Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-05-14
Behind The
Scenes In
Politics
BY
Clayton
Rusch
Toledo
CIO
Legislative Director

VI DullulIlS pOllllCd1 par Jy VI
the people, it is necessary to
analyze the character of the
present major political parties.
The Democratic party can be
classed as progressive or re-
dictionary d pending upon
VIII e tn r we are discussing
Senators Kilgore, Pepper and
legislators of their type, or con-
gresham Rankin, Parnell
Thomas and others of their
stripe.
The Republican party like
wise embraces liberals, lik e
Senators Morse and Aiken, and
reactionaries like Senator Taft
and Bricker and Representa-
tive Hartley.
The nameless Wallace Party
does not offer any effective
solutions to our economic ills
and does not have enough real
support to constitute a threat
to either major party.
There are many who accept.
ing that it is too late in 1948
to build a bonifide labor party
are concentrating on support
ing good candidates regardless
of party label in 1948.
From such groups S comes
much of the ballyhoo for
General Eisenhauser and ex-
governor of Minnesota Stas-
sen. In the generals case it
can be said that he made it
plain he will not be a presi--
dental candidate. Nor does
anyone know what his social
philosophy may be. Heis a
man of integrity, but in his
case the views of a presiden-
tial candidate are important.
FOLLOWS F.D.R.
Nor is the grumbling gainst
President Truman justified by
the record. He has faithfully
adhered to the general social
philosophy of Franklin Roose-
welt. His record on labor legis-
lation, civil rights proposals
and social ecurity recon-
mendations bear this out. 1t is
true t h President Truman
lacks the force and magnetism
of FD.R. but almost any other
successor would have had the
same handicap.
New York's Governor Tom
Dewey who gained a reputa-
ton as gangbuster did not
bust monopolies.
Many labor leaders in justify.
able resentment against Robert
Taft and his sponsorship of
anti-labor legislation are BOOM
ing the candidacy of former
Governor Stassen, who is a
personable and engaging fell
low. But let us look at his
record.
Stassen has spent the last
two years stumping the ,coun-
try openly counting the Repub-
lican candidacy for president.
He is not rich and the money
to finance this venture did not
come from the pockets of Ia
Dor. This, however, does not
necessarily condemn him.
Let us look at the record fur
ther. Senator Ball is the pro-
ponent of a bill designed to
sabotage the Wage and Hour
Act. He was one of the most
vociferous supporters of the
Taft Hartley bill. How did Sen
ator Ball get into the Senate?
He was appointed by Stassen,
while he was governor of Min
nesota.
Nor has there been one word
of criticism of the actions or
views of Senator Ball from his
sponsor, the genial H a arold
StaSsen.
LOOK IT OVER
1t would behoove the consci-
entious labor leaders from the
ranks of both AFL and CIO to
examine the record and per-
formance of the ingratiating
Stassen before going overheard
for him.
From an analysis of the 1948
presidential aspirants one les
son can be clearly drawn, Our
task for 1948 is to build an ef-
fective vote corralling organi-
zation in the wards, townships
and precincts that can elect
candidates.
Placing undue confidence in
the expected performance of
the presidential candidates of
either big party or the Wallace
party would be a big mistake.
If we build an effective vote
getting organization we will
have taken the first step
toward the building of a genu-
inc labor party.
When bonafide labor party
is victorious in a national cleo
ton, we will be on the way
toward the realization of real
industrial democracy.
Albert Einstein has endors-
ed Henry Wallace. Einstein
himself has said that only a