Evening star., 1945-08-22

lied with them. The Presidents
wife was member of their organi-
zation. They were able to run in
and out of the White House as they
pleased. They were consulted by the
President on questions with which
they had nothing to do.
The Attorney General proudly
proclaimed the link between the
labor leaders and the administra-
ton. They claimed to have twice
elected Mr.. Roosevelt and certainly
they had much to do with his elec-
ton, aiding him not only with votes
but with large financial contributions
to his campaign.
Democrats OvershadOwed.
In the last one they overshadowed
the Democratic party, relegated the
national party chairman to a Sec
ondary position, created a machine
of their own which threatened to
take over the business of practical
politics from the regulars. And they
had succeeded in making long
strides toward their closed-shop
goal.
AS result, we had what, if effect,
was a labor Governmenb-almost as
completely labor as the one the Brit
ish have now, with labor obligated
President and an unrevealed pro-
gram which ultimately would have
been found not very far short of the
avowed one upon which the British
people voted.
But things have changed. Mr..
Roosevelt is dead; Mrs. Roosevelt
is no longer in the White House;
big department heads are no longer
as servile and subservient as they
were. 1t is true Mr.. Truman's norni-
nation was approved by the Messrs.
Hillman and Murray at Chicago and
that he had what the labor bosses
called a good" voting record as
Senator.
Personal Sympathy Doubted.
But that record is explained as
due more to his belief in support
ing the Democratic leader and the
Democratic administration than to
personal sympathy with the closed
shop and other drastic labor restric-
tions. Also, he is under nothing
resembling the obligations to the
CIO that weighed down his pre-
deceSsor.
His wife has no CIO affiliations.
He promptly got rid of the CIO
Attorney General. Mr.. Hannegan,
the national chairman, contemptu-
ously showed aside by the CIO-PAC
setup last year, is now Postmaster
General. And most important of all,
Mr.. Truman's closest friend is Sec
retary of State Byrnes, who, if any,
thing should happen to Mr.. Tru-
man, would become President.
Last year at Chicago, Mr.. Byrnes,
an aspirant for the vice presidential
nomination, who thought-and with
reason-he had Mr.. Roosevelt's
support, was turned down by the
Messrs. Hillman and Murray as
unacceptable" and thus subjected
to considerable modification and
chagrin. Now he is at the right
hand Of the President
Truman Is Not Obligated.
All this the CIO professionals
know. The Democratic politicians
know. The press knows. 1t does not
mean that Mr.. Truman is un-
friendly. 1t just means that he is
not tied up. 1t does not mean that
this administration is antilabor,
but it does mean that it is not CIO.
So far as Mr.. Truman is con-
cerned the CIO is on the same basis
as the AFL. Under Mr.. Roosevelt,
the CIO had a preferred position.
Mr.. Truman is good politician
and will not willingly ALLEVIATE any
large voting bloc. But, in dealing
with the CIO, his head and his
hands are free, which makes a lot
of difference.
The CIO-PAC bosses are fully
aware of the facts and some of
their arrogance has evaporated.
They no longer have a possessive
attitude toward the administration.
They do not run in and out of the
White House as they once did. They
do not speak in the same tone of
authority Their press agent state
ments are neither as numerous nor
as aggressive.
Hillman Sees Unemployment.
The most recent came from Mr.
Hillman last week in which, warn
ing of 100000 jobless" in the next
eight weeks, he demanded enact
ment of Senator Murray's "full en-
ployment" bill; of Senator Peppers
65-cent-an-hour minimum wage: of
a national housing program and
other measures. Perhaps Congress
will enact some of these and the
CLIO will make a big publicity cam
paign here, there and around.
Besides the reasons above given
for the lessened power and pres
tige Of the CIO, there are several
others. One is knowledge among
Democrats that the CLIO has no real
choice save to support the Demo-
Gratis. 1t is too deeply committed
against the Republicans-and there
is in that party far greater inherent
hostility to governmental labor
domination.
Another is belief that among the
millions of returning servicemen
the feeling against unions Is strong
chiefly because of the indefensible
strike record during the war. A
third is the recent Gallup poll which
shows that all over the country
voters are opposed to the closed
shop idea by more than to /. This