Montana labor news., 1944-09-07
HILLMAN TELLS
.PAC WITHIN LAW

]
that the CLIO Political Action Commit
tee is leaning over backwards" to obey
federal statutes touching its operations
was presented to the house campaign
expenditures committee Aug. % by
Chairman Sidney Hillman along with a
charge that there is an organized cam
paign to malign PAC, led by the scripps
Howard newspapers.
Hinman denied that the PAC is trying
to capture any party" and repeatedly
/ told congressional questioners that all
contributions by unionists and unions to
its campaign fund have been voluntary
I'VE don't want any money aside from
that which comes voluntary from those
who want the election of Roosevelt and
Truman" Hillman said.
Pointing to the great complaints
from Gov. Deweys headquarters" about
CIO-PAC's financial help to progressive
candidates, Hillman testified that a num-
Der of New York unions, including his
own, the Amalgamated Clothing Work
ers lCIO) gave money to Deweys cam
paign for district attorney in 1887 at
Dewey's request. Hillman confided that
the Dewey managers thought then the
5000 contribution from the ACW was
not enough.
When asked if he thought Dewey was
worthy of support in 1897 why he was op-
posing him now, Hillman replied that Il
still believe Dewey could serve to good
advantage as a district attorney.
At another point Rep. Ralph Church
CR.-Il) wept for the poor honest Amer
leans in the unions" who, he claimed,
were forced to contribute to PAC in a
system which Church called "Commu-
nistie, from the top down. Hillman
challenged the congressman to pick
your union and we'll face the member
ship together You bring your argu-
ments and I'll bring mine Let's see
who the people will pick" Church did
not accept.
Hllman denied the charge Of COM
munism and boasted of his record Of 80
years in opposition to communism.
With some emphasis Hillman told the
committee that I'm still waiting for the
Dies committee to call me. I want to
get an opportunity to appear before
them. They talk big in the papers, but
they know they could not substantiate
their charges" against CIO-PAC.
AS to labor's role in politics, Hillman
said experience early taught organized
labor that it cannot discharge its obli-
CATION to promote and protect the well
fare of its members as workers and citi-
zens through the processes of collective
bargaining alone" He explained that
"our committee is a nOn-partisan organ
ization. Our purpose is to assist in
Welding the unity of workers, farmers,
and all other progressives on the basis
of a contruntive and forward-looking
program and in support of candidates,
Irrespective of their party labels, who
support that program.
1--WE are not interested in establishing
a third party, for a third party would
only serve to divide rather than to unite
the forces Of progress. We are not an
appendage of either major political party
nor as has sometimes been charged,
have we any desire to capture either
party"
Hillman reiterated that the goal Of
PAC was to get out the vote in Novem-
Der. He submitted a full financial
statement of both PAC-CIO and the
newly formed Natl Citizens PAC. The
NC-PAC showed an income of $58,24O,
with expenditures to Aug. Is of $20,S28.
No funds Of the Trade Union Account in
PAC-CIO has been spent since the Dem
ocratic Natl. Convention last month and
none will be expended during the cleo
ton campaign, Hillman declared. All
expenditures will come from voluntary
contributions to NC-PAC.
At the request of the committee. Hill
man will submit regular reports on the
financial status of both PAC-CIO and
NC-PAC