Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-07
Labor'sBiggest
Political Drive
Has Some Hope
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON

organized LABOR. making its
biggest political effort in history,
took a shellacking along with
Adlai Stevenson but gained some
solace today in the apparent
election Of a Democratic Con-
gress.
There was considerable oppo-I
sition to indorsing a presidential
candidate this time among mem
bers Of the 27-man AFL-CIOI
Executive Council, which runs
the Is million member organiza-
ton. But the objections of Presi-.
dent George Meany and others
we're brushed aside and the fed
Grafton went about for Mr.. Ste
venSon.
One effect of the election will
be to make it highly unlikely
that the AFL-CIO will indorse
q presidential candidate in 1860.
Mr.. Meany argued the Fed
Grafton would be more effective
by concentrating efforts on elect
ing pro-labor candidates to key
Senate and House seats. He
thought privately they could be
almost as helpful to- the Steven
son cause without climbing out
on the limb Of Endorsement.
Short of Ultimate Goal
In the Senate and House races
the AFL-CIO apparently had a
rather high batting average, al
though THEY fell considerably
short of their ultimate objective
of a pro-labor Congress.
Reelection of Senator Morse
in Oregon would be hailed by
labor as a big victory. as will the
apparent election of Joseph
Clark over Senator Duff in
Pennsylvania, and John A. Car
roll, Democrat, over President
Eisenhower's friend. former Gov
ernor Dan Thornton, in a close
Colorado Senate race. Senator
Morse is leading narrowly.
In key Senate races in New
York and Ohio, union sentiment
was badly split. Labor officials
will not be too unhappy that
State Attorney General Jacob
Javits defeated New York Mayor
Robert F. Wagner. When in
the House Mr.. Jayits had pro-
labor record. The unions didn't
care particularly for either Gov.
Frank Lausche or Senator
Bender IN Ohio, although the
AFL, still not merged with the
CLIO at the State level, Endorsed
Senator Bender.
Because the huge United Auto
mobile Workers are better organ
lied politically than any other
union, the labor vote always has
been most influential in Michi-
gan. There JAW President Wal
ter P. Reuther's close friend. Gov.
G. Mennen Williams was re-
elected by wide margin, and it
seemed likely only one of the
Democratic House members.
mostly labor candidates would
lose. But Mr.. Reuther also
worked hard for Mr.. Stevenson
who lost the State by 100000.
Endorsements Not Unanimous
AFL-CIO unions were by no
means unanimous in the indorse-
ment OF Mr.. Stevenson. Notable
exceptions were the largest
union. the powerful Transfers,
and the Carpenters. Teamster
President Dave Beck supported
Mr.. Eisenhower, as did the top
officers of the Carpenters.
But the leaders of the ALL
C1O Committee on Political Edu-
cation, Jack Knoll and James c.
McDevitt. believed a heavy union
vote was registered. COPE aides
figured that a ratio of about two
OF three union members who
registered would vote for MIR
Stevenson. They apparently were
incorrect in that estimate.
COPE set a goal of SO million
dollar contribution to support its
political efforts. 1t apparently
fell considerably short, although
flnal figures have not been re-
leased.
The AFL has been in politics
in a big way for only eight years
the CLIO for IL. AFL-CIO Vice
President Joseph D. keenan,. one
OF labor'S most active political
figures, has said it would take
about 20 years for the unions tC
weld a truly effective politica,
organization and he added I'VE
are about halfway there"
Also tending to make the
union political effort less potent
was the fact that the AFL anc
CIO organizations have not beer
merged in any of the big in.
dustrial States.