The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-06-03

When John L. Lewis achieves re-
entry into the American Federation or
Labor, upon which he has poured so
mush fancy invective and whose Off
GERS he has ridiculed with such Shakes
pearian flourish, there will be new
labor picture for the contemplation OF
all and Sundry.
This new picture will be of almost
equal interest to employers, government
and politicians
1t is probably that more than one
| political figure has long since been
busy with paper and pencil jotting
down the political leaningS of leading
AFL figures, to see just how much
antiROosevelt strength will have been
mobilized when Lewis returns to that
fold which he left in such high dud-
geon and with such grandiloquent ora
| tory to create the biggest labor split
the United States had ever known.
Some history is in the making and
it's unfolding will begin right away.
X X X
h Unless memory is tricky, the AFL
has supported a Republican candidate
for the presidency since it went into
politics with "non-partisanship" as it's
slogan.
Once or twice, it's support of the
Democratic candidate has been half
hearted but it never wholly crossed
the street. That's the record, except
for the year in which the late Bob
LaFollette was supported because Ia
Dor could not stomach either of the
regular two-party candidates.
OF course there are strong figures
in the AFL who divide in both politi-
cal parties. Examples are Bill Hut
cheson, chairman of the Republican
| partys labor committee and Dan To-
bin, who has for years headed the
same committee for the Democrats.
| But it could happen that one side
or the other gets the edge and takes
the Federation into a partisan position
maybe not the side that traditionally
has had the edge.
OF course Lewis was in the Fedora
ton during more than one campaign.
And he went his Republican way in
peace, except for the support of Roose-
welt, which now he regrets so bitterly
But in those days when he was a
Republican he lacked the deep personal
hatred which he now has.
| That's the main reason something
may be about to happen - something
that will really be of a size to travel
in the big time and have it's effect on
big events-perhaps on international
settlement after the war.
This plan to come 'home" doesn't
look like a simple matter of paying so
and so much per capita into the AFL
| treasury 1t looks much more impor-
tant than that
An immediate direction of possibly
| important effect will be Latin America.
The AF'L has given it's support, so
far as it has taken any active part,
to the GROIN in Mexico. Lewis has
supported the CTM. Lewis was espe-
cially warm to Lombardo Toledano.
|
hostile as were Lewis and the AFL.
ToledanO launched Latin Federation
of Labor, to freeze out the United
States.
OF course many problems must be
solved. The fate of the Progressive
Mine Workers is involved as are many
jurisdctional lines crossed by the
noted District 80, the Lewis dragnet.
And what will happen to Lewis cam
paign to unite farmers?
| No development in years has had so
many angles of interest and import
ance or so many which were not imme-
diately visible.
Lewis has always done things with a
dramatic flourish. His application for
reailiation was put forward so quiet
ly that it may well be the big drama
lies elsewhere. Brethren and sisters,
keep listenin' and keep lookin'. A big
page is getting itself written for the
history bookS.-CMW.