Evening star., 1940-02-12
Mr.. Lewis Steps Out

At the recent convention Of the
United Mine Workers, John L. Lewis
bitterly indicted the Democratic
party for taking labor's support for
granted on the assumption that
labor had no place else to go. He
did not tell the Mine Workers what
alternative he had in mind, but he
did make it clear that, for himself
at least, he had no intention OF
being the tail to anybody's kite. Mr..
Lewis has not as yet explained how
he believes the voting strength of
labor can be employed effectively If
not through the machinery Of one
OF the two major parties, but his re-
marks before the American Youth
Congress last week afford some basis
for speculation in this respect.
The breach between the c. I. o.
chieftain and President Roosevelt
was both wide and deep before the
Youth Congress address, and now,
even when due allowance is made
for the marriages of convenience
that political necessities can pro-
duce, it would seem that the two
men have definitely reached the
parting Of the ways.
Mr.. Lewis on Saturday did not
confine himself merely to a criticism
OF the New Deal for its failure to
bring about the long-sought recov-
cry; he attacked the President per-
sonally and in language which bor-
dered on the incorporate A rap
prochement now between these two,
men would be little short OF po-
litical miracle.
In all probability, Mr. Lewis, If
he has definitely decided to break
away from both the Democratic and
Republican parties, is looking beyond
1910! He has already gone on record
against a third term for Mr.. Roose-
velt and against the candidates. Of
Vice President Garner and Paul v.
McNutt Nor is it conceivable that
he would support any Republican
nominee. Labor's Non Partisan
League, of which Mr.. Lewis is chair
man, announced last December that
it would enter the Democratic pri-
maries with view to selecting pro-
gressive candidates for President and
Vice President, but if that means
fighting both the Roosevelt and Gar
ner wings of the party it holds little
promise of success. It can only be
assumed, therefore, that Mr.. Lewis,
If his words mean anything, is look
ing to the future.
In that connection it is interesting
to note Mr.. Lewis warm invitation
to the members of the Youth Con-
gress to affiliate with the Non-Par-
tisan league. 1T is time for labor,
1t is time for the common people
and it is time for the youth of Amer
lea to get together" he declared.
Having previously bid for the sup
port of the needy aged, it now ap-
pears that Mr.. Lewis is making over
lures to the organized youth Of the
country.
Just what he offers them, and how
he proposes to get it, is not clear,
but that he wants to be generous
about 1t may be inferred from his
assertion that the n-Partisan
League stands always "for the rights
and principles OF free America, for
the support Of its meritorious insti-
tutions, for the preservation of the
flag, for the protection of the home
land, and for job and civil lber-
ties" Mr.. Lewis, in that platform,
may have overlooked a few of the
traditional glittering generalities
which oface-hungry politicians have
dangled before the voters in the past,
but, for comparative newcomer to
the political arena, his effort is
nothing to be ashamed of.