Evening star., 1934-02-05
LABOR WILL FIGHT
S|NCONGRESS
Non. Partisan Political Ma.
chine will Conduct Cam
palgns In Fall.
By JOHN ]. LEARY, JR.


national industrial recovery act and
It's execution by the National Re-
eovery Administration makes it vitally
necessary that the next Congress be
friendly, organized labor is preparing
to take a more aggressive part in the
Fall elections of Senators and Repre-
sentatives than it has taken in any
campaign since 1916, when 1t was
practically solid for the reelection Of
President Wilson.
Moreover, 1t is starting its drive
earlier than ever before. In other
years. save in States or districts
where special conditions prevailed, it
has not swung into action until mid
August. This year the word has al
ready gone out to start working now.
The non-partisan political machine,
devised by Samuel Gompers more
than so years ago. will have general
charge Of the drive. Under this sys-
TEN a Compact Board, working from
headquarters of the American Feder-
alton Of Labor here. will direct the
formation of local committees by the
48 States, 623 city federations and
more than $4,000 local unions.
Records Compiled.
To these will be supplied the rec
ords on labor questions of all Sen
ators and Representatives seeking re-
election. Where necessary to save a
friendly member who may be in dam
ger or to defeat legislator who has
made himself especially obnoxious
speakers and literature will be sent.
In every instance the test will be the
candidates votes on labor matters, so
that the list Of those Endorsed will in
clude Republicans, Democrats and
Farmer-Laborites.
1t Is also probable that in some dis
tricts a Socialist candidate who has
q good local labor record will be in
dorsed, despite the fact that the fed
Grafton since its inception 81 years
ago has been bitterly opposed to
socialism.
Whether formal action will be
taken by the A. F. Of L. Executive
Council, now in session here, has not
yet been decided. 1t Is no violation
of confidence, however, to assert that
the makeup of the next Congress
has been the subject OF serious dis
they are in complete agreement that
labor has more at stake in the coming
elections than at any previous time
In the history of the movement
The early start Of the campaign
links up with the drive on the present
Congress to hold whatever benefits
the national industrial recovery act
has provided, and to secure amend
inents TO 1t that labor insists are
necessary to provide the full relief
from unemployment and lowered
purchasing power contemplated by
Congress when the act was passed
last June.
Employer Fight Seen.
Regardless OF what may happen In
the present Congress. IN which labor
is confident that 1t will at least hold
Il. own. the fear is expressed that in
the next Congress employing interests
that are not friendly will make a de-
tern1ined effort to regain much OF
what they have had to concede to
labor. This, to quote an outstanding
labor official, who usually reflects the
considered opinion of A. F. Of L. ex-
ecutives, Is but part Of a great drive
against N. r. A. as 1t applies to labor
orge nizations, which Will include at
tacks in the court and attempts
through propaganda to build up pub
lie opinion against the labor pro-
visions.
In this connection is cited the op-
position Of the American Iron and
Steel Institute to the executive order
hA ToI
10 conduct elections Of employe rep
resentatives and its attack on the
board as pro-labor body. This is
Viewed as an example Of the intent
Of masters Of industry to make the
act useless as q labor measure while
permitting the closest kind Of en-
ployer organization.
Typical Of the calls for early action
b . declaration In the official journal
Of the Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, which, In part. reads:
Tell the boys back home. tell the
unions everywhere, shout 1t from the
housetops: Get ready now for the
next campaign.
big Rattle 10 Come"
sAppoint political committees. Or
canine political clubs. Get interested
in issues. Tho big battle Ii yet to
some.
Under II. r. A., labor will soon
b voting on wage cuts, unemploy-
lnent insurance, code authority ap-
pointments, all such vital matters.
Where local Compliance Boards
are denying labor representation hit
them with ballots. Where State
Public Works Committees are dis
eliminating against unions hit them
with ballots.
Get ready for 1894 and 1896 In
Washington big battle is going on
battle against unions. Fishy-eyed
employer henchmen have fought to
deny union rights at N R. A. Those
fellows understand nothing but force.
Hit them with ballots. Don't wait
until two weeks before election. Act
now. Get ready. The coming elec-
tions are destined to be the most i'm
portant in history"
Notice OF the intention Of labor
10 be unusually aggressive in the Fall
elections, quietly circulated on Capt.
tol Hill, has not added to the COM
fort of Senators and Representative
IN reasonably close States and dis
tricts who must seek denomination
and election this year Already be-
devilled by patronage fights and the
threats Of veterans to get square with
those who voted for the economy bill,
they do not welcome possible opposi-
ton from labor or alternative oppo-
sition from the employing groups,
which so frequently are depended
upon for campaign expenses
These congressman have further
been told that while labor is friendly
70 the President, the declaration Of
any candidate. II stood by Roosevelt"
will not bC accepted as an adequate
alibi for an unfriendly vote.
Roosevelt Is Friendly.
I'VE are with the President" say
the labor men, but we do not pro-
pose to allow congressman to hide
behind his skirts. He is doing his
part to help labor in this emergency.