Evening star., 1937-07-14

/. O. is in one
sense a labor organization. but it is
also a political inStrumentality, oper-
Republican or Democratic parties The
c. l. o. party, of course, was active
In the last campaign in several States
and did yeoman service for the Roose-
Welt cause entirely apart from the
making of contribution of $500,000
to the New Deal campaign
In this connection the C.. l. O. ap-
parently has violated the Federal cor
rupt practices act Since this law for
bids contributions by corporations and
since the c. l. O. is not incorpora ted
it has been assumed generally that
the Lewis organization was immune
from the provisions of the statute. 1t
so happens. however. that there are
other sections of the Federal corrupt
practices act which the c. I. O. has
ignored. One section provides:
The term political committee in
rludes any committee. association or
organization which accepts Contribu-
tions Or makes expenditures for the
purpose of influencing or attempting
TO influence the election Of candidates
or presidential and vice presidential
electors ID in two or more States. or
-'2l whether or not in more than one
State if such committee. association. or
nreanization lother than a duly or
-canized State or local committee of a
political party is a branch or sub
.sldiary of national committee, asso-
Citation or organization
Financial Statement Required.
II the c. I. o. is political COM
mittee" as the term is used in the
law. 1t should have filed with the clerk
nj the House of Representatives a
statement of receipts and expenditures
each year, even when there is no elec-
lion. There is a penalty for failing
to do this amounting to q fine of
81 1000 or one year in jail or both All
local union officers would seem to be
liable If they are proved guilty of fall
-ure to make an accounting.
The c. I. O., on the other hand
may deny il is political committee"
in the sense in which the term is used
In the law. II that be the case. then
there is a different provision of the
act which the C. l. O. has flouted. 1t
provides:
Every person (other than politi-
cal committee> who makes an expen-
diture in one or more items. other
than by contribution to a political
committee, aggregating $50 or more
within a calendar year for the purpose
of influencing in two or more States
the election of candidates, shan file
with the clerk an itemized detailed
statement Of such expenditures in the
same manner as required of the treas
-urer OF political committee
Boasts Of Political Aid.
In other words. the C. l. O. cannot
have its cake and eat it, too II it
contends it is not political commits
tee then the c. l. 0. has failed to
make an accounting in the House of
Representatives of expenditures for
political purposes made in excess of
$50 and which were not reported
through the regular political channels
The c. I. O. has openly boaSted
through its leadership that it was act
lively engaged in the last campa ign
While it raised a war chest and gave
money and also loaned big sums to
the Presidnt's campaign committee,
the c. I. o. did good pit of organiz-
ing work among its own members in
getting them to register and in telling
them how to vote at the polls All
sums expended for this purpose in
lxcess Of $50 have to be recorded off,
eially or else fine can be imposed
and a prison sentence as we'll against
any officer Of An association or person
responsible for the finances both To-
sally and nationally.
-. There is no record Of any complete
list OF receipts and expenses filed
with the clerk of the House bv the
&C. I. o. 1t has been rumored, for ex-
ample. that the C. I. o. received con-
,tributionS in some instances from GER
tain employers who were siding with
tbs c. l. o. as means of bringing
About increased wages in their COM
petitors plants. Altogether COM
pilation of what was received and
spent would doubtless prove interest
ing and In fact the purpose of the