Evening star., 1946-10-30

Amendments or chance Of the Wag-
ner Act is fiercely resisted by labor
leaders, whether AFL or CIO. Some
of them have come out strongly,
since the McGrath statement, in
sisting there be no change in the
act. However, they have not at
tackled Mr.. McGrath. He already
had the Endorsement of the CIO and
Of the AFL Executive Committee,
although the AFL convention had
not indorsed him.
In support of Mr.. McGrath, 1t is
said he realizes something must be
done about the labor laws, and that
amendments should be proposed by
the friends of labor, rather than by
labor's enemies. He jumped the
gun son this subject and is so far
standing pat on what he has said.
Labor has lined up for him and has
no place else to 60, his managers
feel. Furthermore, Mr.. McGrath
has had support in the past from
substantial businessmen, some of
them Republicans, and undoubtedly
his proposal to amend labor laws
will help him with them-in fact,
it was probably so intended. Mr..
McGrath's enemies accuse him of
playing both sides of the street.
The Republicans have nominated
Guernee Dyer of Portsmouth to run
against Mr.. McGrath for the Sem
ate. Mr.. Dyer is 43-year-old vet
eran of World War II whose fam
lily has been prominent in Rhode
Island since the early 1600s. -Four
of his ancestors-the latest his
grandfather, Elisha Dyer have
served rs Governors of the State.
A Princeton graduate, explorer,
former member of a banking and
brokerage firm, and politician, Mr..
Dyer is an attractive candidate. He
was president of the Portsmouth
Town Council and member of the
State Legislature. He was asked by
Gov. McGrath for help to build the
State Civilian Defense Organiza-
ton early in the war; and in 1912.
he was commissioned in the Army
Air Forces as a first lieutenant and
saw service in the Mediterranean
African Middle East theaters as
liaison officer. He was promoted to
the rank of 1t. Col. in 1945 and
awarded the Legion of Merit.
Democratic Since 1913.
The COP candidate for Governor
is John G. Murphy, son of a late
police lieutenant. He was admitted
to the bar in 1881, and has been a
member of the Legislature.
The Republican candidates hope
to capitalize on the splits in the
Democratic Party, as well as on the
general dissatisfaction with the
Democratic Administration in
Washington because of all kinds OF
shortages. They will figure for you
Just how, for example, Mr.. Dyer can
run 10000 votes ahead of Mr.. Nc
Grath.
However, Rhode Island, which has
no farm vote to Offset Democratic
strength in the industrial centers
is a tough nut for them to crack
The State started going Democratic
with AL Smith in 1928 and has re-
manned Democratic ever since. Ont
Republican tVanderbilt), was elect
ed Governor a number of years ago
but that was due to local race
track row and not to any particular
| love of the Republican Party.
! The Republicans are counting, too
on splits in the Democratic ranks ir
three cities, where Independent
Democratic candidates are running
for mayor-in Providence. Paw
! tucket and Central Falls. 1t is diff
cult in Rhode Island to split tickets
because of the arrangement of tht
voting machines. What the Repub'
licans hope is that many of the
| Democrats will concentrate on these
mayoralty elections and fail to vots