Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-01-24
Roosevelt to Lose if He Runs,
Says Lewis, FIoying Democrats;
Wheeler Also Doubts He1|Win
Administration
Broke Faith With
Labor, He Says
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
COLUMBUS, Ohio. Jan. 24.-John
L. Lewis declared today that should
the Democratic National Convention
''be coerced or dragooned" into re-
nominating President Roosevelt. Ibis
candidacy would result in ignomin-
ious defeat"
The statement of Mr.. Lewis was
made Unexpectedly before the United
Mine Workers of America conven-
ton. He asserted it would be ''un-
wise at this time" to make any
presidential Endorsements, but sug-
gested that the Executive Board be
empowered to take up the matter
at the proper time.
The U. M. w. president accused
the Democratic party of failing to
keep faith with labor" He expressed
belief that President Roosevelt prob
ably would not be a candidate for
denomination.
Mr.. Lewis asserted that in 1896
organized labor furnished money,
speakers, party workers and millions
of votes to help return the Demo-
cratic party to power.
"A political coalition presupposes
q post-election good faith between
the coalescent interests he added.
The Democratic party and it's
leadership have not preserved its
faith.
Labor Unrepresented.
I'm the last three years labor has
not been given representation in
the cabinet, nor in the admins
trative or policy making agencies of
Government. The current admin
tstration has not sought nor serl-
ously entertained the advice or views
of labor upon the question of ma
tional unemployment or lesser ques-
lions affecting domestic economy,
internal taxation, foreign trade, mil
ttary and naval expansion. relations
with foreign nations or the issues of
war or peace.
Labor today has no point of con-
tact with the Democratic admins
tration in power except for casual
occasional interviews which are
granted its individual leaders. In
the Congress the unrestrained bait
ing and defaming of labor by the
Democratic majority has become
>pastime, never subject to rebuke by
the titular or actual leaders of the
party"
Mr.. Lewis asserted the Democratic
party lis in default to the American
people" and that labor and the peo-
pie are losing confidence.
Asserting Congress was without a
program, except to enact necessary
appropriations in ample time to en-
gage in the national quadrcnnial
political marathon, Mr.. Lewis con-
tinued:
Defeat Seen for Roosevelt.
Il am one who believes that Pres
ident Roosevelt will not be a can
didate for reelection. Conceding
that the Democratic National Con-
vention could be coerced or drs-
gooned into renominating him, I am
convinced that with the condi-
tons now confronting the Nation
and the dissatisfaction now perme-
ating the minds of the people his
candidacy would result in ignomin-
ious defeat
The c. I. o. chieftain said that
Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey and New York
were tending toward the Repub-
lican column In the campaign
year of 1910"
This trend" he added, can be
corrected and the Republican party
prevented from winning only by an
accord between the Democratic
party and organized labor, and the
adoption of an intelligent and ra-
tional program to be written into
the platform of the Democratic
party and placed before the Amer
lean people as the issues of the
election. Even then guarantees of
good faith and fulfillment of party
promises would have to be made to
labor and the people by responsible
Democratic leaders"
No Solution in Seven Years.
Mr.. Lewis also declared that the
Democratic party after seven years
finds itself without solution for the
major questions of unemployment,
low national income, mounting in
ternal debt. increasing direct and
consumer taxation and restricted
foreign markets. There still exists
the same national unhappiness that
1t faced seven years ago."
Autonomy for districts and spe-
cial assessments were considered the
only debatable subjects as the con-
vention took up the S2-page officers
report.
Despite these questions, an in
formed source predicted the U. M.
w. Convention would approve the
report in full, giving its Endorsement
TO proposed extensive liberalizations
(See LEWIS, Page A-4)