Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-10-29
Finds Labor Striving
To Control Politics
Writer Says Union Leaders
Would Dominate Nation
By Fronk R. Kent

The present campaign is so cluttered
up with great problems of foreign policy.
plus those created by the Truman do
nestle program plus such things as the
graft and corruption charges that are
flying about in different States, plus
many bitter local issues, that certain
basic things have been largely obscured.
This Is unfortunate, for there is a
domestic verdict to be rendered on Mo-
vember which easily may determine for
an indefinite period the character of our
Government. Briefly, this is the ques-
ton: Are the labor union bosses. already
dominant in the Democratic party, going
to come into full charge of our national
politics-or not?" There hardly could be
a more vital issue. Yet it is being be-
clouded by both parties-by the Demo-
Gratis because to openly acknowledge the
truth would be to proclaim their party as
humiliatingly subservient and character
less; by the Republicans because-with
a few notable exceptions-they lack the
intelligence and courage to lay the cold.
hard facts before the people.
In this campaign the labor bosses are
making their greatest political effort.
NEN6l SlllCC Jl1C f1llLl-odlOOA ACdSuC udSo
has there been anything approaching in
size, scope, cost and intensity this at
tempt to control American politics.
OF course, the chief labor target is
Senator Taft. Describing him as Labor's
Enemy No. and denouncing the Taft
Hartley Act as slave law" the an
nounced purpose is to drive Mr.. Taft out
of public life. To this end Ohio has
1r;fl, ND Efarof1ira
to an unprecedented degree. Carpet-bag
political workers are pouring in and
every particle of strength the CLIO, the
AFL, the Railroad Brotherhoods and the
Mine Workers can muster is being used.
This is supplemented by everything the
Truman Administration can think Of to
do. If Senator Taft pulls through it will
be against as powerful and vindictive
opposition as any candidate ever faced.
But Ohio is not the only State where
the labor forces are fighting this time.
From New York to California they are
organized, active and financed. In New
York they are solidly behind Mr.. Leh-
man for the Senate on the ground that
he, too, has perfect record" And. Of
course they are vehemently against Gov
ernor Dewey. In California, solid labor
"
will go to Jimmie" Roosevelt for COVER
nor and Helen Gahagan Douglas for
senator. Two more complete CIO stooges
would be hard to find In Connecticut.
they are. of course, behind the Bowles-
Benton Mcmahon combination; in Il
linois, they are hot for Senate Demo-
cratic Leader Scott Lucas: also for Sem
ator Myers, of Pennsylvania, Democratic
whip, and others.
The only Republican to whom they are
committed is the garrulous pro-union
left-winger, Senator Wayne Morse, OF
Oregon. If with an Insignificant candi-
date such as Joe" Ferguson the labor
bosses can end the career of one of the
ablest and most courageous men in pub
lie life, it will be clear to everybody In
politics that it is fatal to incur their en-.
nifty. If in addition they can elect
others with perfect records in i'm
portant States, they will be in command
ing position. No man who aspires tt
elective Office or who is in elective Office
could then ignore the fact that he could
neither achieve such Office nor retain
such Office except by their will. This
would seem an insuperable barrier to all
men of character and self-respect. IT
would mean devastating deterioration
in the personnel of our public servants
1t would tend to COW Republican man.
ayers and candidates as well as the al
ready cowed Democrats.