WLB sets guide for transit pay
Regional average used in two cases
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Both parties plan drives to get out vote
Migratory workers and women wooed
Washington (UP) – (April 8)
Republican and Democratic leaders, confronted by reports of possibly light balloting in the November elections, tonight directed “get-out-the-vote” campaigns at two groups capable of influencing the outcome of the White House race – women and migratory war workers.
The importance of these groups is heightened by uncertainty among party chieftains over the soldier vote.
A GOP spokesman estimated that 85 million civilians would be eligible – but not necessarily qualified – to vote in the coming elections.
GOP woos women
In an obvious nod to the new regard with which women are regarded by the Republican Party, a special committee appointed by National Chairman Harrison E. Spangler has agreed to recommend to the party’s nominating convention – which opens in Chicago June 26 – that there be equal representation of men and women on the Resolutions Committee. The plan would place women in a position of influencing the party platform generally.
The number of migratory war workers who will cast votes is problematical and of concern to leaders of both parties. Thousands, for example, have moved from the Democratic Solid South to borderline states in the Midwest. In a close vote, their ballots would be decisive.
Difficulties faced
However, it was conceded that state laws would render some ineligible and general apathy toward registration would cut deeper into this potential vote which Democratic spokesmen say will go for President Roosevelt if he seeks a fourth term.
Republicans do not concede the possible loss of these potential voters, however, and workers in the field are actively at work in registration efforts.
It is no secret that Democratic bigwigs want as heavy a vote as possible in the presidential contest. Generally light votes are cited by the Democratic National Committee as an important reason for repeated reversals which the party has suffered at byelections since 1940.
Primary election interest lagging
Most candidates are lying low
By Kermit McFarland
Although the primary election is only a little more than two weeks away, there is little evidence to show that more than a handful are aware of it.
Even the professional politicians are looking beyond the April 25 date and, with a scant few exceptions, the candidates are lying low.
There are no “contests” in Allegheny County, in the sense that they have developed into active fights.
Republicans in dispute
In three of the five Congressional districts, the Republican Congressional nominations are in dispute, with five candidates in each of the three districts. But even in these “races,” activity is at a minimum.
The Republicans also present one contest for a State Senate seat and contests for legislative nominations in eight of the 13 districts.
Political attention mostly looks beyond the primary to the special session of the Legislature which will convene in Harrisburg May 1 and to the Republican National Convention which starts in Chicago June 26.
Short special session
Governor Edward Martin and legislative and political leaders in both parties are apparently in accord on a soldier vote law and both sides expect the sessions to be dispatched in a minimum of time.
Unless a snag develops, the session can be completed in less than five days. By starting the soldier vote bill through one branch of the Legislature Monday, May 1, it can be sent to the Governor’s desk shortly after midnight Friday morning.
Some effort is being made to induce Mr. Martin to include other subjects in the call for the special session, but he has insisted on limiting the call to the one issue.
Two other items asked
Rep. Thomas J. Heatherington (D-Versailles Township) yesterday urged the Governor to add two items to his call, providing for action on legislation to permit municipalities to spend “post-war surplus accumulations” wherever “local emergencies arise,” and to permit local governments to buy federal war surplus property without advertising for bids.
The main topic of debate in local political circles in the presidential nomination.
While most political leaders are confident Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York will be nominated on an early ballot, there is still some fear that Mr. Dewey may decide not to be a candidate.
Little interest in Vice President
There is little interest, at the moment, in possible candidates for the nomination of Vice President, although Chief Justice George W. Maxey of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is reportedly active as a candidate for this nomination.
On the Democratic side, there is some evidence of support for Senator Harry S. Truman (D-MO), chairman of the committee investigating the war effort, as a running mate for President Roosevelt. Senator Truman will speak to a meeting of the Allegheny County Motor Truck Association here Friday and will return in May to address the Democratic Jackson Day dinner.
Stokes: Poker is made political issue in Indianapolis
GOP blamed for raid on New Dealer’s game
By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer
Indianapolis, Indiana – (April 8)
If you are politically minded, it’s always a delight to come into these precincts, for they take their politics between meals here as well.
They like their poker, too. And when you can mix poker and politics, that’s superfine.
That’s a concoction being served up in the gossip in the lobby of the Claypool Hotel, the political hangout.
It all has to do with a police raid here a few days ago on the Claypool apartment of John K. Jennings, a Democrat, state War Manpower Commission director, who was entertaining five friends, also local bigshots, at their weekly poker party. They were all taken to police headquarters.
Poker’s ‘patron saint’
Mr. Jennings, formerly state WPA director, was pretty indignant, particularly at the rough tactics – they bashed in the door – and at the invasion of his home. He refused bond, saying he was willing to become “the patron saint of poker.”
The police captain sent them home, and the next day the judge dismissed the case. It was all a mistake – or so it was said they were looking for a well-known confidence man who was supposed to be running a game, it was explained.
But the poker fans are making this a cause celebre, and are blaming the city Republican administrations and Mayor Robert Tyndall, a former Army officer. Some say it may react badly against Republicans.
Won’t swing election
But it’s very doubtful that even a poker revolution would be enough to swing this state Democratic this fall – at least that’s what the politically wise say.
There’s one place you can get a different opinion – and quite naturally. That’s over in the Capitol in the office of Governor Henry Schricker – “Hank” they call him. The Governor, a folksy fellow and the greatest vote-getter of modern times in this state, has a right to the extreme view.
He was the only Democrat who survived the Republican avalanche four years ago.
He is being pressed to run for Senator, with the idea that maybe his name on the ballot might help the President, and maybe some way or other add up to a Democratic victory. It’s just a chance. He hasn’t announced formally yet, but it’s pretty certain he’ll run.
