Evening star., 1939-07-28
Tut, Tut, Mr.. Lewis

When John l.. Lewis eyebrows are
as white as those of the Vice Presi-
dent of the United States he may
understand that name-calling car
ries a powerful kick-back on the
name-caller. Indeed, he may have
this fact forced upon him almost i'm
mediately, as a result of his charac-
terization Of Mr.. Garner as labor
batting, poker playing, whisky drink
ing, evil old man." That remark, un-
less Senators and Representatives
commenting upon it are wrong, has
lost to Mr.. Lewis and his labor organ
ization, the Congress Of Industrial
Organizations, many votes in both
Houses.
Mr.. Lewis is a public figure. For
any man to use the language he used
in attacking the Vice President of
the United States and the President
of the Senate before a congressional
committee indicates bad temper and
worse judgment. Out in the country
and among the rank and file of the
people, Mr.. Lewis, as result, will lose
caste-just as he has in Congress.
If Mr.. Lewis unmeasured attack
upon the Vice President was repre-
hensible, what of the attitude of the
House Labor Committee, before which
the attack was made? No member of
that committee did more than sit
and gape-except the chairman, Mrs.
Mary Norton, who thanked MIR. Lewis
for his contribution when he had
concluded his TRADE. No member
suggested that the Lewis remarks
about Mr.. Garner be expunged from
the record. The committee took it
lying down, although there are Ger
tain rules of courtesy that are sup
posed to guide the proceedings in
congressional committees as we'll as
In the House and Senate themselves.
Mr.. Lewis has perfect right, Of
course, to be against MIR. Garner, as
he said, in 1889 and in 1910 "per-
sonally, concretely and in the alb
stract." He does not wish Mr.. Garner
to be nominated by the Democratic
party for President next year. Pre-
sumably his attack upon the Vice
President was intended to lessen his
chances for the nomination. The
probable effect, however, will be to
win friends for Mr.. Garner-even
though they may not be enough to
Insure him victory in the Democratic
National Convention.
Mr.. Lewis is bold operator. When
President Roosevelt failed to sup
port actively some of his ideas for
labor, Mr.. Lewis openly said that the
President had supped at labor's table,
that labor had been responsible for
his election to the presidency, and
that the President was expected to
come across. 1t is true that he did
not accuse Mr.. Roosevelt of being an
evil young man. But Mr.. Lewis did
imply that he was an ungrateful one.
Mr.. Lewis labor organization had put
up half a million dollars for the
Roosevelt campaign-the largest sin
gle contributor. The President was
annoyed, but he let the remark pass.
Perhaps, with his present attack upon
Mr.. Garner, Mr.. Lewis hopes to win
a more cordial feeling on the part of
Mr.. Roosevelt.
Mr.. Lewis has not been a success
in his recent political campaigns
except in 1886, when he supported
President Roosevelt in a big way.
Last year his candidates were
knocked about by the voters. Par
ticularly was this true in Pennsyl-
vania, where, because of the United
Mine Workers, of which he is presi-
dent, Mr.. Lewis was supposed to be
influential. How much good he will
do Mr.. Roosevelt by his attack upon
the Vice President-if that was his
purpose-is decidedly problematical.
Mr.. Lewis enjoys a wide reputation
as a clever politician and labor stra-
tegist. His outburst yesterday leaves
vx,l,o l.