Evening star., 1953-11-29
Labor Bosses Preporir1,3
Drive on Eisenhowe4
Furious Publicity Against
Presidents Program Expected
BY Fronk R. Kent

By Fronk R. Kent
There are many public men whose
position on political issues is some
times vague and confused. Their
views occasionally shift with the po-
litical currents. Concerning one group,
however. this is not accurate at all.
This group is composed Of the so-called
labor bosses, who are sometimes cheap
and unSavory fellows. No citizen cap
able Of reasoning from the clear po-
litical facts should have any difficulty
in coming to three firm conclusions
about these gentlemen.
One is that they are completely
identified with and quite dominant in
the Democratic Party. This has been
true for the 20 years up to 1853 during
which period they had the run of the
White House and the personal support
OF the incumbents. In that period
Democratic candidates as we'll as Demo.
cratic policies were-and still are
cleared through them. The second con-
clusion is that they are supported by
the biggest, best financed and most ef-
fective propaganda machine in the
country. In these respects it Is su-
perior to both the Republican and
Democratic Party machines and far SUI
perior to those Of the National Associa-
tion of Manufacturers, the United States
Chamber of Commerce or any other.
The power of this labor publicity is
such that it has put the bosses into
politics in big way. They not only
push their views on labor legislation,
which is their right, but they attempt
to dictate on taxes, farm measures,
foreign policy and practically every
thing else. They have lists of candidates
who are called friendly to labor" and
lists of those called 'unfriendly to
labor" They go into districts and
States to support and oppose. Inter-
views, speeches and statements fiow
steadily.
The third conclusion is that what
these labor bosses really want is to
run the country. Here. too, they are
within their rights-if they can do it.
In the back of their minds there is
the idea of an American labor party
similar to the British Labor Party.
which, ultimately, will take over the
Government. Every now and then they
come out in the open with this, as in
1850, when some of their spokesmen
declared the defeat of Mr.. Taft would
be followed by the organization of such
a party. Again a few weeks ago a
widely known labor boss asserted that
if neither party needed "labor's de-
mandS" labor would be forced to resort
to an American labor party. This, Of
course, is a bluff, as the obvious STRAIT
egy of these labor organizations is to
achieve their objectives through the
Democratic Party.
With their millions Of members, mil
lions of dollars and army of expensive
publicity experts, there is no question
that these bosses are sufficiently for
midable to alarm many timid holders
and aSpirants for elective Office. How
ever, the irrefutable fact is that when
most solidly unified, financed and sup
ported, they have proven futile at the
polls, unable to swing their own rank
and file. not at all hard to beat. One
Illuminating instance of this, often
cited in this place, was in 1850, when
union labor, united as never before,
exerted every ounce of strength to drive
the late Senator Taft out of public life.
The result was an overwhelming defeat
for the labor bosses.
An even more significant exposure
OF political futility was given last year
by the labor bosses who were behind
Mr.. Stevenson to a man and against
Gen. Eisenhower Never before had
labor gone into a presidential fight
more Solidly, with more money or as
much publicity. The Hartley Act
was one of the main issues. Mr.. Ste
venson, the Democratic candidate, at
first took the same stand as his op-
ponent, to wit. that the law was
basically sound but needed amend
ment. Later, yielding to pressure, he
switched to the labor boss view that
1T was wholly evil and must be re-
pealed. He only carried eight States.
Considering all this, it does seem
that the people-and the press, too
would cease taking these labor bosses
at their own valuation and assess their
TRADES for what they are worth. Early
IN January, the President will present
TO Congress amendments to the Taft
HartIey Act designed to protect equally
labor, industry and the public. The
election results clearly indicate that is
what the people want. But it is not
what the labor bosses want and they
are already preparing a furious pub
nclty drive against the Presidents pro-
gram. In this battle Mr.. Eisenhower
ought to win If he exerts his full
weight. This, there is every reason to
believe. he intends to do. Certainly,
the majority of the American people
will be with him.
John L. Lewis is not to be classed
with the other bosses. Like them, he
is against Mr.. Eisenhower and the
Taft Hartley law He is ruthless, dicta-
torlal and. at times. unreasonable. But
ne has not the same objectives and he
Is neither cheap nor unsavory.