Evening star., 1950-01-29
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Unite Unions
Ry lack Bell

~SNN SS'
Organized labor may come
closer to presenting a united
political front in the November
elections than it ever has before.
The beginnings of a political
Union of Unions" have been
laid in New York City and
Connecticut. Other similar
moves can be expected wher- 8
ever the unions think that
what they have at stake po-
litically outweighs the differ
ences that have kept the AF'L
and the CIO apart for years.
In New York City the two
major groups of labor have
joined political forces in move
that its sponsors optimistically
contend will bring together
1,250.000 CIO and AFL men,
bers. If they all vote alike in
the Governor and United
States Senate races they could
60 a long way toward helping
swing the result.
In most instances where they
have agreed to unite politically
they will be found backing
Democratic candidates.
Individually. they have al
ready marked their choices in
most of the Senate races. Only
three Republicans, Senators
Morse of Oregon, Aiken of Ver-
mont and Tobey of New Hamp-
shirs, have been offered public
help.
Although the New York City
merger of labors political &C
tivities may be effective, Sena-
tor Ives, Republican, of New
York has predicted that no
such combine would be formed
upstate, where the Republican
vote is strongest.
Agree in Connecticut
There are just too many
Republicans in labor organiza-
tions there for them to go along
on a movement that is obviously
directed at electing Democratic
candidates" he said.
In Connecticut, where two
senatorial seats are at stake, the
AFL and the CIO have reached
an informal working agree
ment.
At a special conference on
political action during a recent
State CIO convention. the AFL.
the International Association of
Machinists, the United Mine
Workers and some railroad
brotherhoods all were repre-
sented.
Gov. Chester Bowles, bidding
for reelection. is expected to
get the benefit of strong labor
support by reason of the work.
ing agreement. Democratic
Senators Mcmahon and Benton
are in line to share in the
benefits. .
Some strenuous efforts are
reported under way in Ohio to
get the CIO and the AFL under
the same political tent in op-
posing the reelection of Re-
publican Senator Taft.
Senator Taft was No. l target
at recent meeting of the Ohio
CIO council. While AFL leaders
have been just as sharp in their
criticism of the principal author
of the Taft-Hartley Act, the
two unions yet are to meld their
forces officially.
Senator Taft's friends say
they don't think there will be
any formal union. Moreover,
they say that mail they receive
from union members indicates
that lot of them are not fol-
lowing their leaders in opposing
Senator Taft.
Nevertheless, State Auditor
Joseph Ferguson, regarded as
Senator Taft's most likely oppo-
nent, will have the solid backing
of the labor leaders If he wins
his party's nomination.
Labor also may get behind
Senator Taylor, Democrat, of
Idaho, who bolted the Demo-
cratic ticket in 1948 to run as
a vice presidential candidate on
the Wallace Progressive ticket.
Senator Taylor has tried to
wedge himself back into the
Democratic Party. Because
there are two Senate races in
the State this year, a lot Of
Democrats who would like to
punish Senator Taylor for bolt
ing may think better of it.
There seems little doubt that
he will get administration sup
port--despite the attacks he
made on the Truman program
in the 1948 campaign-if he
wins the Democratic nomination
for the seat he now holds.
distributed By the Associated Press.l