Evening star., 1948-08-28
The Political Mil
Toft-HortIey Act Foes
Out to Beut Senator Ball
Minnesotan Faces Hard Battle
To Keep Seat, Poll Shows
BY GanId IfncaIn


By Gould Lincoln
The Taft-Hartley labor law haters are pre-
vented this year from making a crusade against
the arch demon Taft himself, for the simple
reason the Ohio Senator has two more years
to serve Of his present term. But they are
going all out to defeat. If they can. their next
best hate, Senator Joe" Ball of Minnesota.
Senator Ball not only sought as a member
Of the Senate Labor Committee to make the
new labor law more stringent than 1t Is but
II reelected he may become chairman of the
Labor Committee himself. This is what the
CIO and the AFL leaders would not like to
have happen. Senator Taft, who is now
chairman, it has been suggested might bs
appointed by a Republican President to the
Supreme Court. in the event of a vacancy on
the bench. Or he might elect to take some
other committee Craftsmanship.
So the labor campaigners are concentrating
on the Minnesota senatorial race According
to reports, they intend to throw into that
campaign q lot of money as we'll as workers,
in their effort to get Senator Balls political
scalp. A recent Star-Journal poll in Min.
neapolis. covering all parts of the State showed
Mayor Hubert Humphrey of Minneapolis, the
expected Democratic nominee for the Senate.
receiving 40 per cent of the straw vote, sena.
tor Ball SO per cent, and former Gov. Elmer
Benson. the Wallace Progressive candidate, .
per cent.
Early in the Race.
This is early in the race, however, and the
Republicans are planning to do a lot of work
In Minnesota themselves before election day
rolls around. The Dewey Warren national ticket
is expected to run strongly, and If 1t does, it
will undoubtedly be a great benent to Senator
Ball in his race for reelection to the Senate.
Make no mistake, however this battle made
by organized labor against Senator Ball will
be conducted with no holds barred Aiding
the laborites In this hght is the fact that SEN
ator Ball himself, by his desertion of the
Dewey -Bricker ticket and his support of F. D. r.
In the 1914 presidential campaign aroused great
anger in the Republican state organization.
He embarrassed Harold stassen who appointed
him to the Senate, by this action. Further,
he did not see eye to eye with Mr.. stassen
on labor legislation in 1s47 but went along
with Senator Taft of Ohio on that and to
some measure on foreign policy. So it was
only recently that Mr. Stassen came out with
an Endorsement Of Senator Ball for reelection,
The senatorial primary in Minnesota falls
on September a. The vote cast may give
additional information. Senator Ball is with
out opposition for the Republican nomination
and that fact itself is indication that the
Republican organization is again lining up
back Of him. Mayor Humphrey the Demo-
cratic white hope, has no Democratic oppose
ton, but former Farmer-Labor Gov. Benson
is to be the nominee of the new Progressive
Party, and Mr. Benson may have a very con-
siderable following, which will cut into the
Humphrey forces rather than into those back
ing Senator Ball.
Ticket May Aid Him.
Cows Dewey and Warren are both planning
to make an intensive campaign in the north
western states, including Minnesota. Despite
the big labor vote in the twin cities, the Re.
publican national ticket is likely to 90 over
by considerable vote. 1t is bit ironical that
Senator Ball may owe his reelection to the
man whom he left four years ago to support
his Democratic opponent. At that time Sena-
tor Ball based his stand for President Roose-
welt and against Gov Dewey on his idea that
Mr.. Roosevelt was more firmly intrenched in
American internationalism than was Gov.
Dewey.
Mayor Humphrey Is q nashy campaigner,
ready talker He made one of the most
strongly pro-civ1 rights speeches at the recent
Democratic National Convention-and told the
Southerners 1t was time to forget States rights
and turn to human rights. Senator Ball, for
his part, is = hard working campaigner who
will take lot Of beating before he Is out.
Following his appointment to the Senate, he
ran for election in 1912 and went over in Q
big way. Elmer Benson hates Mayor Humph.
reys insides and he will do all in his power
to spike his guns.
1t is very necessary for the Republicans Ia
retain this Senate scat. as 1t II necessary for
the labor leaders to defeat Senator Ball. 80
the Minnesota campaign will have major DC.
nincance and important result