Evening star., 1938-11-12
Democrats Need
ouseCEeaninq,
Lewis Asserts
Labor Alone Unable
To Hold Prestige,
He Declares
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, Nov. PC. I. O.
Chairman John l.. Lewis told a press
conference today last Tuesdays cleo
ton indicated the need for a house
cleaning in some quarters of the
Democratic party and closer CO.
operation among liberal forces.
Labor of itself" the c. I. O..
chieftain said, cannot sustain the
prestige of the Democratic organiza-
ton in States where the conduct
of that organization or its repre-
sentatives in Office is such as not
to warrant the confidence of the
electorate"
The States he had in mind. he
said, included Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and Ohio, and he amplified
his remarks later to aim his criti-
cism specifically at Gov. Martin L.
Davey of Ohio and Mayor Frank
Hague of Jersey City. N j.. men,
ber of the Democratic National
Committee.
Terms DcIcdt DeDdCIe.
The defeat of the C. I. supported
Democratic ticket in Pennsylvania
last Tuesday he described as
"debacle" and said it could be traced
back to the stupidity, arrogance
and lack of consideration for the
rights of labor and the common
people on the part of the two major
Pennsylvania politicians
Mr.. Lewis refused, however, to
name the two politicians He and
his organization fought the regular
Democratic organization in Pennsyl-
vania in the primaries in a futile
effort to win the governorship
nomination for Thomas Kennedy,
secretary-treasurer of Lewis United
Mine Workers Union.
Asked what he considered the long
range effects of the November elec-
tion, Mr.. Lewis said:
I think the general elections in
dicate the need for greater CO.
operation and concerted action
among the liberal forces of our
country. think the liberal element
OF the Democratic party, labor and
other progressives have a definite in
centive to cooperate.
More Sway Held Labor's Due.
Labor, he said. must have an in
creasingly greater part in govern
ment and not continue as lust
heWers of wood and drawers of water
for the Democratic party"
The great majority are over
Whelmingly behind President Roose-
velt," he said. "and his general poll
cies. Unquestionably they have no
reason to return to the Republican
party, which for years has done
nothing but betray the interests of
the people"
He criticized Mayor Hague for de
nylng labor organizations their
rights to assemblage and free
speech"
Turing to Ohio. where the Repub-
llcans defeated the Democratic
ticket last Tuesday, Lewis put the
blame for the result on this man
Davey."
He said Gov. Davey had "cor-
rupted his party and was "guiEv
OF the betrayal of every principle in
the proper conduct of public Office"
Passive on Union Bolt.
questioned about the decision of
the International Ladies' Garment
Workers Union to bolt the C. 10.
1t helped to found and become an
independent union, Mr.. Lewis said
his interest in the matter was only
casual"
The adherence or non adherence
OF any one union" he said, lis a
relatively unlmportant matter.
1T was known to us long before
the c. 1. O. convention was called
that the garment workers would de-
eide not to cross the rubicon, all of
which is their right and privilege
and which affects us in no manner
at all
The revenue lost by the bolt of the
I. L. G. w. u, he said, was "insie-
niflcant."
In the past year and a half, he
added. the garment workers, as an
affiliate of the c. I. O., paid in
conscience money in preparation for
its departure
Mr.. Lewis did not discuss the issue
OF peace versus dualism in the labor
(See c. I. O., Page AID