The union times., 1946-09-14
Cleary's Report
 To Convention Answer
Political Activity On a Broader Scale Than Ever''
 Is Recommended

y Chdirman, ConnecticGt Federation of Labor Nor-PGrtisan Political Committee to the 6ISt AMnnaE Con- vention of the Connecticut FederG- tion of Labor.
 By By Joseph P. Cleary
 It is hardly necessary to recite to the delegates of this convention the shortcomings of the 79th Congress. Its reactiOnary record and its fail ure to adopt Legislation to meet hu- man needs are well known to every informed member of the COnnecti- cut Federation of Labor.
 The entire labor movement has been aroused by the unhappy pOlit- ical events of recent months. As the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor has pointed out ''the dismal record of the 79th Congress constitutes a danger sig nal to the American people," We, with other state federatiOns, have been called upon by the A. F. of L., therefore, to conduct an aggressive and intensified political campaign to elect the friends of labor and defeat its enemies.
 z At the very first meeting of our Committee, following the appointment of its members by President Timothy M. Collins, the discussion indicated that it was essential to plan the Con- necticut Federation of Labor's polit- ical activity on broader scale than ever before, even though this may be referred to as an of" year.
 Simply because 1946 is not Presi- dential election year is no reason to regard it as unimportant The sooner the American people understand that there are no "off" years in politics any more, the better will their well fare be protected.
 So important are the issues in- vOlved in the coming Congressional elections that victory for the reac- tiOnary interests might we'll set the labor movement back a generation and make every union charter prac- tically worthless. No one in the ranks of labor dares, in the face of this situation, to remain apathetie or indifferent.
 Suggestions Made
 In letters sent to affiliated unions our Committee has offered several suggestions for action in each com munity throughout the state It has been proposed that partisan polit- ical committees be set up in each of our affiliated organizations; that workers and members of their fami- lies who are not registered voters should be urged to register so that the largest number of people possible might participate in the coming cru cial elections; that our members, whenever possible, should take part in party caucuses with view to bring ing about the nomination by the vari- ouS parties of candidates who are friends of labor While there has been some response to these suggestions and committees have been set up in number of unions 1t is apparent that our political activity has not begun to operate in high gear.
 This is understandable, since the political parties have yet to decide upon their candidates, and seldom do the voters show any real inter- est in political campaign until candidates are named. In a very short time nominations will be made. Our Committee intends to study carefully the records of the various candidates for Congress. for Governor and for the other im- pOrtant state offices and to issue a report for distribution to all affili- ated organizations.
 SELFISH INTERESTS
 If we stopped, however, at this point we would be ineffective. Pit ted against labor this year are sell fish mortgage bankers and real es- tate speculatOrs who care nothing for the people who need decent homes, and, therefore, they seek the election of COngressmen and State Senators and Representatives who will vote against the Wagner Ellender-Taft housing bill and es- sential state housing legislation; heartless industrialists who are against raising Federal and State wage minimums to 65 cents an hour; bigoted employers who op- pose F.E.P.C. legislation; members of the Medical Trust and other en- trenched elements who campaign against National Health Act and the broadening of social security legislatiOn; the National and the Connecticut Manufacturers AssO- citations who seek to emasculate the National Labor Relations Act, and many other greedy interests who will pour large sums out of their excess-prOfits tax savings this year into the campaign chests of labor's enemies.