The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-05-09

ne primary elections are endeu the
results in the major contests provide some in
teresting lessons.
First. comes the smashing defeat OF Howard
Bruce in his quest for seat in the United
States Senate. The rejection of Bruce by the
voters is indicative of many things. Most
important. probably. was the fact that the
power which comes from the possession of
millions of dollars. (and the evident expendi-
ture of parts of the hoard) proved insufficient
to stampede the voters into Bruces camp.
Second. is the thought that the average
voters are against to such extent that
they are utterly opposed to anyone whose
business interests and private fortune will be
enriched by the entry of this country into the
holocaust. In spite of misleading propaganda
the voters evidently appreciated the fact that
many Of Bruce's millions were amassed from
the profits OF business concerns which Profited
hugely from the last war and might be ex-
pected to similarly trade in flesh and blood in
the event OF our participation in the current
war. 1t will be interesting to notice if
Candidate Bruce retires from the profits
industries even though he was not nominatedl
High in the factors and considerations
of Bruce's defeat comes the position of
Governor O'Conor and the State ma
chine. Bruce's defeat comes as a repudi-
alton of O'Conor who went whole-heart-
eddy in appeals to the voters to nominate
his benefactor. In repudiating Bruce's
candidacy it is quite fair to say that the
Democratic voters repudated O'Conor.
And we'll they might! The record which
the Governor has made in the minds of the
common people is an unenviable His
attitude towards labor and labor legislation
his servile serving of the interests of predatory
powers has apparently been recognized by the
voters
Take the Governors actions in regards to
labor politicians. Look what happened to
him with the notorious Joe McCurdy. Five
Job Joe as he is unafectonately known
among labor people sold an endorsement of
the Governors candidate in the name of the
American Federation of Labor. The price
was a Five Thousand Dollar per year job for
the next six years. which is coming from the
taxpayers pocket to McCurdy for alleged full
time services to the Unemployment Compen-
sation Board Meanwhile McCurdy keeps his
Jobs in the various and sundry sections OF
the labor movement. How little influence
McCurdy yields must be evident even to
the Governor! Dozens of AFL unions re-
pudiated Bankster Bruce and endorsed his
opponent. The Aegany Trades Council of
the AFL did likewise!
O'Conor showed in the last session of the
Maryland General Assembly that labors just
and righteous ambitions meant nothing to him.
He ignored the workers demands for a little
Wagner Act. state Wages and Hours Act.
and he signed phony and discredited Occu-
pational Diseases Bill over the emphatic pro-
tests of organized labor and with the endorse
ment Of his stooge McCurdy. who later was
repudiated by the AFL Executive Council.
Then, the defeat of o. onor and Bruce must
be encouraging to the common people of Al
legany County who appear at long last to have
gotten wise to the peculiar state of affairs
which permits local leader to praise candi-
date or revile him at time and come back
some months later and reverse the individuals
but maintain the procedure!!!
The defeat OF Bruce and ms millions is a
triumph for the common people. Let US hope
that those who have been summary rebuked
will take the lesson to heart and acknowledge
the supremacy of the ordinary voters Let us
hail the fact that barefaced corruption stands
defeated and even hope that the Governor
will finally feel called upon to answer our
charges that he attempted to purchase the
spokesman of a section Of labor for Five
thousand dollars of the taxpayers money
each year
Turning to the Republican contest it is heart
ening to find that such sterling friend of or
gained labor as Ex-Governor Harry W. Nice
has been named standard bearer over his op-
ponent and erstwhile ofice-holder William F.
Broening.
Ex-Governor Nice's labor record and his
proven respect and consideration of the rights
of labor and its honest spokesman must be
credited in large part to his victory this week.
Here is a caddate who can truly stand before
US and quote from the record-his record
without, fear of successful contradiction.
In IL. Congressional race we hear many ex-
pressons of disappointment that native of
Allegany County was not chosen to make the
hnsl race Nor is it much consolation to find
that two native sons split vote which COM
bined would have made one the victor Labor
will do well to give great interest to this race
with the record of the incumbent being in
pretty good shape on the votes listed.
Taken in review. the voters seem to have
sXnna xvel bv fhey,,aeIvea in The major eonteata