Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1947-12-31
Behind The
Scenes In
Politics
By
Clayton
Rusch
oledo
CIO

The business of being a real
leader requires definite qualifi-
cations. Intelligence, courage,
patience, sincerity and judg-
ment are absolute essentials.
Many men who lack one or
more of these become eminent
and emerge as public leaders.
However, getting recognized at
the top is only part of the
game. The rest means to
stay there and not be over
come by heat or pressure. 1t
is the pressure which naturally
falls upon public leaders that
reveals their possession or lack
of any of the essential qualifi.
cations of leadership.
History is replete with cases
of leaders who gained public
renoWn and confidence and
later fell from grace. In all
such cases the ability to take
it was lacking in one way or
another in the fallen heroes.
Today, have the unpleasant
responsibility to discuss the
case of a man whose sincerity
and courage are, or should be,
above dispute. However, the
facts show that he Woefully
lacks good judgment. l am re-
ferring, of course, to former
Vice President, Henry Wallace.
SYMBOL
Mr.. Wallace was at one time
the symbol of labor's political
aims. The CIO and other labor
groups made it clear in 1914
that they wanted him renoni-
mated for vice-president.
When Secretary of Com
merce he attacked the foreign
policy of the administration,
labor did not join the group
who Immediately denounced
him. Until lately, at least, Wal
lace was not regarded as a vi
sionary by the working people.
In all probability if Henry
Wallace had continued to speak
his piece as editor of the New
Republic, he could have made
a fight for the presidential
nomination in 1852. There is
no good evidence that labor
would have rebuffed Wallace
if he had done this.
To enter the presidential
race in 1948 is a different
story. 1t only makes him look
like a tool of the commies and
their fellow travellers.
Certainly we need a labor
party in this country. We can
not get one, however, until or
ganized labor is united into
single powerful labor move
ment. When this is done and
not before can labor of city
and farm build an independent
labor party. Such labor party
will of course seek the right
men to back for office. There
is no short cut method of
building an independent party.
All attempts to build a party
from the top around a particu-
lar individual are top-heavy
attempts doomed to failure.
CAN'T WIN
We can accept as bonafide
the information that labor will
not go all out for Wallace in
1948. This being true it is
equally evident that Wallace
will not win in 1948.
We have before us in 1948
one important political issue.
We must retire from public
office those people who serve
the bidding of the wealthy cor
porationS. We must replace
them with public officials who
really represent the interests
of the people.
We can rest assured that
after the spade work is done
in building a real labor party,
good candidates will be forth
coming. In the meantime the
place for good candidates is in
the primaries of the major
parties.
We must always build new
leaders. We had to get along
without Roosevelt, who died.
We can get along without Wal
lace, who fell by the wayside.
Believe it or not, Senator
Taft has been called a Social