Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-08-16
Marked For Defeat

M0TkS0 FOi SSISNi
Defeat of AZ members of Congress,
aided to a very considerable degree by the
activities of the PAC-CIO, is an indication
that the people of many sections OF the
country are completely dissatisfied with
those who represent them in Congress ana
are determined to secure representatives
who have a greater sense OF responslOliilS'
Despite the way the political situation
is shaping up, labor and large section oil
the voting public recognizes the fallacy OF
defeating unsatisfactory congressman
only to replace them with others who, Tor
some reason or other, sooner or later tOr-
get their pledges to those whom they are
supposed to represent
Evidences that labor and other liberal
and progressive forces realize that strong
measures must be taken to elect the kind
of ueople to office who will work for the
hest interests of the majority and oppose
those things which would be harmful to
them is shown by the large number OF IN
dependent political organizations which
are springing up in many parts OF the
country, including Toledo.
While the independent political action
group has failed to accomplish any major
political upset because of the newness oil
the movement its formation and purpose
is a symptom of the dissatisfaction which
millions of people have with the two major
political parties.
When Congress, through the joint
agreement of both Democrats and Repub-
licans, adjourned and went home leaving
a large volume of important unfinished
business behind them, it placed the re-
Sponsibility for the entire political and
economic situation squarely in the laps OF
both parties.
Blaming the administration and the
Democrats because the latter is the DOM
inant political party is silly, for the actual
desertion of Washington and the people
was accomplished by the reactionarieS and
conservatives of both parties whose only
real difference is in their name rather
than their party principles.
What basic difference there may be
between a BilbO and Taft is little diff
cult to determine, except that Taft, COM
ing from Ohio, does not dare to preach
white supremacy.
The differences which distinguish
a reactiOnary southern Democrat from a
conservative northern Republican is one
of mere hair splitting. The two are found
together so frequently on matters which
involve labor and the welfare of the ma
iOrity of the people that the only distin-
gushing mark is the imaginary Mason
Dixonline separating the North and South
and the manner in which each seeks to
win and retain his seat in Congress.
Party lines, because of the character of
the men of which the old parties are made
up have been completely wiped out in the
face of the records of the present Con-
gress Even Homer Ramey, the Ninth
Ohio Districts own political chameleon
has voted time and again with reactiOnary
southern Democrats although he still is
forced to face the voters without barring
any because of the color of their skin.
And because Congress itself has wiped
out political lines by adhering to different
principles without respect for party plat
forms and pledges, labor and the rest of
the plain people of America are seeking to
speed political realignments for the pur-
pose of clarifying a situation in which we
find Senator Wayne Morse and Senator
Robert A. Taft under the same party ban
ner and Senator Pepper and Senator Bilbo,
both calling themselves Democrats.
The difficulties facing any independ-
ent political action group, even one which
represents majority of the voters, are
very great but not insurmOuntable. The
action to unite, to reconcile differences be-
tween the various groups represented and
to elect honest and conscientious repre-
sentatives is one that deserves the best
efforts of all liberal and progressive
people.
Regardless of what may occur to de-
ter independent political action, the trend
is there. The only thing that can delay
the move is greatly improved economic
conditions or voluntary realignment of
existing political parties.
We couldn't believe our owes this v,eeL as