Evening star., 1948-09-09
Dewey Receives
His First Major
Support
Building Service Union
Board Pledges Him
Backing in Race
By J. A. O'Leoy
Stor Stoff correspondsnt

ALBANY, N. Y, sept. 9.-GoV
Thomas E. Dewey got his first
important organized labor sup
port today from the Executive
Board of AFL Building Service
Employees International Union.
It was the first move by the
Dewey camp to offset the indorse-
ment of President Truman by 9
majority of the CIO Executive
Board and by a privately organized
committee of other AFL unions.
William L. McFetridge Of Chicago
general president of the Building
Service International, headed a
delegation of his fellow officers,
and some New York State labor
leaders, who called on Gov. Dewey
at the capitol here today.
175,000 Members in Union.
Although the resolutions in sup
port of Gov. Dewey were adopted by
the Executive Board of the Build
ing Service Employees Union, Mr.
McFetridge said he is confident they
express the sentiment of majority
of the 175,00O members.
AS he left the Governors office,
Mr.. McFetridge told reporters his
international union supported Pres
ident Roosevelt in 1914. Referring
to the Endorsement of Gov. Dewey
this year, Mr.. McFetridge said:
1--WE know he is going to give a
fine administration as President OF
the United States. The best demon
stration of that Is his record as
Governor of New York"
Dewey Deeply Gratified.
James C. Hagerty, Dewey press
secretary, relayed the following COM
ment from Gov Dewey:
"I am deeply gratified by this ex-
preston of confidence by one Of the
greatest unions in America. Mr..
McFetridge, Mr.. Sullivan and many
of the others are old friends and
we have had very happy relation
ship over the years"
His statement referred to David
Sullivan of New York City, presi-
dent of New York Local 32-B Of the
building service group, one of those
in today's delegation.
Others in the visiting labor dele
CATION were: George Hardy OF San
Francisco, vice president OF the in
ternational; William H. Cooper of
Milwaukee, secretary-treasurer Of
the international; Arthur L. Harck-
ham, New York City, president OF
the New York Building Service
Council; Thomas F. Shortman, New
York City, vice president Of the in
ternational and Of the New York
local; Thomas G. Young, New York
City, vice president of the New York
State Federation of Labor, and Sec
retary of the building service local.
Mr.. Young said the State Fedora
ton is taking no stand on candi-
dates, but he predicted some of the
vice presidents of the federation will
support Gov. Dewey.
Based on Labor Day Speech.
Questioned by reporters about his
position on the Taft Hartley law,
Mr.. McFetridge said, Were hopeful
and confident any amendments to
the law that are necessary will be
made" He said, however, that no
assurances were given by Gov. Dewey
at today's conference. Asked If he
had any changes in mind, MIR. Nc
Fetridge said legal counsel for his
union are working on the subject
and probably will have recommended
tions later.
The Executive Board Of the build
ing service union based its indorse-
ment of Gov. Dewey on the prin-
ciples he enunciated in his Labor
Day proclamation Sunday.
These principles amply demon
strated that Gov. Dewey is fully
cognizant of the aims and needs of
the working men and women of the
United States" the resolutions read.
"We believe that Gov. Dewey has
shown himself to be wise and able
administrator of public affairs and
that his calm strength will replace
indecision and kittery irresolution
in governmental affairs" the reso-
lutions continued.
Centered on Senate Fight.
Meanwhile, it appeared that ef-
forts to hold Republican control Of
the Senate are likely to play an i'm
portant part in shaping Gov.
Dewey's plans for the impending
presidential campaign.
nN1if3aol ,uaro 0,,fnIr
to note that Iowa, where Gov. Dewey
will make his first campaign speech
on September 20, is one of the States
in which Senate seat is at stake.
And, although the COP high
command is keeping the rest of Gov.
Dewey's itinerary under wraps for
the time being. there is strong spec
ulation here that his campaign train
will be switched around to cover
other States where senatorial bat
ties are shaping up.
Is is true that Iowa has been back
in the Republican column since
1910, but this year the Democrats in
the State where the tall corn
grows have put up former Senator
Guy M. Gillette to oppose the re-
election of Republican Senator Will
son.
There are several other States
where the Democrats would appear
to have better chance Of winning
Senate seats from Republicans than
in Iowa, and it will be surprising If
Gov. Dewey does not visit those
States, also, later on.
Evidence likewise Is mounting
that Gov. Dewey probably will take
(See OLEARY, Page A-4J
Ocean Drog Continues