Evening star., 1937-01-23
Roosevelt Asked to Pay
Lewis Reminder of Debt for Election Aid May Prove
Bad Tactics.
Bad Tactics.

ment. were parried or refused answers.
The assumption Is universal that
Mr.. Roosevelt was thus replying
through the newspapers to what
Lewis had said through the news
papers. The incident, among many
reasons for being interesting, illus
trates increasingly frequent use Of
newspaper conferences as part of the
modern technique Of politics and
craftsmanship.
The background Of the episode goes
back to early in the Roosevelt admin
istration. Lewis, as head of the
United Mine Workers, felt that he
and his organization were greatly
benefited by some Of the Presidents
legislation and actions. Mine work.
ers' wages were raised and they were
more thoroughly organized. The or
ganization recently purchased q large
building in washington for its head
quarters.
Lewis Group Contributes.
As Mr.. Roosevelt's campaign for re-
election approached, Lewis became
strong supporter. In the interest Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's reelection, Lewis
United Mine Workers spent a total
Of $469, ,668.91-the largest contribu-
ton the New Deal received and
probably the largest in history. They
contributed $206,250 to the Demo-
cratic National Committee, $l6o,878
to Labor's Non Partisan League, which
also was backing Mr.. Roosevelt;
$35 900 to the Progressive National
Committee. which was organized for
the same purpose under Senator
La Toilette, and $40 900 to the Penn
sylvania Democratic State Committee.
Among other miners union contri-
buttons were $500 to the Luzerne
County (Pa.) branch Of Labors
Non-Partisan League. $4,000 to the
Democratic Senatorial Campaign
Committee, $500 spent in Carbon,
Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties, Pa.
Lewis public recalling of his sup
port Of the President was undoubtedly
meant to put Mr.. Roosevelt ION the
spot" to turn the heat on" him. 1t
must have been meant to embarrass
the President, not only as a reminder
of the obligation Lewis thinks the
President owes him. The incident is
embarrassing to the President in an
other respect. For when Lewis said
labor expects" he was covering more
territory than the facts warrant. The
truth is large part Of organized labor
hates Lewis, and wants him and his
strike defeated.
Tactics Dubious.
About the time last Summer when
Lewis was expanding his power
in politics, he embarked on an am
bilious revolution in the field of Or
ganized labor. Rebelling against the
old American Federation of Labor, he
started Committee on Industrial
Organization, designed to organize
labor on new lines and in a much
more wholesale way. The old fedora
ton expelled Lewis unions. Since
last Summer there has been bitter
warfare between Lewis ard the old
federation. During the present strike,
the federation has instructed its
members in the automobile industry
not to join Lewis strike but to keep
at work.
Undoubtedly Lewis. in his action
this week, has stuck out his neck"
pretty far. If Mr.. Roosevelt felt that
Lewis was trying TO push him
around" he was justified in so feeling
That is hardly the way to make prog
ress with a person Of Mr.. Eo6sevelt's
temperament.
At the same time, Lewis. from the
point Of view of his own ambition and
purpose. can see what he needs. If
he could get Mr.. Roosevelt's support,
he could win the strike. From winning
this strike and from open support by
the President, he could hope to go on
to his ambition of destroying the old
A. F. Of L. and himself organizing all
labor into body which would be ex-
tremely formidable both in industry
and politics.
tCopyrisht 1877