Evening star., 1947-09-20
The Political Mill i
Union Picketing Of Taft
Could Bring Him Votes
Run.of.Mine Americans Opposed to
Intimidation in Campaign
By Gould Lincoln

DAN FRANC1SCO.-Labor union leaders
have adopted new wrinkle, q new technique.
in their efforts to belittle and tear down
Senator Taft Republican OF Ohio and sponsor
OF the Taft-Hartley Law-mass picketing Of
political meetings Beginning in Santa Cruz,
where Mr.. Taft made the first speech Of his
present Western trip picket line has greeted
the Congress outstanding-that Is what he In
despite he is so far 'unannounced"-c
for the Republican presidential nomination,
wherever he has gone
This picketing of Senator Taft is primarily
due to the fact that the labor leaders are
showing their displeasure with the man most
prominently identified with the Taft Hartley
law. This does not alter the fact however,
that Mr.. Taft Is potential candidate for the
presidency. The Taft-Hartley law, moreover,
Is product of the Republican controlled Con-
gress-its chief product. so far. ANY candidate
the Republicans may nominate next year,
whether Mr.. Taft or another, could scarcely
turn his back on this new law. The question
will arise. therefore, whether the unions will
attempt these picket lines In the 1948 national
election.
No Intimidation Before.
The late Wendell Willkie in 1910 and Gov
Dewey of New York in 1914, the Republican
presidential candidates against Franklin D.
Roosevelt in those years, were not compelled
to face organized picket lines when they
went to address political rallies No lines
of marching men and women. carrying union
banners, sought to discourage others from
attending Willkie or Dewey meeting. Work.
ers, some of them, gathered to boo the
Republican candidates in those years. it Is
true, but there was no effort at intimidation,
either of the presidential candidates or Of the
people who were on their way to attend their
meetings. II the treatment now accorded
Senator Taft is to be generally applied to
Republican candidates, and to candidates for
Congress who voted for the Taft-Hartley law,
this political pcketing by the labor unions
will become major business In the campaign
OF l94S Picketing already has bad name
In this country with a lot Of common, run-of.
the-mine Americans and will work to the
advantage OF Mr.. Taft and other Republicans.
The labor leaders would be wise to take
another gander at this practice, and the
reaction Of the voters to it.
Up to date the publicity attending the use
of picket lines against Senator Taft has been
favorable to him, not his opponents This idea
of pcketing the Ohio Senator started first
when 4 son Of Mr.. Taft was being married
not long ago in Detroit An anti-Taft picket
line was thrown up before the church But 1t
didn't stop the wedding Senator Taft, COM
menting later on this union proceeding said
facetiously:
They don't want any more Tafts-that's the
reason they tried to halt the wedding"
Picketing a church where religious cere-
mony is to be performed is bad business any
time. So the unions didn't gain anything by
their demonstration at this wedding.
Methodically Carried Out.
The picketing of Senator Taft at his political
meetings-for that's what they are on this
trip-has been methodicaly carried out. A
truck drives up an hour or so before the
meeting, carrying the anti-Taft banners, and
some Of the pickets. Others arrive under their
own steam. The banners are distributed and
the march begins. When the meeting has
gotten under way, and Senator Taft and his
party, including Mrs. Taft as rule, have
entered the building where the meeting Is
held. the organizer of the picket line collects
the banners replaces them In the truck and
takes them away for future use.
Senator Taft has never lodged picket line
thrown up against him. In Los Angeles, he
fatty declined to enter the Elks Temple, where
he was to speak, by a back door-although the
police suggested he do 30.
1t took q flying wedge Of policemen to smash
the 400-strong line and escort Senator and
Mrs. Taft into the building. There was no real
violence by the pickets, but the boos and jeers
were deafening.
The union leaders are shouting today that
the Taft-Hartley law interferes with free
speech. Well their picket lines are interfering
with free assembly-for many persons are
loath to cross a union picket line-and, to
that extent. with freedom of speech. And
when violence does occur, as 1t may at any
time because of these picket lines public senti-
ment is not going to be with the union pickets.