The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-06-24
History Will Write Details
Of Lewis-Rooseve|t Feud
Story Begins During Roaring Thirties' as the
Forgotten Man Is Remembered by
New Deal and CO.
BY BAUKHAGE
Nelrs analyst and Commentator.

spite OF thelf respective hdndfCdpS,
to leadership. Egocentric enough to
elbow their way up to the counter,
altruistic enough to have something
to contribute to the general welfare
when they got there. Reader, be
fair even If you have your honest
prejudices-both these men are gift
ed
A Quick Look
Pick up the story in the roaring
thirties-the New Deal is beginning
TO strut its stuff. The forgotten
man" has been remembered and
he's grateful to Roosevelt.
The forgotten laborer is being re-
membered; he's grateful to Lewis.
mean the man who couldn't
because of the bylaws of the AFL,
get into labor union any more
than he could get into the Union
League club. Lewis stepped out of
the AFL with his miners The CIO
was formed in 1895.
1t looked as If John of the eye
brows and Franklin of the amber
cigarette holder had something in
common. They did. 1t began by
being an ideal-a better deal for
the man who hadn't had such
good deal before. Later, the issues
became more complicated but we
won't 60 into that now.
Anyhow, the Wagner act was
passed in 1885. (Labor's Magma
Charter, they called it, sThat gave
the poor, heretofore outsider, the
workman who couldn't qualify, to
join the snooty AFL. chance to be
somebody II there were more of
his group than there were of the
AFL's in plant, shop or factory.
his outfit was recognized as the col
lective bargaining unit.
That was a real step forward in
economic democracy.
The CLIO thrived. 1t had the bless
ing of the administration. 1t gave
its votes in return It also gave the
largest campaign contribution in re-
turn. Some of the starry-eyed young
men in the New Deal (they have
departed, most OF them, for Puerto
Rico and elsewhere on the fringes)
dreamed dreams. They told their
dreams to Lewis.
why not real labor party,
/ Jawn,' they smiled encouragingly,
with you as the leader? Well get
rid of the democrats without imagi-
nation. You'll be vice president next
| time
The SIRENS Song
But then Mr.. Lewis made great
mistake. He went to Paris. Other
men have erred in that once-fair
city before this. (I visited it my
SELF But John met another siren
he witnessed the sit-down
strike.
! Now, frankly, this is hearsay but |
am told that it was Lewis brought
that illegitimate Gallo child Of the
proletariat, conceived in a strange
moment Of alteration, back to Amer
lea. 1t did not thrive. 1t needed a
more rarified atmosphere than that
which blows across the prairies and
once tapped the cover of the COW
cred wagon.
Mr.. Lewis went to the White
House, jerked the previously well
coming latchstring, and went in. But
old man Vox Populi got there be-
fore him. Up to then, v. P. had
been pretty satisfied with things as
they were under the New Deal.
But things had changed.
In chilly voice v. P. said: mo,
Franklin, no John. No dice"
Franklin listened. John got mad.
That was the end of beautiful
friendship and the rest is history.
Lewis turned against the, man who
had made his success possible and
there is, as we know, no feud like
the feud Of former friends.
The soldier on the battlefield, ut
terly unable to comprehend why
men strike while he is risking his
life for a fraction of the pay the
strikers demand, cursed and threat
ened; the miner, with many just
grievances, stood confused, looking
for his oracle to speak, but cring-
ing under the sneers at his lack of
patriotism. Small=minded bureau
Gratis, more interested in saving
their faces than saving the country,
sputtered and strutted. Lewis and
Roosevelt, the two men who, work
ing together, might move mountains
(of coal and coalition) were forced
to square off against each other, the
public backed the government and,
as usual, decided the issue.
Oh yesl That 'Nazi Slave Labor
Society"--it can't happen herel