Evening star., 1944-07-20
OId-Line Political Boss
Role by CIO Is Seen
Observer Warns of Convention,
Dangerous Undercurrents

Observer Warns of Conventions
Dangerous Undercurrents
BY Dapid Laurence
CHICAGO, July 20.-Never before IN
all the history Of American political con-
ventions has q labor union organization
played . part such as the CIO has
played this week in influencing the
Democratic National Convention.
The C1O lieutenants worked like old
line political bosses, saying bl,mtly what
they would or would not accept and
threatening dire things in certain pop
ulous states unless the big machines did
their bidding.
Undoubtedly the CIO men haa an
exaggerated idea Of their importancs
but 1t doesn't take much to apply pres
sure in strategic spots In q political con-
vention. The Southern delegates were
completely routed by the CIO. It was
the C1O which vetoed James F. Byrnes
for the vice presidency because he once
had the courage to sponsor q resolution
IN the United States Senate condemninz
the sit-down strike.
Dangerous Undercurrents,
Speaking Of Mr.. Byrnes, this conven.
ton had its undercurrents which are
nowise to its credit. Thus the fact that
Mr.. Byrnes was born a Catholic b,t
was not reared as one was used against
him among the delegations, the arsu.
ment being that he would lose the Cath.
olic vote. It is odd but a few years
ago AL Smith was turned down In sew
eral States because he was a Catholic
and Jim Farley was told in as many
words in 1910 by political leaders that
ne couldn't be the Democratic vice
presidential nominee because he Is a
Catholic.
So 1t is bit difficult to tell just what
these politicians really want and it be-
gins to look as if those who attempt tn
speak In behalf Of religious groups or
groups of voters are not speaking with
any authority at all and are merely
using the religious argument as a means
OF killing of candidacy they don't like
anyway.
Mr.. Byrnes Is by far the ablest Of the
men suggested for the vice presidency.
but the undercurrents worked against
him just as they did against Senator
Barkley OF Kentucky. The device used
IN the latter case being the claim that
the Negro voters up North would resent
the selection of anybody for Vice Presi.
dent who came from a Southern Stata,
The keynote speeches were lust a.
partisan as those delivered at the Re-
publican convention-the same CLOSING
over OF weaknesses on ones own side and
pointing with alarm to the intentions of
the other side. Perhaps the most elar-
ing example Of this kind came in tho
speech of Gov. Kerr Of Oklahoma. tenn.
porary chairman. who said in part:
Shall We restore the party whose M.
tional leadership under the domination
OF isolationists scrapped and sank more
OF our fleet than was destroyed by the
Japanese at Pearl Harbor or can We
fail to support the Democratic admins
tration under which America has be-
come the greatest naval power on
earth"
Record Needs Explaining.
In the first place, the recommended
ton OF the American delegation to the
Disarmament Conference in 1921 was
unanimous and the late Senator Under
wood leader Of the Democrats. was q
member of that delegation. In the sec.
ond place, the Democratic administra.
ton under President Roosevelt in 1898
actually proposed a disarmament pro-
gram even below that of the 1921 con-
ference, and this at time when Hitler
had already come to power and was
beginning to disturb the peace OF Europe.
II the Democrats are going to claim
credit for the belated building I'D Of
the present Navy, they will have a lot
OF explaining to do as to why they spent
30 many billions Of leaf-rakinz In the
WPA between 1893 and 1899 and didn't
have the Navy prepared when Japan
attacked us.
Also. if the Navy is to be dra rred ,nto
partisan politics. the question might be
asked why Mr.. Roosevelt. as President
or Commander in Chief, allowed our bat
tleships to be assembled In Pearl Har-
Dor where they were easy targets for
air attack when competent naval men
had previously urged that the feet be
dispersed
1t would be unfortunate If these mat.
ters had to be made the subject OF de-
bate IN the campaign but the keynoters
here evidently are inviting that kind of
discussion.
Reproduetion Rishs Ressryed)