The union times., 1946-11-02


 LabOr's selection of candidates does not come from party regu. larity. It is based on serious, long. term consideration given both par. ties, and careful study of the records compiled in office by their standard-bearers. There is no sub stance in the allegation, often made, that organized labor is a wing of the Democratic Party. Neither is it claimed, that any labor leader or union can deliver the vote of organized labor anywhere.
 In 1914, labor supported Republican candidates for election to the U. s. Senate in two instances-Leverett Sal tonstall from Massachusetts and Wayne L. Morse from Oregon. In New York City, labor had committed itself to the progressive Republican congressman, Joseph Clark Baldwin, but this Baldwin was denied re-nomi- nation by his Party.
 To Vote Democratic
 It is safe to say that labor in the main, will vote Democratic on Flee. ton Day. The workers have, how ever, at times in past years, ex- pressed disapprOval of both parties by ''sitting on its hands" as the ex- pressiOn goes. RegistratiOn figures indicate a vote somewhat in excess of 1888, the last pre-war off-year election, and substantially above the vote in 1942.
 Certainly, the most optimistic Re publican does not expect New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Hartford or New Britain to return a Republican maj ority. In other words, the large industrial areas, where the bulk of union members vote, are expected to give the Democratic Party its usual off-year majorities, with the possible exception of Waterbury where inner party rumblingS have raised the hopes of Mayor Jasper MdLevy of Bridge port, Socialist candidate for Governor.
 Tribute To Man
 When Franklin D. Roosevelt re- ceived labor's overwhelming support in the four successful campaigns he made, it was more a tribute to the man, than to the Democratic Party. In other words, Labor, in 1946, used very critical yardStick in measuring the records of candidates previously in office, in measuring the records of both parties
 Must Be Critical
 Labor must, of necessity, remain extremely critical because its stake in this election is tremendous. The working men and women of Con- necticut, of the nation, fully real ize that the tremendous gains they have made since 1883 as a result of the Wagner Act, the Social Se- curity Act, the Wages and Hour law and other social legislation, can be whittled away by the new Congress through the passage of emasculat- ing amendments, through the de- nial of sufficient appropriations needed to administer and enforce these laws.
 Labor was fully cognizant of the suffered by the majority of returning veterans who found their pay consumed by inAation- ary prices, who could not find homes they could afford. Millions of veterans are members of organized labor and they are equally concerned about Rur- chasing power, time-and-a-half after 40 hours and progressive labor legls- lation. Again, on veterans legislation, in essaying election day values, the record, and the record alone, proved the determining factor,
 The Voting Record
 Now, what does the record show! How did the congressman from Con- necticut vote on housing On price control What, in general, were the overall Republican and Democratic records on these vital issues?
 As late as last June all public opinion polls proved that 8O% or more of the American people fav- Ored continuation of effective price controls. We know, of course, the 79th Congress did not reflect this sentiment.
 On April IF, and all dates given here are in l946, I'll Republicans in the House voted for a motion by Rep. WOlcOtt, Michi- gan Republican, which called for the removal of price control on items which did not show a ''rea- sOnable" profit. Only nine Repub- licans opposed this measure. On