Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-04-09
It's News
To Me
By 0. ]. Pecord

Comes again the time year political observers
writer's coumnsts radio commentators lead
politicians ask the perennian question-" laoor
Frankly it is difficult to answer that question this
after years Republican dominated Congress which mas
had way writing and sustaining legislation Wnc
by no the imagination could be called friendly 10
In the light occurring Washington such
as the Taft Hartley which labor has unanimously OBJ,
ected would appear that last the labor movement woua
itself against what it concelves to be anti
That of course, the big question.
There things in which labor has almost uni
yeray expressed Housing social security inter-
and of other considerations are all prop
lens which labor has shown large degree OF un yes
in the face of this universal agreement upon "a %
DONE the question still remains unanswered.wl labor
actually unite its forces and vote unit in the l94S
THE SKEPTICS
The skeptics the newspaper radio commenta-
political observers politicians and others who are inter-
ested in the that labor going to go in 1913 are
They make attempt to conceal their doubts that even IN the
which labor processes to even IN the
light the representatives to Con-
gress that labor will still divide itself because its leadership
divided yet ready to submerge personal teenss
position for the overall welfare of the people they repre-
sent
people interested what labor going to do
examining the record of recent particularly the
past years plainly evident that labor has been sadly
divided politically.
RANK AND FILE
In discussing political file of the
labor movement obvious that bascay there less dv
sion the rank and file REGARDLESS of ursdcona lines
upper brackets Such division leader
ship has of caused lot of confusion and led TO dv
politically the rank and file enabling candidates
public office to win elections which ordinarily they would
have lost
After ALL nobody should discount ability of union
leadership the vote of their particular in cleo
The only drawback that the political division in
who shall hold the union offices has couded
aprants to union leadership to the point where
influence their followers to the opposite from their
opposition.
This situation lamentable it is reflects within the labor
union the conditions which exists all strata of
The only important difference between the
and the industrial organization Is financial in
compelling stmuant industrial political
unity than the ockeyng for position asprants for union
leadership.
INDUSTRY UNITES
Industry unites itself politically regardless of the personal
feelings of its leaders with other The competing
heads of industrial firms who cordially dislike each other
tribute equally to the campaign fund the candidates who
indicate their willingness along with the economic wishes
of the nduStrialists,
But and this the principal lot of congress
for bills opposed by labor isn't strange that the
AFL and CIO cannot under these circumstances unite
politically?
Isn't strange that in these days labor is all he
about aHarley housing and dozens other issues that
union should insist organic unity requirement to
be satisfied before joint political action be undertaken?
And the rank and file deceived by this smokeScreen
takes sides follow their respective leadership and divide
national and local political their interests
are, should be identical.
Perhaps this is the when labor will together and
conound its enemies and critics by uniting basic issues That
is the question still to be answered. thing is certain,
this is the crucial which is condition the future
of the labor movement for many years to come.
We shall see what we shall see.