Evening star., 1937-12-12

\ \ AYOR LA GUARDIA Of New York
nu has formally associated himself
with the American Labor party.
= This action, with some other in
cidents, throws some light on future ma
tional politics. The American Labor party
aims to be q major factor-one OF three
major political parties, perhaps one Of two.
Mr.. La Guardia's action is evidence Of that.
There Is further evidence In speech
that was made by Mr.. John L. Lewis, head
OF c. I. O., during the recent New York
campaign. On october Mr. Lewis said:
Il have an ambition to see the American
Labor party become the major political
party In the United States /" = have an
ambition to see Mayor La Guardia re-
elected Mayor Of New York have an
ambition to see the c. I. o. ticket win in
Detroit. have an ambition to see Thomas
Kennedy become Governor of Pennsyl-
vania." Mr.. Kennedy Is the secretary
treasurer Of the principal union in Mr.
Lewis c. l. O., the United Mine Workers;
he is now Lieutenant Governor of Penn
sylvania.
In the sum of these incidents is some
thing new and important: Attempt is go
ing to be made to make the American
Labor party q major party. 1t should be
formidable party; In the recent election
in New York City it cast a vote Of close
to half million. And the head, spokes-
man, and presumed presidential candi-
date of the party, is to be Mayor La
Guardia, not Mr. Lewis as has been fire.
quently suggested. Important In this is
the fact that Mayor La Guardia gets
along well with President Roosevelt, while
Mr.. Lewis does not at all times-Mr.
Lewis has fits Of petulance against Presi-
dent Roosevelt, sometimes attacks him
publicly.
Look to Democrats First.
How will this new party fare? What
changes will it introduce in the national
scene? To consider these questions we
had best 60 back and make a new be-
ginning. Let us take up the Democratic
party and consider what Is happening
there.
Ever since Mr. Roosevelt put forward
his court proposal last February there
has been under way fight for control
of the Democratic party. One side con-
sists of those who supported Mr. Roose-
velts proposal the other of those who op-
posed it. The first battle, over the court
proposal itself, was won by the opponents.
favor of the opponents. Mr. Roosevelt
lost prestige by his loss Of the court fight:
he lost more by his appointment of Sena-
tor Black to the Supreme Court and the
developments that followed He lost still
more prestige by the coming of the
business recession, that took away much
of the glamour of magic which many had
seen about him. Altogether, for the mo-
fINc 10 InN sx,t,o
Mr.. Roosevelt. who want to take control
OF the party away from him, are favored
by events.
But the warfare so far is merely in Con-
gress. The real battle before the Demo-
cratic voters Of the country will occur next
spring. 1t will occur, mainly, in the pri-
maries for denomination of % Democratic
Senators. OF the 2S, opposed Mr.. Roose-
velt's court proposal. If these nine, or prac-
tically all Of them, are renominated, it will
be a major victory for those who wish
to take control Of the party away from
Mr. Roosevelt The other 10 Democratic
Senators up for denomination next spring
favored Mr.. Rooeevelts court proposal
If these 10. or a large number of them,
are defeated for denomination, that again
will be q victory for those who wish to
take control OF the party away from
Mr.. Roosevelt
Points Way to Control.
The net OF the outcome of these %
senatorial primaries will decide whether
Mr.. Roosevelt and his friends continue
to control the party, or whether control
passes to the traditional Democrats.
The primaries begin with one in Illinois
on April IL. Several occur in May, sew
eral in June, and few later. BY the
end Of them, by next midsummer, the
country will know which faction owns the
franchise of the Democratic party.
Here are two possible outcomes, each
with its own trail Of consequences.
Suppose Mr.. Roosevelt wins the prize,
which is the power Of dominating the
next Democratic National Convention and