Evening star., 1950-08-20
Labor Takes Beating
In State Primaries,
Losing 4 From Senate
BY Jack Bell
A,seeiofed Press StoH Writer


Organized labor's strength In
Congress has been thinned by
primary election lickings taken
by four Senators and. one member
Of the House.
In addition, labor is losing two
retiring Democratic senator's
Downey of California and Withers
of Kentucky, who didn't choose
to run-but may be able to replace
them with other hackers In
November.
Not until the general election
will the unions be able to add up
their congressional strength. But,
on the basis of what the voters
have done thus far, the unions
seem likely to be as far away as
ever from obtaining their prime
objective-repeal Of the Taft
Hartley act.
The four senators have bit the
political dust in primaries where
the labor issue wasn't paramount
at all.
Pepper First to Flop.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, of
Florida, was the first to go down.
He was replaced as the Demo-
cratic nominee by Representative
Smathers. who voted last year to
pigeonhole the administration S |
bill to repeal the Taft-Hartley
act.
Senator Graham. Democrat. of
North Carolina, counted as a labor
supporter, lost in the North Caro-
lima democratic primary to Willis
Smith, who isn't regarded as likely
to team up with union hackers.
In Oklahoma, Senator Elmer
Thomas bowed in the Democratic
primary to Representative Mike
Monroney. Senator Thomas went
down the line for labor. Like Mr..
Smathers. Mr.. Monroney voted to
recommit to committee the Taft
Hartley repeater.
Mr.. Monroney faces a battle in
November with the Rev. Bill Alex
ander. Oklahoma City pastor who
won the Republican nomination.
Latest pro-labor victim in the
primaries was Senator Glen Tay-
lor. Idaho Democrat. He was
beaten by former Senator D.
Worth Clark. who won't be
welcomed to Washington by labor
leaders If he defeats his Republi-
can opponent in November.
In the House, Representative
Sims. Democrat. of South Caro-
lima. was one of four members
from the generally anti-labor
South who have been defeated in
primaries. The AFL backed him.
The CIO is not unfriendly to him.
In none OF these races was labor
an outstanding issue.
Labor's Claims Cited.
Joseph Keenan,, chairman Of
labor's league for political educa-
tion (AFL), has been adding UP
the losses. He comes up with the
estimate that labor can still muster
a majority Of SO of the 96 SEN
ate votes for Taft Hartley repeal
If it makes q net gain of six.
Mr.. Keenan's forces are con-
centrating on Ohio, Missouri, In
diana, Colorado and Iowa in an
effort to turn out Republicans.
It's obvious that labor is going |
to shoot the works against Senator
Taft.
Both AFL and the CIO are
backing Senator Taft's Democratic
opponent, State Auditor Joseph T.
Ferguson. They have launched
such an intensive registration
drive that some Of Senator Taft's
friends are beginning to get wor-
ried.
Meanwhile. primary voters start
down the 1850 home stretch Tues
day by choosing candidates for 81
House seats-45 of them in New
York-and one governorship.
On the same day, Wyoming and
Mississippi voters select House
nominees - with the former also
nominating for governor - and
Delaware Democrats hold q con-
vention to pick O. candidate to run
against Republican Representa- |
tive Boggs.
Texas Democrats next Saturday
go into q run-of primary to de-
eide House contests in the 18th
and 18th districts which were un-
resolved in the f1rst primary July
az, and two State Office races.
After this week, only IA States
will remain to pick nominees II
for IL of the 36 senatorships and
60 Of the 435 House places up this
year. All the actual choosing will
come in September.