Evening star., 1937-09-04
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

BY JOHN c. HENRY.
John l.. Lewis answered some uues-
tions. made some threats and extended
the hand of friendship to the Nations
farmers in his country wide radio ad-
dress last night
Rounding up most of the issues
which have perplexed or inspired edi-
torlalists and commentat tors during
recent months, the chairman of the
Committee on Industrial Orga nization
backed no water in delivering himself
OF customarily eloquent pronounce
ment.
In sonorous and rolling syllables, he
told his listeners how strong is his
c. l. O. and how carefully it will scan
the records of public officeholders. He
scoffed at those who accuse it of COM
munistic tendencies and cautioned the
farmers against believing the "propa-
ganda" of labor's foes. OF labor's fam
lily warfare-A F. of L. VS.. C. l. O-he
made no mention.
Concerning c. I. O's political inten-
tions for 1910, Lewis repeated with
emphasis, but did not go beyond
position expressed some few weeks
ago That this position was inter
preted at the time as indicating
coolness toward the White House be-
cause of the widely circulated plague
n-both-their- houses remark of Pres
1dent Roosevelt. seemed fair then; his
words Of last night make it equally
fair today.
Those who hope that this GOODNESS
Is mutual and increasing in bitterness
to the end that it might be instru-
mental in furthering the eventual
downfall of both Lewis and the Presi-
dent doubtless will find comfort in
the labor leaders remarks last night
Labor, Lewis said last night, can
not avoid the necessity of a political
assay of the work and deeds of its
so-called friends and its political ben
efclarles. 1t must determine who are
lis friends in the arena of politics as
elsewhere. 1t feels that its cause IS
just and that its friends should not
view its struggle with neutral detach-
ment or intone constant criticism of
its activities
Those who chant their praises of
democracy, but who lose no chance to
drive their knives into labor'S defense
less back, must feel the weight of
labor's woe even as its open adversaries
must ever feel the thrust of labors
power \
Labor Seeks Peace.
1T i'll behooves one who has supped
at laborS table, and who has been
sheltered in labOr's house. to curse with
equal fervor and fine impartiality both
labor and its adversaries when they
become locked in deadly embrace
Il repeat that labor seeks peace and
guarantees its own loyalty, but the
voice Of labor, insistent upon it's
rights. should not be annoying to the
ears of justice or offensive 10 the con-
science of the American people
Twice earlier in his speech Lewis
spoke of things political.
Recounting how 399 steel companies
had signed contracts with the c. I. O.,
covering $4,000 workers. he recalled
the death of l8 strikers during efforts
to bring five maj jor independent steel
companies into line.
Much of the blame for failure he
laid at the feet of Gov Martin Davey
of Ohio and Mayor Edward Kelly OF
Chicago The former, he said, is still
Governor of Ohio, but not for long"
Much vitriol dripped from the
speakers tongue as he reminded his
listeners that only striking workmen
made up the list of fatalities and that
publicly rebuked by any authoritative
officer Of the State or Federal Govern
ment."
At this point paragraph of his
manuscript referring to Tom Girdler,
head of Republic Steel Corp, one of
the resisting independents, was omitted
st request of the Columbia Broadcast
ing System over which Lewis was
speaking. Studio officials also re-
1uested deletion of a single adjective
used by Lewis to describe Gov. Davey.
Declaring the objectives OF the c. I.
o. are not political, ''in a partisan
sense Lewis spoke wrathfully OF the
trea tment of the wage and hour bill
Parties Must Keep Faith.
"It is true" he explained, that a
political party that seeks the support
Of labor and makes pledges of good
faith to labor must, in equity and good
conscience, keep that faith and redeem
those pledges. The spectacle of august
and dignifled members of Congress,
servants OF the people and agents Of
the Republic, skulking in Railways and
closets. hiding their faces in party
caucus to prevent quorum from act
ing upon labor measure, is one that
emphasizes the perfldy of politicians
and blasts the confidence of labor's
millions in politicians promises and
statesmen's VOWS.
On effected enemies, the United
States Chamber of Commerce and the
National Association of Manufacture
ers. Lewis blamed the recent appear
ance of numerous law and order move
ments openly opposed to the c. l. o.
These foremost of industrial asso-
Citations. he charged. ARE encourag-
Ing systematic organization of vigi-
lante groups to fight unionization un-
der the sham pretext of local inter-
ests
They equip these vigilantes with
tin hats, wooden clubs, gas masks and
lethal weapons and train them in the
arts of brutality and oppression" he
added. They bring in snoops, finks,
hatchet gangs and Chowderhead Co.
hens to infest their plants and dis
turb the communities. Fascist organ
izations have been launched and
financed under the shabby pretext that
the c. l. o. movement is communistic.
The real breeders of discomfort and
alien doctrines of government and
PHILOSOPHERS subversive of good citi-
zenship are such as these who take
the law into their own hands"