Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-05-20
BEHIND
The News
-ByPaul
Mallon

pOntlCdl dCllOn COItliIllltee, TIC
Communists, and some other
wise intelligent liberals at the
retirement of the congressional
Investigator OF un-American ac-
tivities. bellies the popular opin-
ion that they did it.
Their journals and spokesman
suggest they were as surprised
as any one. Indeed. they do not
even claim credit in their usual
loud voice.
It is true enough that the gov
eminent established some new
war industries in the Dies Texas
district, and the CIO has organ
lied a number of these workers
who came into Port Arthur and
Beaumont from the North.
It is no doubt probable also
that he would have lost these
two cities.
His single opponent for the
coming primary is a Beaumont
man, while he comes from
Orange, a small town, which also
has a new shipyard.
But his strength had always
been in what is called the north
counties of the district. which
he carried even in an unsuccess-
full senatorial race against
O'Daniel. 1t would have been a
close, tough tussle. but he
could have won.
THIS is the conviction of the
l. whole Texas delegation in
Congress, with the single excep-
ton OF Lyndon Johnson. who
alone thought Dies was done.
Even so, the Dies opponent
was not a Go man. He is an
outstanding citizen of Beaumont.
and former state judge. The
Go would have supported him
or, in fact. any one against Dies
after what he has done to them
the last act of his investigat-
ing committee having been TO
subpoena the records of CIOPA.
Dies, therefore. got himself.
His health has been bad for
some years. He has been living
lately under the guidance Of a
well-known clinic, from which
his latest instructions were to
avoid public speaking and any
strain on his throat for an in
definite period. His tempera-
ment never gave him much per-
sonal qualification from politics.
Some years ago he founded
the famous "Demagogues Club,
the name characteriZing those
chajr-warming representatives
in the Democratic cloakroom
who talked one way in privacy
with their colleagues and then
went out on the House floor and
made public speeches and cast
public votes directly opposite
their personal opinions.
LIE NEVER cared much for
IL the apparently indispensable
demagogery of politics and as
he usually stuck his neck out
frankly, he was usually in trou-
BILE.
He had some money and,
therefore, did not have to retire
to private practice, so no doubt
the health angle was the con-
trolling phase Of his decision.
In truth, CIOPA seems to be
losing ground now, at least here
in Congress. They forced Sem
ate consideration of the poll tax,
but a number of senator's on
their own side of that issue
baked at their pressure to in
yoke cloture, solely because they
did not like their elbow-push-
ing, strong-arm tactics.
AS a matter Of final fact,
CIOPA has not really gained
anything from Congress as COM
pared with other unions which
work more quietly and with
greater intelligence.
The Big Four Brotherhoods
are still the most powerful po-
litical influence everywhere, al
though you seldom see them on
the front pages. Second in
power are the postal clerks, and
the AFL has been able to get
legislation against Go through
Congress.
CIO is just louder. and uses
~ threat publicity in a bellig-
erent way. Such tactics inspire
resentment as much as sub
servience.
Indeed, il seems TO be travel
ing the political path of the
public utilities some years ago.
Some of them set out TO boss
everything and to strong-arm
every one in line by fear
threats, but they eventually
failed as all minority political
action groups must fail which
follow the theories of conquer
ing maiorities by political force.