Evening star., 1940-01-15

degree of the Senator's receptivity.
A few weeks ago he addressed the
National Association of Manufac-
turers in New York. They wanted,
undoubtedly. to look him over and
see if he still wore the horns that
large numbers of businessmen pic
tured him as wearing back in 1924,
when he ran for the vice presidency
on the La Toilette ticket. On jack
son Day he spoke to a gathering OF
Democrats at Denver and later in
the week he talked to a section of
the League of Women Voters at
Pittsburgh. He went frcm there to
make week end speech at Cleve-
land.
No one who is not earnestly try
ing to guide the lightning in his
direction would take on such a pro-
gram.
Lewis for Wheeler?
More significant than any or all
Of Senator Wheelers appearances to
date is the one he will make Jan.
uary % before the golden anniver-
sary convention of the United Mins
Workers at Columbus. What makes
this engagement politically inter.
esting is the added support that 1t
gives to the widely held belief at
the Capital that John L. Lewis, the
C. I. o. leader and head of the
United Mine Workers, is preparing
to throw his influence behind Sena.
tor Wheeler for the presidency.
A couple of months ago Mr.. Lewis
in shying a brickbat at a projected.
meeting supposedly for the purpose
of promoting a third term for Roose-
welt, referred to Senator Wheeler as
one of the great liberals" of the
West. 1t seemed clear that the
C. I. o. chieftain was not enamored
of the third-term movement and
that Senator Wheeler stood high on
his list. Both inferences are
strengthened by Mr.. Lewis invita-
ton to the Senator and the glowing
terms in which it was couched.
Estrangement.
This praise of the Montana Sen.
ator accents the estrangement be.
tween John L. Lewis and the Presi.
dent. Though there has been no
open break-for the interests of the
two in many respects have con-
tinued to run on parallel tracks-it
is no secret that the old relation
ship which caused the mine work.
ers to pour over s5000OO in gifts
and loans into the Democratic war
chest of 1896. is gone.
Lewis has never forgotten the
President for that plague O. both
their houses" remark at the time
of the strike in little steel" His
bitter and revealing reply will be
recalled, that it Ill became one who
had "supped at labor's table" to
show such a fine impartiality. The
breach between the two men has
widened as Lewis has become in
creasingly critical of the New Deal.
Labor, he feels, has been let down
by the failure of the President to
take stronger line on behalf of
pro-labor legislation and funds for
relief.
Effect on Wheeler.
II Lewis turns now to Wheeler,
with whom he has h- i consistently
friendly relations, it will be ex-
tremely interesting to observe the
effect on the Senator's political for
tunes.
Two questions arise. The first IA
whether Lewis has the political
strength he claims. There are
shrewd observers who maintain that
Lewis political power derives to &
very great extent from his alliance
with Roosevelt-that without Roose.
velt his vaunted power falls away.
In support of this theory they point
to the failure of Lewis to deliver"
either in the Pennsylvania Demo.
cratic primary of 1888 or in the
election, which saw the Republican,
James, chosen Governor. In this
evaluation of Lewis it Is Roosevelt.
not Lewis, who is placed in the
role Of benefactor.
Kiss of Death?
The second question is whether
Lewis strength, whatever it NAV
be, is sufficient to offset the anti
pathy to Lewis created by the Sit
down strikes and his general course
as head of the c. I. o. The point ia
made that so far as 1910 is con-
cerned Lewis outspoken support Of
a candidate may be the kiss of
DEATH"
Senator Wheeler is inviting aid
from both the liberal" and the
conservative elements Of the party.
He can only hope to be nominated
as middle of the road candidate
acceptable to both wings. There is
no reason to doubt the entire sin
cerity OF his underground profess
sions. Can he, however. maintain
the political balance that is neces-
sary II he is to gain the nomina.
ton? Can he stay on the tight rone
on which Mr.. Lewis acclaim. II
granted, will undoubtedly place him1