Evening star., 1940-01-25


statute books only through the CO.
operation and whole-hearted- sup
port of Mr.. Roosevelt. The present
Labor Board which is accused by
the A. F. of L. of being prejudiced
80 often in favor of the c. I. O.,
was appointed by Mr.. Roosevelt.
Again and again the present ad-
ministration has shown its friendli-
ness to the G. I. O., especially in re-
cent weeks when it ordered the JUS
tice Department to prosecute A. F..
Of L. unions and did not 60 after
any c. I. o. unions, though, II the
antitrust laws apply to one, they
most assuredly apply to union ac-
tivities such as were manifested in
the recent Chrysler strike by the
c. I. o. locals.
The administration, and particu-
larly the President, interviewed in
the coal negotiations last year to
enable Mr.. Lewis and the United
Mine Workers to win victory over
the Progressive Mine Workers
Union. At the instance of Mr..
Lewis, the very unusual powers
of the anti-racketeering statute were
invoked by the Justice Department
of Mr.. Roosevelt's regime so as to
aid the cause of the c. 1. o.
Former Republican.
Why, it will be asked, is Mr.. Lewis
on political rampage, ready ap-
parently to bolt the administration
in favor of some other candidate?
The head of the C. I. o. was
Republican until 1882. He was
prominently mentioned for the sec
retaryship of Labor under Republi-
can administrations and came near
being appointed on one occasion.
The best answer to the new riddle
introduced by John Lewis is that
he knows the Democratic party Is
divided and that the election of
conservative on either ticket means
An end to the inside track and
prejudiced administration which
labor groups have been able to
command here these last few years
by reason of their political influence.
Mr.. Lewis unQuestionably believes
he must come out in the open now
with a demonstration of his political
power so as to influence the selec-
ton by the Democratic National
Convention of a candidate friendly
to what the c. I. o. stands for. He
may be threatening to help a third
party ticket, which is but another
way to secure recognition of his
demands from conservative Demo-
cratic leaders. 1t will be noted that
the present session of Congress will
have many labor controversies in 1t,
especially as efforts are made to
amend the Wagner law.
AS between the c. I. o. and the
A. F.. of L.. the latter has better
political organization in the pre-
cincts. The administration has been
apprehensive lest the A. F. of L.
might throw its strength to the
Republican party. 1t did so in Penn
sylvania and elected a Republican
Governor in 1888. The administra-
ton may recently have decided that
1t might better cast its lot with the
A. F. of L. This may have enraged
Mr. Lewis.
Green at White House.
Anyway, it will be observed that
at the same moment Mr.. Lewis was
making a speech in Cleveland de-
nouncing the administration for
Its lack of friendliness to the c. I. o.
program, William Green, head of
the A. F. of L., was bringing cake
to the President and getting HIM
self photographed with Mr. Roose-
welt in connection with the funds
raised for the infantile paralysis
campaign and Presidents Birthday
Ball.
Keeping the scales even between
the A. F. of l. and the c. L O.,
each demanding privileges and rec
Ognition of its cause, is enough to
cause President to decline third
term. The White House is silent
on whether denomination will be
accepted if the President is drafted.
Mr.. Lewis isn't waiting for the
draft movement" to materialize.
His Cleveland speech opposes the
Hull trade treaty program and
would seem to make improbable
any support for Secretary Hull if
he is the Presidents choice. Maybe
Mr.. Lewis feels he can head
third ticket himself, though at the
moment he is pressing his support
for Senator Wheeler of Montana.
1t will be interesting to see whether,
in the event Mr.. Roosevelt is re-
nominated, the head of the c. I. o.
will some day erase his Cleveland
speech from the record, though his
address seems significant of grow
ing belief that Mr.. Roosevelt will
decide not to seek the nomination
and thus perhaps spare Mr.. Lewis
the ignominy of having his powers