Evening star., 1944-05-24

ago, and Will
surprise no one. - -
In his demand Frank r. Kent.
for a fourth Roosevelt term Mr.
Browder was so far ahead of all
others that he easily can establish
his claim to being the original
fourth termer.
The CIO leaders, the city bosses,
such as Hague and Kelly; the White
House Senators. such as Pepper, Hill
and Green, all followed Mr.. Browder
they did not precede him. More
over. Mr.. Browder is not swinging
his party for a fourth term because
of the presidential pardon. In all
probability he would have taken the
lead in the movement If he were
still in jail.
Support Of Mr.. Roosevelt and the
New Deal has been a Communist
party policy since 1896. The Com
munists supported Mr.. Roosevelt
even when they had a presidential
candidate of their own. They sup
ported him even when he found 1t
politically expedient to say he did
not desire their support. And the
reason the Communists have been
for Mr.. Roosevelt SO long and are for
him so unitedly this time Is very
clear indeed.
Move Toward ~Our Goals"
They have publicly declared 1t
upon various occasions. In brief, 1t
Is that the Roosevelt policies and
the New Deal tend in the Com
munist direction and, better than
anything else, help move the country
toward "our goals" Communist
platforms have said this in 30 many
words and Mr.. Browder, the Com
munist leader, has proclaimed 1t in
his speeches.
Until quite recently, one Of the
clearly understood goals of the
Communist party was to bring
about an economic chaos in this
country out Of which Communism
would emerge. The New Deal being
clearly headed toward economic
chaos, the Communist support was
clearly intelligent from their stand
point.
Early in 1912, during the depor-
tation proceeding against Harry
Bridges, radical West Coast CIO
labor leader, Attorney General Bid
die characterized the Communist
party as an agency which advocated
the overthrow Of the United States
Government. A very short time ago
through Mr.. Browder, it was an
nounced that the Communist party
would put no Presidential candi-
date in the field this year and in
tended to dissolve as political
party.
At Its convention on Sunday it
changed its name and adopted q
constitution IN which expulsion was
pronounced upon all those who seek
to @subvert, undermine, weaken or
overthrow any or all institutions Of
American democracy" Thus, the
leopard changed its spots-or at
least, such Is the idea sought to be
promulgated. OF course, none but
the most completely credulous be-
lieve any such thing.
The change In name means moth
ing. The abandonment Of the
separate party idea relieves the
leaders Of both labor and expense.
It in no way weakens their position
as a solid voting bloc. It involves
no change in either leadership or
aims. 1t increases their political
potency.
Easier "To Bore From Within
1t makes it easier for the Com
munists to ''bore from Within" and
anyone who does not think they
have been successfully boring might
ponder the completeness with which
it now has taken control of the
American Labor party in New York.
It would also be Illuminating to read
the long list of CIO leaders, white
and colored, who attended the first
gathering Of the Communist Politi-
cal Association on Sunday in New
York.
Certainly, that list goes q long
way toward confirming the fire.
quent charges Of Mr.. John L. Lewis
and others that the Communists are
In key positions inside the big CIO
unions and WELD the real power
within the organization. AS things
stand now Mr.. Browder, represent
ing the Communists, and the Messrs
Phillip Murray and Sydney Hillman
representing the CIO, are the most
ardent and articulate advocates OF
the fourth term.
The Liberal" party composed OF
the defeated right wing of the
American Labor party has also de-
clared for Mr.. Roosevelt. So has the
Daily Worker, the Communist organ
and all the other left-wing news
papers, magazines and organiza-
tions.
1t is not true, of course, that al,
OF those who want Mr.. Roosevelt
for fourth term are crackpots an6
radicals. But 1t is true that all the
crackpots and radicals want fourth
term. That vote he has with com.
plete solidity.
Moreover, the activity of this ele
ment is SO great, its propaganda
facilities so extraordinary and it'
finances so strong that 1t seem!
bound to color the fourth term cam.
paign-even, some think, likely tt
have more to do with its real man.
agement than the Democratic Ma.
tional Committee, itself.
1t is not surprising that, as they
observe these radical elements rush.
Ing to the front, regular Democrats
are somewhat appalled,. 1t is not sur.