Evening star., 1938-05-21

ernOr and United &ss<s::
states Senator David Lawrence.
means undOubt-
edlv that Americas most powerful
political boss was appearing in the
role of peacemaker, if not disciple
marian.
Mr.. Lewis has much to gain and
little to lose by playing ball with the
national administration. He may not
have been given all the favors he
wants. but his membership drives
have been indirectly assisted by ad-
ministration decisions all along the
line
As for the Pennsylvania election
this autumn, it is important to the
administration that Mr.. Lewis decide
whether he will help the Democratic
ticket or throw his votes to the Re-
publican candidates. If the c. I. O.
leader plays one against the other as
is sometimes done in politics he may
be in position to demand more con-
sideratlon at the White House than
he has been getting. Ever since the
sit down strikes. Mr.. Roosevelt has
not hcsitated to let it be known on
occasion that some of the moves being
made by the aggressive labor leaders
we're not at the moment in the public
interest.
Aroused Lewis Wrath.
The Presidents remark "a plague
on both your houses" uttered at the
..
aroused the wrath of Mr.. Lewis who
made a radio speech about it. Maybe
the c. l. O. leader has been getting
ready TO say few things apropos of
the primary election. Anyway with
characteristic alertness, the Presi-
dent has called in Mr.. Lewis and at
tempted to patch things up.
Whatever else may be said about
Mr. Roosevelt's tendency every now
and then to let matters drift. nothing
of that sort envelops him when there
are any votes or elections involved.
PENNSYLVANIA election produced lot
Of headlines about rebuff to Mr..
Farley, New Deal and c. l. o. Mr..
Roosevelt doesn't like unfavorable
work presumably on a harmony plan
which he or some of his spokesmen
can announce soon so as to reverse
the impression if possible.
Certainly, if all labor is united in
the coming election. the chances of
victory for the Democratic ticket in
Pennsylvania would be much better.
pi,f ho r,o
c. I. o. versus A. F. of L. Clearly
this fight inside the ranks of labor
shows no signs of abatement and it is
bound to creep into the autumn cam
paign.
Better Publicity.
The c. I. o. has had better publicity
than the A. F. of l.. and has had some
good breaks with respect to decisions
from the National Labor Relations
Board, but anybody who underesti-
mates the A. F. of L. as a skillful
fighting force in American politics
doesn't know what those experienced
trade unionists who learned their BIZ
PARTISAN tactics from the late Samuel
Gompers can do.
For one thing the A. F. of L. leaders
As rule, have no candidates of their
own and put all their strength behind
candidates who are friendly and SYM
patheic to their cause but are not
owned in every other respect by
labor organiza ton Labor's support
for members of Congress has been an
influential factor IN many campaigns.
The A. F. of L. has maintained card
index records of all members of Con-
gress for many years and manages to
very effectively
There has been on Mr.. Roosevelt's
part, believe, a tendency to discount
the A. F. of L. as political force
Maybe, after the PENNSYLVANIA pri-
mary, this will disappear. But, for
the moment, the President does not
seem to be helping the Pennsylvania
situation by making deals with John
L. Lewis which will only antagonize
the A. F. of L. leaders.
Challenge to G. O.P.
The whole situation is challenge to
Republicans. They must perceive the
great strength which the c. l. o. and
A. F. of L. combined can poll in an
election. What are the Republicans
doing to attract the labor vote? If
they think they can ignore, it, they
are apt to be very much surprised in
the autumn elections.
The Republican opportunity to put
forth a sound national labor policy
has been again and again emphasized
in this column, but as yet there are
no signs of a pronouncement. Ger
tainly the labor platform Of either the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States or the National Association Of
Manufacturers will not win labor votes
in any substantial quantity in the
coming elections. AS for the Repub-
lican membership in Congress, it has
not evolved labor program either.
There may be disaffection in the
Democratic ranks among the labor
groups but Mr. Roosevelt is busy
harmonizing whilst the Republicans
are asleep at the crossroads.
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