Evening star., 1937-08-22
A Threat of Secession.


For some time past 1t has been evi-
dent that the friendly relations between
the President and John l.. Lewis, head
Of the Committee on Industrial Orpani.
zation, have been waning. There have
been numerous incidents to indicate that
the labor leader was not satisfied with
the degree OF cooperation on the part
OF the President In the advancement Of
measures urged by him IN behalf OF labor.
Now comes an indirect threat by Mr..
Lewis to form 4 new party to, seek the
social legislation to which the Democratic
party was committed during the 1885
campaign. Though he does not spe-
ci1cally say 50. it is plain from Mr..
Lewis statement that he holds the
President responsible for the failure of
Congress to enact the wage hour law at
the session just closed. inferentially be-
cause he did not apply the heat of
Executive command
Mr.. Lewis in his formal statement saws:
ITO the leaders Of the Democratic party
1t presents the challenge either to re-
store SUFFICIENT party discipline to permit
Government to function under their
guidance or to confess that their party
is not the vehicle by which the people
OF the country may progress to a solu-
ton of their pressing social problems.
Sabotage of the Democratic party by
small group of its more conservative
members, which came to q head in the
House Rules Committee and in the
caucus OF last Thursday evening, shows
that the Democratic leadership is unable
to carry out the pledges made In the
name Of their party during the 1886 cam
paign."
Thus by indirection the head OF the
c. I. O., who is also chairman of Labors
Non Partisan League. indicates a pur-
pose to form new party to seek the
social legislation to which the Demo-
cratic party was committed during the
1896 campaign. There are doubtless
spective loss of direct support at the polls
of organized labor In the campaign of
1910, would be glad to see such secession
come about. The alliance formed in the
1896 campaign has brought many COM
plications and has severely strained the
loyalty of numerous Democratic legis-
~ hA Af
Congress which has. just come to an end.
This has been particularly true OF the
members Of Congress from the Southern
States and especially in the matter Of
the wage-hour bill. against the enact
ment OF which Southern interests have
been aligned. Blockade Of this legisla-
ton was effected by a strategem which
prevented the matter from coming be-
fore the House for a direct VOTE
A labor secession through the organi-
zation of third party would materially
change the political picture for 1910.
Whether it could be accomplished in all
parts of the country, the South rs well
as the North, is question that cannot
be answered at this time There can be
no doubt that the Democratic party
would be more definitely weakened at
the polls than would the Republican. And
such movement might conceivably have
bearing upon a question which, despite
the Presidents Victory Dinner demurrer,
persists in the minds of many, that Of q
possible third term candidacy.
The obvious implication Of Mr.. Lewis
statement is that the President should
have exerted his power to compel action
by the House Of Representatives on the
wage-hour bill at this session. In view
Of his failure to drive the court packing
bill through the Senate, 1t Is hardly to
have been expected that Mr.. Roosevelt
would again undertake coecion to secure
this legislation, against which 50 large
and important fraction Of his congress
sional support Is opposed.