Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-11-12
Inside
America
written By the Staff OF The
CIO News)


election" of Tom Dewey.
AS a matter of fact, we Of
fered a clue to one of the big
gest stories of the campaign in
this column three weeks ago.
We said then: "One of big
stories of the '48 election cam
paign is woodworking eff
fectivenss of CLOS Political
Action Committee More
PAC volunteers are ringing
more doorbells than ever be-
fore. In score of Congressional
districts, union activities -
through CIO-PAC - have
been crucial factor in round
ing up support for liberal cam
didates."
Well stack that up any day
against predictions of the
Pearsons, Lippmans, O'Don-
nells, Alsops, Winchells, David
Lawrence--and others.
One man who clearly wasn't
fooled by columnists' phoney
predictions was Jack Kroll,
director of CLOS Political Ac-
ton Committee. On October
20, Kroll had decided that
Congress would be controlled
by Democrats and that Presi-
dency would at least be de-
cided in House of Representa-
tives.
PAC - largely ignored by
newspapers during campaign
- was responsible more than
any single group for swamp
ing the Dewey 'love-unity"
vote drive.
Press, as you know, went
overheard for Dewey - and
looked pretty embarrassed
next day. Most red-faced of
all was New York Journal
Commerce, a daily paper for
businessmen.
Across five CO lu mns its
November 8 issue carried this
headline:
Dewey Victory Seen AS
Mandate to Open New Era of
Government Business Har-
mony, Public Confidence :.
Result Called Huge Public In
dorsement of T a f t-Hartley
Act"
Same paper, which devoted
four full pages to the joys of
business life under a Dewey
regime, had this prediction
b o ut labor: "Taft-Hartley
law now here to stay, with
cla r flying a m n d m t s
likely :"
First active CIO member
and official ever to sit in Con-
gress will be In his seat when
the 8lst opens in January.
He is Tom Burke of Toledo,
Ohio. Tom was former sec
retary of city's CIO Council,
more recently has been vice.
mayor of the big Ohio city.
An AFL editor will also be
In Congress - George Rhodes
of Reading. Pa.
Mop-up of reactionary Rep
licans who ran the 80th Con-
gress wasn't 1907 complete
but it will do until another
election comes along.
A CIO News survey shows
the tremendous toll taken of
Taft Hartley supporters. In
1947, some 800 Senators and
Congressman voted to over
ride Presidents veto of Taft
Hartley Act.
/ 1949, 100 of these Sena-
tors and Congressman will not
be back in Washington.
Defeats of Republican Con-
gressmen were not only large
in number, but hit some of
COPS lie ding spokesmen.
Among those re tire d from
public life:
rep. Knutson (R. Mimi },
author of the "spare-the-rich"
tax bill.
Rep. Gearhart (R. Calif),
author of two laws to cut
down social security.
REP. Ridley (R. Okla), CO.
author of a bill to lift rates
for natural gas and lift federal
controls.
Rep. Hartley (R. N.J), CO.
author of you-know-what-
anti-labor bill. He didn't run
for reelection, and his seat
was won by young Democrat.
Sen. Ball (R. Mimi, one
of most vicious union-baiters
in Washington.
sen. Revercomb (R.W.Va.).
credited with responsibility
for inserting discriminatory
sections into Displaced Per-
sons Bill.
Rep. Lea (R. Calif,), author
of courts-vetoed law directed
at AFL Musicians Union.
REP. Fletcher Or. Calif.),
foe of rent control and hous-
ing. and one OF real estate
lobby's biggest darlings.
Newcomers to Congress,
together with veteran liberals
who retain their seats, will
give the legislative branch of