
committing himself, said some kind
things about the Democratic nominees
labor record
Prior to that time. however. Green Ss5
been one Of those in the national fedora
tons executive council who opposed the
Endorsement of any mans candidacy by
that body. The council declined to
take any side after a two-day discus
sion. during which Daniel J. Tobin. pres
ident of the International Brotherhood
Of Transfers. was credited with leading
fight for Smith.
Action Taken Four Years Ago.
Four years ago the national fedora
ton departed from its traditional nom
partisan attitude by indorsing the in
dependent candidacy OF the late Senator
Robert NJ La Toilette Of Wisconsin, who
received a substantial popular vote in
ever, SO far as official word from the
union headquarters go, the majority of
union men must act on their own judg-
ment. helped, of course, by informal ad-
vice from headquarters as to the atti-
tude Of candidates towards things closest
to their hearts.
Both candidates, as we'll as their man
ayers and well-wisherS, have been laying
their plans to influence the great body
of organized workers in the country
towards their cause. Mr.. Hoover made
labor the topic of one of the few set
speeches of his campaign, speaking at
Newark, in the center of the vest in
dustrial district of New Jersey. He also
has emphasized his belief that the Re-
publican protective tariff system Is
essential for the protection Of the Amer
lean working man and the happiness of
his family. Gov. Smith and his cam
paign managers have been Just as solicit
Gus of the welfare of the worker and
the Democratic candidate has been
pointed to as one whose Official record
as Governor of New York has shown
that he has the interest of labor at
heart From these records, as they have
been arG will continue to be made until
election day, the individual unit of cr-
ganized labor may form judgment.
Federation Aims Outlined.
While maintaining a hands-of policy
In the national campaign, the Anneri-
can Federation Of Labor is active in
senatorial and congressional campaigns
and has Endorsed and opposed a num-
Der of candidates in direct comrnunica-
tons sent to local labor organizations
throughout the Nation. The attitude
of organized labor in these contests is
epitomized in the statement of John
r. Mcnamara. president of the Brother
hood of Firemen and Oilers. who states
that his policy with reference to poll
tics has always been, and still is, to
defeat our enemies and elect our
friends"
McNamaras letter was one of a dozen
or more received by the Associated
Press in response TO inquiries sent to
national labor officials as to the at
titude Of their organizations in the
campaign.
A. Johnston. grand chief engineer
Of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, wrote that his organization
had taken no definite action with ref
erence to either presidential candi-
date "other than to comment on the
speeches and the statements made by
both candidates as they affected organ
lied labor in general"
Another Union Neutral.
Fred H. Fljozdal, grand president of
the Brotherhood of Maintenance of
way Employees, said that in accordance
with the policy of neutrality adopted
by his organization, no public political
meetings we're being held nor was any
campaign literature being issued to the
members of that Brotherhood. He
added, however. that the union was
giving the facts to it's members
through its magazine. regarding both
candidates and the political parties
"as the facts are presented to us from
time to time"
We. along with the other standard
railroad labor organizations, are taking
no sides in the campaign" wrote E. T,
Curtis. president Of the Order Of Rail-
way Conductors, He added that no lit
erature was being distributed by either
the organization or any Of its members,
in support of any candidate, so far as
he was aware.
Each Organization Free TO Act.
D. 3. Robertson, president of the Lo-
connective Firemen and Er1g1nemen, said
the Railway Labor Executives Asso-
ciation-conlposed CT the chief execu-
tives of the II railway labor crganiza-
ticns--decided to maintain neutral
attitude with respect to presidential
candidates, thus leaving each Of the
member organizations free to act &C