Evening star., 1937-08-21


neither John Lewis of the c. + o. nor
William Green of the A. F. OF L.
really wanted the wage and hour bill
paSsed. They feared it would upset
their membership drives and render
labor unions and dues superfluous. But
Mr.. Lewis was anxious to please one
OF his principal allies, Sidney Hillman
OF the Garment workers union. who
has been anxious to invade the south
srn textile fields for union member
ship purposes.
30 Mr.. Lewis came to the Capitol
10 do some lobbying for Mr.. Hillman
and found the Southern Democrats
rather indifferent. The blast let loose
BY Mr.. Lewis against the Democratic
leadership enables him to satisfy Mr..
Hillman that he did all he could for
the wage and hour bill but it also
serves to place the C. 1. o. chief on
record as warning the Democrats that
he and his organiza ton will be heard
from in the realm of active politics.
VIII Control Party
n Is worth noting that Mr.. RooSe-
velt has not complained about the
loyalty of his leaders for he knows
that the opposition to the wage and
hour bill comes from the rank and
file OF the Democratic party in both
houses of Congress. Naturally the
President is pleased to have a friendly
word spoken by Mr.. Lewis for one of
the pet administration measures,
though he probably will be uneasy
some day If Mr.. Lewis becomes the
means Of dividing still further the
Democratic party.
The Southern Democrats do not like
Mr.. Lewis latest statement They are
not in the habit of having their fidel-
itv to platform pledges or anything
else questioned by labor leader es-
pecially one who has to his credit or
discredit, depending on the point of
view, record of having brought about
q breakdown in law and order through
the use Of the sit-down strike.
There has been a good deal of talk
about Democratic harmony of late,
but Mr.. Lewis emergence as dis
ciplinarian Of Southern Democrats is
not calculated exactly to bring cheers
from the party side lines.
The political power of the C. l. O.,
OF course, is growing. The time is not
far distant when the machinery of
the Democratic party in many States
will be controlled by Mr.. Lewis. He
can use 1t to advance his own politi-
cal fortunes-though 1910 is still far
off-or he can see to it that in 1888
Congress is elected which will be
obedient to c. I. o. demands.
keynote OF '3S Campaign.
The development of an American
labor party is one of the c. I. O.s
principal objectves, differing from the
A. F. of L., which has always pre-
ferred to keep out of politics, throw
Ing its support to Republicans or
Democrats according as they had |
voted in Congress to support labor |
measures.
The c. T. O. policy means that
definite lines Of cleavage will be de-
veloped, with candidates running for |
office openly attacking or supporting |
the G. I. O. The oldline leaders of |
the Democratic party have more to |
fear than anybody else from these
policies, because it will inevitably |
mean c. I. o. control of the local |
political organizations. What will |
such leaders do? Some OF them will |
move over into the opposition party,
whether 1T Is called the Republican
or the Constitution party Being
much more experienced in the field
OF practical politics, they will swing
the balance Of power, and the out
come will be that the C. I. o. will
have Its hands full in local battles.
1t will find itself spending a goodly
share OF the workingman's dues for
purely political warfare rather than
70 carry on negotiations with en-
ployers for better wages and working
conditions.
The c. I. o. can play large part
IN national party affairs. 1t will hurt
the Democratic party, dividing it's
strength, while the opposition party
viii have much better opportunity |
than heretofore, provided, of course,
the vast number of consumers who |
make up the middle class and who |
pay the high costs of labor's demands |
IN the form of higher prices awaken
sufaciently to form a fusion party.
Mr.. Lewis opening statement attack
ine Democratic leaders in Congress !
Ia no Insignificant development in
American politics. It is the KEYNOTE
speech Of 1885 political campaign.