Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-07-02
(Written by the Staff Of
The CIO NeWs)

nCpQU1ISoll City NJ AA1lJ 1851
had a Democratic mayor in
9enerations) - but there was
a general note of embarrass-
ment around both City Hall
and convention headquarters
all week long.
The reason: Phillips COP
city administration was up to
its ears in a irst-rate scandal.
ment tax division are accused of
officials of the city's amuse-
pocketng about two-thirds of
the tax money collected on
movie and theater tickets.
Scandal started moving into
other realms of city's admins
tration. And all during con-
vention week. COP delegates
had to read front.page stories
about throbbing headaches of
PHILIPS COP machine.
Nomination of Tom Dewey
settled a long-standing, good
humored rivalry between Off
cials of CIO state councils in
CIO had been saying that if the
COP had to nominate someone,
it shouldn't be Dewey, please;
they'd seen him operating at
New York and Ohio.
Privately, informally, Off
cials of the New York State
home, didn't like what they
saw.
Privately, informally, Off
cials of the Ohio State CIO had
been saying that anybody
would be better than Taft -
they'd seen the Senator from
his own backyard.
Now Ohioans have some con-
ISOLATION that their man Taft
didn't get the nomination!
4
There's little doubt that
Taft's sponsorship of that we'll
known, little-liked labor law
helped kill his chances of nomi-
nation.
Joe Harsch, CHS correspond
ent in Philadelphia, reported re-
actions of two Massachusetts,
Republican delegates. Gist of
their thinking: personally they
liked Taft; but fearing up-in-
arms opposition from workers,
they supported Dewey.
That doesn't mean Dewey's
labor record in New York will
get cheers. Condon- Wadlin bill,
barring state employees from
right to strike, was actively
supported by Dewey. Bill was
vigorously protested by unions
in state, and by CIO President
Phil Murray.
4 4 r
Supreme Court decision bar
ring prosecution of CIO and
Phil Murray under Taft Hart
ley Acts ban on political
spending by unions was a ma
jor victory for labor's freedom
of press.
High court unanimously up
held action of Judge Ben
Moore, who had thrown out in
dictment procured by Depart
ment of Justice. Indictment
was based on Murray's ea.
dorsement - in July IA, 1947
issue of CIO News - of Dem
ocratic candidate in a special
election in Maryland. Justice
Department claimed this en-
dorsement - and distribution
of papers in the Congressional
district - amounted to an il
legal political expenditure by
CIO.
Supreme Court said this, in
effect: Taft-Hartley ban on un-
ion political spending doesn't
cover regularly-appearing, reg
ularly.distributed union papers.
Such papers can say anything,
anytime about political issues
or candidates without regard to
TIL. 1t makes no difference
whether such papers are fl
nanced by union treasures or
by subscriptions or ads -
they're free to talk politics.
Though a big victory for la
boris right to freedom of press
Supre e Court left many
questions unanswered:
/. Leaflets, pamphlets, spe-
cial papers call for union po-
litical expenditures; the Court
decision made no ruling on
these matters.
2. Court underlined fact it
was not ruling on constitution
ality of Taft -Hartley's political
spending section.
Courts four-man b er a !
group - Rutledge, Murphy,
Black, Douglas - felt court
failed to 60 far enough in its
decision.
Liberal minority had this
line of reasoning: Congress
clearly intended, TIL to apply
to union papers; for that rea-
son, TIL union political ban
is unconstitutional blow at
free press; even if union pa