Evening star., 1948-08-26
Democrats Predict
Heavy Labor Backing
For Truman Ticket
By The Associated Press

Democrats jubilantly forecast
today top-heavy labor backing
for the Truman-Barkley ticket
In November. But Republicans
disputed its effect.
Senator O'Mahoney. Democrat, of
wyoming predicted to reporter
that the C1O board meeting here
next Monday will join AFL leaders
in backing the Presidents bid for a
full term in the White House.
But Senator Bricker, Republican,
of Ohio COMMANDED that even if this
occurs, 1t won't keep the country
from electing Gov. Dewey of New
York, the COP nominee.
Some Back Wallace.
The 5l-member CIO board will
have before it. the question OF in
dorsing Mr.. Truman's candidacy
There is not much doubt in any
politicians mind that it will do so,
but not by a unanimous vote. Some
CIO leaders are backing Henry A.
Wallace's Progressive Party.
The AFL leadership acted at a
meeting in Chicago yesterday to
back Mr.. Truman. While the labor
organization decided to hold to its
traditional role of not indorsing
candidates. President William Green
said a separate committee will be
formed to work for the Truman
Barkley ticket.
A day ahead OF the CIO meeting.
the once anti-Truman Americans
for Democratic Action will hold an
expanded national board session in
Chicago-also to discuss the matter
OF political Endorsements.
Henderson Won't Predict.
Chairman Leon Henderson, the
former price control boss, refused to
make any prediction. He noted,
however, that the ADA has a big
constituency from labor unions" and
added:
If you know what they are going
to do you probably know what We
will do"
AS for the AFL committee to
plug for the Truma n Barkley ticket,
George M. Harrison. head of the
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, said
1t will be made up Of as many inter-
national presidents OF AFL unions
as want to join. He said that prob
ably all but one or two will come in.
Senator O'Mahoney said this
means that the Democrats will have !
strong. active labor support in the
campaign that may we'll result in
victory for Mr. Truman. !
The AFL leaders have displayed
strong confidence that Mr.. Truman
will be elected" Senator O'Mahoney
said. Il don't think there is any
doubt that the CIO will take the
same stand"
As examples of what organized
labor already has done for the
Democrats, Senator OMahoney
pointed to Tennessee and his own
State of Wyoming.
He credited labor with a vital
part in helping Representative
Estes Kefauver, who has been
friendly to the Truman admins /
tration, win the senatorial nom /,
ina ion away from Senator Tom
Stewart.
In Wyoming, Senator OMahoney
said labor's turnout caused the
Democrats to register a higher vote
total in their primary than the Re-
publicans.
Senator Bricker said the AFL
leaders decision to back Mr.. Tru-
man was expected. adding that 1t
doesn't mean anything"
These leaders aren't going to be
able to control their membership" i
Senator Bricker said. In fact, !
think q lot of AFL members are
going to resent attempts to tell them
how they shall vote"
Mr.. Harrison didn't say which
AFL union presidents might balk |
at falling in line for the Truman
Barley ticket.
Dan Tobin Disa grees.
But Dan Tobin Of the powerful
Teamsters' Union let it be known
some time ago he disagreed with a
statement by Mr.. Green that the
AFL would never support Gov.
Dewey.
Tobins union supported President