Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-06-17
BEHIND s1
THE NEWS
BY Paul
MaIlon

WAsHlNHioN' June ioine
w Senate campaign expendi-
lures committee merely argued
with Sidney Hillman about the
1858, 764.11 worth of political
action he promises to furnish,
but did not investigate 1t.
"A rather thorough private in
quiry has been made by Chair
man Dies of the un-American
activities committee. A con-
siderable collection of material
already is in the committee
files, and Dies promised immedi-
ate hearings shortly after ne
retired from the race for re-
election, because of a serious
illness.
But his health continues bad
and he has not been able to re-
turn. Some House leaders are
supposed to have wired him
urging him to come as soon as
possible.
The only other chance for a
thorough investigation rests
with the House political ,ex-
penditures committee. 1t IS
charged directly with the duty
of investigating labor politics,
but may not have the time or
money for more than a casual
job.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Hillman has
not been getting his money S
worth in at least two OF the
recent elections. The loss OF the
three top men on the Dies COM
mite was publicly attributed to
him and spread fear in Congress,
but little attention has been
paid the Ohio primary OF last
May 9, where a complete an
alysis will show an entirely
different story.
TyHERE. left-wing labor work
l. ing with the cooperation OF
the AFL to a considerable ex-
tent. faired badly. The CO.
endorsed man in the Democratic
senatorial primary Marvin {;
Harrison) ran second TO an old
line Democrat, although carry
ing Cleveland two TO one.
A left-wing AFL leader. with
Go support, ran third for con-
gressman-at-large.
A popular AFL teamster
leader in the county commits
sioners' contest. John Rohrich,
ran third. In the other contests.
the Go crowd split about even.
An even palmer setback for
the Hillman crowd was evident
in the New York congressional
election result of June s.
A great effort was made
there. Hundreds of girls pa
raded the polls. A thorough
personal letter-writing cam
paign to all voters was con-
Quoted particularly below Four
teenth street where the
Communists are strong. Yet the
defeat of their man Cantwell is
traced by wise politicos 10 Tam
many.
Those in the know say the
Hall passed down word that
nothing whatever should be
done in his behalf. They evil
IDENTIFY reasoned his victory
would hurt them by increasing
the Hillman Communists politi-
cal power. At any rate. CIO
was not popular enough 10 win
in these two best suited spots.
AT THE heart of all this dick
"A ering and arguing is the
simple question of how much
politicking labor unions are en-
titled TO. and how much they
are immune from public inspec-
ton.
The Go seems to take the
position that any real investi-
CATION would be a smear. On
the other hand, a lot of con-
gressmen think they have been
smeared by CIO unsparingly.
The Supreme Court tried TO de-
fine a union in a case this week.
1t held;
"Structurally and function
ally, q labor union IL an insti-
tuition which involves more
than the private or personal
interest Of its members. IL rep
resents organized institutional
activity rs contrasted with
wholly individual activity"
The case involved the re-
fusal Of union assistant super
intendent TO submit his books
10 the grand jury in a Pennsyl-
vania fraud case.)
In another case, which may
he historic, the court also held
insurance companies could be
subjected TO congressional regu-
lation.
The left-wingers around here
long have taken the attitude
that federal control of insur-
ance companies would be an
excellent thing.
They want insurance books
not only opened but regulated.
Their victory in the court has
now opened the way for Con-
gress 10 do il.
l. II Z. l..