Evening star., 1947-04-16

their supporters for "treacherous
conduct" spoke Of their sponsors as
"diabolical legislators" engaged in a
drunken orgy" charged that busi-
ness was trying to force strikes
and declared the CLIO to be the
greatest crusading liberal organiza-
ton in the United States"
Murray Assailed.
The vituperatiye violence and
greasy self-laudation of Mr.. Murray
was followed by similar attacks from
Secretary James Carey and an "an-
alysis" Of the main bills by Mr.. Lee
Pressnan, chief propaganda director
Of the CIO. very influential in its
councils and a gentleman who often
has been charged with strongly fav-
oring the Communist element, which
dominates SO many of it's unions.
But the real absurdity was when in
the midst of this great crusading
liberal gathering" whose leaders
persistently pirate of their piety and
patriotism, there arose a duly ac-
credited and well-known delegates
Mr.. Irving Potash, vice president of
the Fur Workers Union, who threw
the meeting into something of a
turmoil by declaring that II speak to
you as q Communist"
AS Communist, he urged unity"
IN the organization and asked that
it not encourage witch hunting"
Mr.. Pressman likewise denounced
witch hunts" which he declared
are part of the "reactionary pro-
gram" to destroy labor" Clearly, of
course, what Mr.. Potash, the open
Communist, who, by the way, also
is a leading member of the CLOS
top political committee, and Mr..
Pressman, who is regarded as pro-
Communist, mean by witch hunt"
is any effort to shake the CIO loose
from the Communist grip or to rid
the Government Of employees sus-
pectei of Communist afilfation.
Embarrassed, the patriotic Mr..
Murray ruled Mr.. Potash's remarks
not "germane" to the discussion and
begged the delegates to stick to the
business at hand" which, naturally,
was to expose the drunken orgies"
and "treacherous conduct" of those
who sponsor or support labor legis-
lation.
Truman Efforts Cited.
Now, 1t is interesting to point out
that the" man responsible for this
so-called witch hunt is President
Truman. Just a short time ago Mr..
Truman initiated an effort to dig
out of the Government employ all
those suspected of disloyalty or of
af1liation with communism. There
is great opposition to this among
the liberals" who along with other
reasons assert that it will cost too
much money. which is a strange
argument, indeed, for a liberal to
make.
1t is also interesting to recall that
1t was the Roosevelt Attorney Gen.
eral, Mr.. Francis Biddle, who pub
licly declared that the Communist
Party is a "subversive agency whose
purpose is to overthrow the Govern
AiAS@io Va VIC ClllCCu otdtCS ny NlOle1lG
means" Also, it is worth repeating
that the CIO is concededly satu-
rated with communism and that
some 26 of its unions are concededly
Communist controlled.
Considering these facts, there are
two things which obviously make no
sense whatever. One is for the
CIO bosses to denounce any one
for ''treasonable conduct" The
other is for Mr.. Truman's political
strategists to continue their alliance
with the Communist infected CIO
and its top political committee, of
which Mr.. Potash is just one Com
munist member. That is certainly
working both sides of the street.
Also. 1t is dishonest and dishonor-
able. Also, it is stupid. 1t could
be attempted only on the assumption
that the American voters have very
little memory and practically no
mind.
If under the CIO pressure now
being exerted, Mr.. Truman uses his |
veto to kill labor legislation designed |
to protect the American people It /
will shock great MANY of them /