President stands good chance
He spun his theory of why he thinks President Roosevelt can carry the state. Wendell Willkie, he says, would run the best race in Indiana among Republicans. Mr. Willkie now is out. He says there is no real enthusiasm for either Governor Thomas E. Dewey or Governor John Bricker among the people. In the end, he thinks the people of Indiana – or enough of them – are going to decide that President Roosevelt had better be left there to finish the war and manage the peace.
A hot contest is on for the Republican senatorial nomination, to be decided at the convention in early May, between Homer Capehart, who rolled into rich on the jukebox, and 26-year-old James M. Tucker, former Indiana Secretary of State, who was recently discharged from active service as a naval lieutenant because of a wound incurred at Salerno.
Army and CAA clash over airport here
Buildings proposed on site of runways
By Robert Taylor, Press Washington writer
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Bradley hits at pessimists in Washington
Calls high losses gossip tommy-rot
By Col. Frederick Palmer, North American Newspaper Alliance
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Chaplains given bronze stars
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Second anniversary of surrender –
Another April 9 may see Bataan score settled
String of Allied victories in past 2 years rolls Japs back toward Philippines
By Reuel S. Moore, United Press staff writer
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I DARE SAY —
The movies are looking up and deserve a bit of back-patting!
By Florence Fisher Parry
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Una a hit in stage comeback
Role is changed for Miss Merkel
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Hillman asks ALP to draft Roosevelt
Wisconsin vote shows how reactionary forces grip GOP, CIO leader says
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‘Grease’ letter spurs Smith to CIO probe
Biddle report scorned as too one-sided
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
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Poll: Roosevelt top Democratic choice in South
Republicans favor Dewey, MacArthur
By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion
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An internee reports –
Hunger and invasion may crack Germany; bombs, leaflets won’t
Correspondent finds few weak spots in Hitler’s home front armor
By Philip Whitcomb, North American Newspaper Alliance
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Perkins: Dewey and labor unions
By Fred W. Perkins, Press Washington correspondent
Washington –
Some weeks ago, this writer reported conversations with Midwest labor leaders as meaning that Wendell Willkie had the best chance among Republican presidential possibilities of cracking the labor vote that has gone predominantly to President Roosevelt in three elections.
But now that Mr. Willkie is apparently extinguished as a possibility, opinions may be found among Washington leaders of the American Federation of Labor that Thomas E. Dewey is capable of winning considerable support from this part of the electorate. The same opinion has not been found among leaders of the CIO – that organization being apparently as determined as ever to go down the line for a fourth term.
A nationally known power in the AFL who declined to be quoted directly because of his organization’s policy of not becoming active in party politics, says:
I’ll not try to kid you – most of our people are likely to support Roosevelt again. But Dewey will have strong support among our membership.
This leader said Governor Dewey had won many labor friends through public opposition to certain “anti-labor” bills that were introduced in the last session of the New York Legislature – similar to laws which were enacted in nearly a dozen states. he declared it was largely due to the Governor’s influence that these bills were allowed to die in New York legislative committees.
Friendly to labor
The AFL leader said it will not be possible to hang an anti-labor tag on Mr. Dewey merely because of his prosecution of labor racketeers in New York City. The same thought apparently was in the mind of Thomas A. Murray, president of the New York State Federal of Labor, when he introduced the Governor at the convention of that organization last August.
Mr. Murray said of him:
As a federal prosecutor and as the District Attorney of New York County, he made a reputation for brilliant and fearless crusading in the cause of justice, which won for him the highest honor our state can bestow. As Governor of the State of New York, he has demonstrated a friendly and sympathetic attitude to the cause of organized labor and to the program of social and economic legislation to which we have dedicated ourselves.
Governor Dewey also addressed last year’s convention of the New York State CIO, and the two speeches now are being scanned for indication of the labor attitude of the unannounced candidate. Together they seem to furnish a more definite idea of the Dewey ideas on the labor subject than on some other important questions.
To the CIO, he said:
It is true that we still have labor organizations that are run along undemocratic lines. We still have instances of the misuse of union funds, of careless and slipshod accounting, or no accounting at all to the members of their hard-earned dues.
We still encounter instances of unjustified strikes, violent and unfair picketing and destructive raiding by one union of the membership of a rival union. But on the other hand, only a fool in management would wish to destroy the sense of security and usefulness which comes to workingmen when they are ably represented by honest labor leadership which believes in the American enterprise system.
Regimentation
The Governor’s AFL speech, which has been highly commended by AFL leaders, contained a statement which will please people outside the labor movement who contend that no strike, for whatever reason, can be justified when the country is in a great war. It was:
We know that winning the war is greater than the issue involved in any strike, yet it is too easy to let little issues become big issues which roll up and multiply into strikes.
To the AFL, Mr. Dewey also said:
Under the pressure of war, we have all willingly submitted to restraints by the national government which are foreign to our most vital principles… A multiplicity of federal regulations have been promulgated governing hours, wages and conditions of employment. In large measure these regulations supersede the functions of collective bargaining and take its place. They have superseded private management, too, and in some cases they have even take the plants away from the owners when they were admittedly without fault.
In time of war such an abridgement of the rights of everyone is probably inescapable, but it is a condition which can only be justified by the sacrifices of war. We are fighting to make sure that such totalitarian conditions cannot exist in time of peace.
Is this a kind of fighting with windmills? Some people in high places have already advocated that wartime controls be made a permanent part of government.
The Governor continued:
So that we shall truly regain and keep the vital freedoms for which we fight today. I invite you to join with all your vigor in the struggle to restore them at the end of the war. We can be neither free nor strong in a peacetime regimented economy. We can be both free and strong if we recover for labor and enterprise the dignity and unfettered strength which only free men can enjoy.