Evening star., 1945-07-09

And they, at the moment, are not
very vocal about it. This group is
composed of the CIO labor leaders
some Of whom, impressed by the
size and scope of their own plans,
and intoxicated by the output OF
their own press agents, had begun
seriously to contemplate political
domination of the Nation. The
death of Mr.. Roosevelt was a set
back to these ambitions, it being
clear that they cannot achieve
political domination without presi-
Dental support and it being
equally clear that the chances are
all against our having another
President as pro-CIO as was the
late President.
Second Blow to PAC.
But a second blow to the CLOS
Political Action Committees dreams
almost as severe as Mr.. Roosevelt's
death, is the appointment of Mr.
ByrneS to the highest post in the
Truman administration, from which
he might succeed to the presidency
The reasons for this are clear. Fol
b one thing, the CIO leaders know
perfectly well that if it had not been
for them Mr.. Byrnes would now be
President of the United States. Sc
does Mr.. Byrnes know it. Neither
he nor the CIO leaders are apt to
forget this at any time.
Mr.. Byrnes is not a indicative
man. He does not brood over the
narrowneSs with which he missed
being in Mr.. Truman's place. He
has no envy of Mr.. Truman. On the
contrary, he has a warm friendship
for him. And he is carrying around
no load of hate for the labor bosses
who blocked his nomination.
He just is not that kind of man
Nevertheless, a fact Is a fact, and
this fact is so completely estab-
hshed, so generally known and was
so altogether potent in what 1t did
to Mr.. Byrnes that he would not be
human If it failed to stick in his
mind for the rest of his life. And
he is very human, indeed. 1t is
part of his charm that he forgets
neither his friends nor those who
are not his friends.
The CIO leaders distinctly are to
be classed among the latter. 1t was
Mr.. Sidney Hillman, who. along with
his friend Mr.. Philip Murray, sci
himself up at Chicago as boss of the
Democratic Convention, through
whom the vice presidential nomi-
nation had to be cleared. 1t was he
who turned Mr.. Byrnes down, sent
word to Mr.. Roosevelt that he would
not do, that labor" by which he
meant Mr.. Murray and himself,
would not take him.
It is likely Messrs. Hillman and
Murray would deny this now, but
they did not at the time, though 1t
was printed in hundred newapers,
repetitiously commented on over the
air, and noted in scores Of editorials.
1t was an exhibition of power which
they had no inclination to deny
Anyhow, the facts were too well
known by far too many persons for
denial to be taken seriously.
The plain truth is that Mr.. Byrnes
was turned down for the vice presi-
Dental nomination, which he wanted
and which Mr.. Roosevelt had told
him he would like to see him get
because he was Unacceptable to la
bor." Naturally his rejection for
this reason was the cause of some
modification as well as disappoint-
ment to Mr.. Byrnes.
CIO Prestige Slipped.
And now, with Mr.. Truman sue
ceeding Mr. Roosevelt in the White
House, Mr.. Byrnes turns up not only
as the Truman Secretary of State
but as one of his closest personal
and political friends and advisers.
While it is true that Mr.. Hillmar
and his CIO associates approved Mr.
Trumans nomination after Mr.
Byrnes had been turned down, ano
while it is true that Mr.. Truman's
Senate record was anything but
anti-CIO, 1t is also true that Mr.
Truman has no such political link
with the CIO as had Mr.. Roosevelt
and his obligations to it are nothing
like as heavy. He owed his nomina-
ton primarily to Mr.. Roosevelt, not
to the CIO.
The CLOS first choice was Mr.
= Wallace, who was rejected by the
city bosses-Hsgue, Kelly, etc.-with
whom Mr.. Roosevelt was allied, Just
as Mr.. Byrnes was rejected by the
CIO leaders with whom he was
allied.
That Mr.. Truman should now be
President and Mr.. Byrnes, his close
friend, in a position of first impor-
tance are contingencies, of course
not foreseen by the CIO at Chicago
or during the campaign.
Couple this with the increased re-
sentiment over violation of the mo-
strike" pledge by CIO unions and
the general hostility among service
men toward anything like political
domination by labor leaders, and II