The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-07-29
W Whitney Asserts
Democrats Winning

Philadelphia (LPA)-The coolest
spot this LPA reporter found at
the hot Democratic convention last
week was also the most optimistic
one. 1t was the corner room OF A.
F. Whitney, president of the Bro
therhood of Railroad Trainmen, In
the Bellevue Stratford Hotel.
Ignoring the noise from a Wal
lace sound truck on the street nine
floors blow, the white-haired la
Dor chief asserted convincingly that
he is for Truman and that the
Democrats will win this election.
Whitney, who was a delegate-at-
large from Ohio, was most enthu-
siastic over Sen. Alben Barkley's
keynote speech. 1T was wonder
full review of what the Democrats
have done in the last 16 years" ne
said. "The Barkley address took
the gloom out of things"
The rs year old railroad man
showed lot more spirit than most
of the younger delegates. "Some
people are defeatist," he complain
ed. "They give up without even
trying. Republican propaganda is
swallowed by Democrats" He
handed me a copy of the BRT's
latest radio program which pro-
claimed that the Democratic par
ty is not doomed. "We've got to
go to work." he insisted. "The word
failure isn't in our vocabulary. Ii
be can defeat Joe Ball and others
we will have accomplished wonders
and the 81st Congress will be more
careful about its attacks on or
ganized labor. Well win in '48 and
then We'll talk about 80 and '52." !"
Although the Democratic plat
form had not yet been completed,
the rail union leader had heard
that it would be satisfactory to la
Dor. Appeal of the Taft-Hartley
Act, and good planks on housing
and full employment, he predicted
would be included.
The railroad unions do not come
under the jurisdiction of
Taft Hartley, but Whitney had no
trouble answering the question as
to why he is so intensely interested
in repeal of the anti-labor law.
'Under Taft Hartley" he pointed
out, Judge Goldsborough alleges
he finds the right to prohibit col
Iective bargaining by issuing an
against three railroad
asking for decent
wages. Only with the spirit of
such a law to back him up could
he get away with it.
As for Dewey's record, the Train
mems head was quick to point out
is shortcomings. The COP candi-
late, he declared, "has placed a
rown of thorns upon the brow of
tate employees by prohibiting them
rom exercising the right to strike.
He described the New York gov
rnor as "a cruel, ruthless prosecu-
or. With Dewey, any man brought
nto court is guilty" In fact, he
ummed it up, "He is the least de-
irable candidate the Republicans
ould have nominated-aside from
aft and Joe Ball"
Since Whitney was in the throes
f composing three speeches-one
0 present to the convention the
ext day and two for RADIO appear
rces that evening, we only had
ime for one more question. Here is
hat he considers the most import
mt reason that labor should sup
ort the Democratic party:
"The Republican party is a rich
lan's party. They openly admit
ley're against labor. They are sup
orted largely by the NAM, the
hamber of Commerce and the
ssociation of American Railroads.
here is no possibility for labor {
, get anything from the Republic (
ans other than crumbs that fail s
,om the rich mans table.
"The Democratic party has poll S
cal renegades in the 60th Con- t
ress but on the whole has been j