Evening star., 1944-05-21
Bv RAYMOND p Brandt.

By Raymond P Brandt.
Something new has been added to the
national and local campaigns this year
the CIO Political Action Committee,
which is working for the reelection of
President Roosevelt and his supporters
and the defeat of Senators, Representa-
tives and local officials with bad labor
records"
The idea of labor-in-politics is not
new; as early as 1927 Working Mans
party, backed by the Mechanics Union
of Trade Associations, was organized
in many large Eastern cities to fight
control Of the Government by "aristo-
Gratis" In 1886 the Democratic Ma
tional Committee was aided by Labor's
Non-Partisan League, to which trade
unions contributed $227,0O0. An off,
shoot of this organization is the Amer
ican Labor party of New York, which is
still a power in national and local elec-
tions.
The new element added by the Politi-
cal Action Committee is comprehen-
sive, well-financed organization with
aggressive leadership, national, regional
and local.
The national chairman is Sidney Hill
man, president of the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers of America, who was
recently elected chairman of the Amer
ican Labor party in New York after
bitter fight with the so-called right
wingers," led by David Dubinsky, presi-
dent of the International Lady Garment
Workers, an AFL union, who charged
that Hillman had been put over by
Communistic coup. The "right-wing-
ers" thereupon announced they would
form a new party, to be known as the
Liberal or Progressive party.
Backed by Murray.
Back OF Hillman and the political
committee is Philip Murray, president
Of the CIO, who was largely instru-
mental in the establishment Of the PAC
In July last year. Murray has announced
his support Of President Roosevelt for
fourth term. Writing recently in the
American Magazine he emphasized that
the new organization is not third" or
labor" party.
For the first time in American his
tory" he said, "the forces of labor are
now setting up national organization
to protect the political rights of the
workingman. as well as the rights of
the returning soldier, the farmer, the
small businessman and the so-called
common man. This organization Is
called the CIO Political Action Com
mittee
"The committee is set up with ma
tional offices in New York and Wash
ington, and with IA regional Offices cov-
ering every one of the 48 States. The
various CIO unions have made an in
itial contribution of 100000.
I'VE believe that the Political Action
Committee, through its legally exercised
educative powers, will have more in
huence on events, in the crucial year of
1914, than any third political party
could WELD. But no matter what the
results are in 1914, the committee will
not relax its efforts. 1t will continue as
a permanent organization, a mighty
force devoted to keeping the great ma
pority of Americans vigilant and alert
in guarding their proper political in
terests."
throughout the Murray article and in
later PAC literature there is constant
reiteration of the "educative" purposes
OF the committee. The reason for this
is the restrictions imposed by the Hatch
"Pernicious Politics" Act and the more
recent Smith-C Connally antistrike law
The last named stipulates that it is un-