ALP names union chief for Congress
Municipal workers head chosen to make race in new 14th
James V. King, president of the CIO-affiliated State, County and Municipal Workers, has become the first member of the American Labor Party to be entered as a candidate in Brooklyn’s 1944 Congressional race, it was learned today.
Petitions designating him to run in the new 14th Congressional district, as established under the State Reapportionment Act, have been placed in circulation with the leaders setting 10,000 signatures as their goal. The district is one of several in Brooklyn, where the ALP outranks the Republicans as the runner-up to the Democrats in strength.
The new district has no Representative in Washington now and must elect one for the first time in November. This has produced a wide and open field to the Democratic, Republican and Labor parties, with the latter becoming the first to reach a definite agreement on its candidate. The district consists of the new 2nd and 16th ADs and includes Coney Island, much of the area which touches Gravesend Bay south of 16th Avenue and a large part of the Kings Highway section.
Ready to fight
The ALP’s selection of King is regarded as the first confirmation of the party’s determination to fight both the Democrats and Republicans, in certain districts, if necessary, in order to win a share of Brooklyn’s legislative offices. Although the party in recent years endorsed numerous Democratic and a more limited number of Republicans, no ALP member now holds an elective office from Brooklyn.
The only Democrats who have been assured to date of ALP endorsements for reelection are Irwin Steingut, the Democratic minority leader in the Assembly at Albany, and Rep. Emanuel Celler. A “limited number” of others will be endorsed, according to ALP leaders, with such backing being based on the candidates’ support of President Roosevelt’s fourth term and his New Deal administration policies.
Rayfiel mentioned
The Democratic leaders controlling their party’s slate in the 14th Congressional district have reached no decision on their choice. They are Kenneth F. Sutherland, the Coney Island leader, and Joseph B. Whitty of the 2nd AD. However, the name of Assemblyman Leo F. Rayfiel has been prominently mentioned.
King is one of the ALP’s most experienced members in legislative procedure. He has gone frequently to Albany, where he has appeared at legislative hearings in support of progressive legislation. As legislative spokesman for the State, County and Municipal Workers, he has been active to obtain an adjustment in the wage standards of thousands of low-paid state hospital workers.
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