The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-11-16

setback in the Nov. 7 election, but
it's determination to keep fighting
for liberal and progressive govern
ment remained mistaken.
The usual off-year reaction to
the party in power took its toll OF
many loyal and stalwart friends OF
labor, but the reactionary gains
were held down by labor's political
activities. The Democrats retained
numerical control of both houses
of Congress.
However, the coalition of Dixie.
Gratis and reactionary Republicans
was strengthened by the election
results and it appears extremely
unlikely that any legislative ad-
vances in the social-justice field
can be scored during the sessions
of the incoming 82d Congress.
The worst blow to labor was the
Overwhelming reelection of Sena-
tor Robert A. Taft, co-author OF
the Taft Hartley Act, in Ohio. This
was only partly offset by the de-
feat of Senator Forrest C. Donnell
a bitter reactionary, in Missouri
II by pro-labor Thomas Hennings, Jr
President Truman was "disap-
|pointed" with the election results.
AFL President William Green
said that he "was greatly surprised
and very much disappointed" over
Sen. Taft's reelection"
However, it's democracy in ac-
tion," Mr.. Green said. "We1l
simply have to prepare for the
future and carry on the fight to re-
peal the Taft Hartley law"
Although liberal losses were
heavy, an unofficial count shows II
of 25 labor backed candidates won
Senate seats and 121 of 262 labor
backed nominees captured House
positions.
LIBERAL labor forces were sue
cessful in reelecting Sens. Herbert
II. Lehman in New York, Brien
Mcmahon and William Benton in
Connecticut.
While such progressive stalwarts
as Reps. Andrew Biemiller of Wis
consin, Helen Gahagan Douglas of
California, Chester c. Gorski and
Anthony f. Tauriella of New York
lost their bids for election, voters
sent back to the House Reps. Jack
Shelley and Chet Holifield of Cal
ifornia, Hugh B. Mitchell Of Wash
ington, Frank Buchanan and
George nj. Rhodes of Pennsylvania,
Roy w. Wier of Minnesota, John
ID. Dingell of Michigan.
seph ID. Keenan,, director
Labor's League for Political Edu-
cation, said that "the Korean stu
alton was the main factor" in hold
ing down labor's gains.
In addition to the Korean fight
ing and the Intervention of the
Chinese Communists, Mr.. Keenan,
thought crime Investigations may
have gone against Democrats in
some states and the communism-
in-government charges may have
also hurt.
ave got out the vote in Ohio
but apparently some of our people
went against u.s." he said. "How-
ever, our people came through in
Connecticut and New York"
He said that basically labor is on
the right track and must continue
the job of getting the people regis
tered.
"We'll go on organizing until we
win," he said.
Organized labor's political act-
witty was strong enough to prevent
a repetition of l9d6's off-year de-
bacle when reactionaries won com
plete control of both houses of
Congress. The 1916 rout reduced
the liberal bloc to it's smallest pro-
portions since 1882. That did not
happen in 1850.
In fact, labor's influence was in
Strumental in holding Republican
gains to one-half the average of
off-year elections. According to
Newsweek magazine, Republicans
gained an average of 81 seats in
the House and 10 seats in the Sen
ate in 1912, 1914 and 1916. Max
imum gains this year were only 81
House and Senate seats.
In the Senate, Democrats retain
ed nominal control 49-A7 and in
the House by 235 to 200. But the
Dixiecrat- Republican coalition, n,
which has thwarted broad social
legislation since 1888, was streng-
thencd and will be in actual con
troll of both houses.
The Dixiecrat- Republican coal