Evening star., 1948-09-07
Democrats Make Bid
For Workers Vote
In Labor Day Talks


Democratic bids for the farm and
labor vote in November were be.
fore the country today in the wake
of Labor Day speeches by party
leaders.
In widely scattered speeches,
Democratic orators assailed the Re-
publican labor record and blamed
that party for the current high
cost Of living.
Numerous labor leaders also
spoke, adding their voice to the
Democratic demand for repeal of
the Taft-Hartley Labor Act.
With Democratic spokesmen out
IN force addressing labor political
rallies, Chairman McGrath of the
Democratic National Committee de-
clared that members of American
labor unions know "the Republic
can Party is implacably hostile to
their welfare"
AAAAo woo ollONu, oClldIUI MCs
Grath said, by the fact that no
prominent Republican spoke at
major Labor Day rallies"
The Republican Congress" Sen
ator McGrath declared in a state
n1ent issued by the party head
quarters here, told working people
by its action that the COP was
party only for the best stock, as
the Republican chairman likes to
phrase it, and had no intention of
looking aftef the interests of those
who work with their hands"
Demand Labor Act Repeal.
Secretary Of Labor Tobin and
William Green, president of the
American Federation Of Labor,
Joined in attacking the Taft
Hartley Act at an Akron (Ohio)
labor rally.
Secretary Tobin declared the
legislation had promoted needless
litigation" Mr.. Green described
the act as a slave labor bill" and
declared the only remedy was to
elect a Congress which would repeal
the measure.
Later in a broadcast here. Mr..
Tobin SAID the law is imposing
serious restrictions on labor's hard
won rights" He also warned that
inflationary prices are posing new
dangers" especially for all people
who work for living.
Secretary of Agriculture Brannan
carried on the tenor of the Demo-
cratic attack when he declared at
Faribault, Mimi, that the Repub-
lican Eightieth Congress has had
no inclination to legislate in the
interest of either the farmer or
Of the laboring man"
Members of the Eightieth Con-
gresS, Mr.. Brannan declared, seem
to have adopted to reverse of the
old saying and are out to soak the
poor"
Defending the price support pro-
gram, Mr.. Brannan said much of
the loss on the price-supported po-I
tatoes could have been avoided If
the Eightieth Congress had adopted
his recommendation for a less rigid
price support system.
In renewing a feud with former
Gov. Harold E. Stassen of Mime
sofa, who has declared that Mr..
Brarinan is trying to maintain. high
food prices, the Secretary declared:
Perhaps Mr.. Stassen is getting
ready to lobby for Taft-Hartley
Act for farmers like his close friend,
Senator Ball, Republican, of MINI.
esota did for labor" -
Communist Issue Hit.
Attorney General Clark touched
on the issue Of Communists in Gov
ernmept service-an issue. expected
TO be pushed by the Republicans
when he spoke in Des Moines.
Mr.. Clark challenged the Repub-
licans "and their old-guard Grundy
bosses to name any Communists
now In the executive branch of the
Federal Government"
THE difference between the Re-
publican group and u.s." Mr.. Clark
added, lis that they have done
nothing but talk about it. We have
taken action to protect the people
and our free institutions. We have
done 1t according to the law of the
land. and not through hysterical
headlines"
On the same Communist issue.
Assistant Secretary of Labor John
w. Gibson, speaking at Duluth,
praised what he called labors sue
cesses In lighting Communism.
Philip Murray. president of the
Congress Of Industrial Organiza-
tions, In a Labor Day speech at
Wheeling. w. Va. declared that the
labor movement in this country 'is
burdened with legal shackles
that threaten its eventual destruc-
ton"
Charging that monopolists con-
trolled the Eightieth Congress, Mr.. |
Murray added:
This is the Congress which at
tempted to cut the heart out of the |
labor movement by passing legal
istic monstrosity called the Taft
Hartley law. This is the law that
tipped the scales strongly in favor