The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-08-11
i Bruckorfs Washington Digest
Lewis Violent Blast at Garner
Wrecks Influence as Labor Leader
Resentment Spreads Quickly and Things Begin Happen;
Reaction in House Labor Committee Is Immediate;
Strengthens Political Position of Vice President.
BY WILLIAM BRUCKART
WNU Service, National Press Bldg, Washington d. C.

taken resolution condemning Lew
is and expressing the deep resent
ment and indignation" at his bitter,
personal attack" upon the vice pres
ident. There was talk around the
house and senate later about prop
osition to bar Lewis from any fur
Their appearance before COMPRESSION
al committee hearings but that fad
ed away. Nevertheless, my guess
at this stage is that if and when
Lewis does appear before any con-
gressional committee again, he will
be subjected to a grilling that will
tan him to deep brown.
Now, thus far, this column has
dealt only with Lewis. There is
more.
Wherever politicians gathered
around Washington during the week
following the Incorporate action by
Lewis, one could not fail to hear
conjecture as to its effect upon the
movement to make the vice presi-
dent the Democratic presidential
nominee next year. The feeling was
almost unanimous that Cactus
Jack" could have had no better
break, politically. That is to say,
an attack by Lewis, who led the sit
down strikers and who has been tied
in like hand in a glove with GER
tain of the radical elements, could
not fail to swerve voting support
behind Garner. Most of the politi-
clans know now that the c. I. o., is
a crumbling and disintegrating mass
of badly led workers. Throughout the
rural areas and in the small towns,
he has hurt the cause of union labor
beyond compare.
Factions of Democratic
Party Split Further Asunder
The influence of the Lewis state
ment does not stop there, however,
for there is a definite cleavage in
the ranks of the majority party al
ready. It is to be remembered in
this connection that the backbone
Of the Democratic party has been
the "solid South" The South, gen.
orally speaking, has chung to con-
sentative ways and modes of living
and has maintained traditions which
have served its people well. That
viewpoint is quite contrary to the
New Deal and to the Presidents
advisors of this month. Nor have
the Presidents advisors enjoyed the
knowledge that a lot of Mr.. Gamers
friends have been pushing him very
hard for the party nomination in
1910. Naturally, these folks around
the White House are the leaders in
the plan to have President Roose-
welt seek a precedent-breaking third
term. They do not like to see a man
become too popular or who might
offer real resistance to a Roosevelt
nomination.
From these facts, it becomes more
or less obvious that the Lewis at
tack on Mr.. Garner constitutes
something of bombshe1l in splitting
the two factions of the Democratic
party further asunder. With the
Lewis record of support of every
thing new dealish, it can not fail to
convince voters of the brand of Gar
ner democracy.
There is still a further phase or
sphere of influence to be mentioned.
Mr.. Garner has long been known as
a conservative Democrat and he has
long been powerful in the councils of
his party. To enter upon an assump-
ton, then, that he may be the Demo-
cratic nominee next year, where
does that leave the Republicans? Re
publican leadership has been steer
ing to the right, to the conservative
side, as far as they have shown
their hand. The question to be asked
after that statement is, where does
that leave the New Dealers?
LeUis Does More Harm to
Labor Than ANY Other Man