Ferguson: Equal rights
By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
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Background of news –
Dewey and the labor vote
By Jay G. Hayden
Seattle, Washington –
Sidney Hillman’s CIO Political Action Committee is both the main organizational bulwark and the greatest single threat to President Roosevelt’s fourth-term candidacy.
Due partly to its own aggressiveness, but more to division of the Democratic Party, the PAC has assumed pro-Roosevelt leadership in nearly all the dozen states that Governor Thomas E. Dewey’s campaign train has traversed in the last 10 days.
With only two or three exceptions, the basic pattern in these states, stretching from New York and Pennsylvania to Montana and Washington, is the same.
Ever since 1938, Republicans have been winning state and local elections, until today they all but monopolize the non-federal public payrolls. Old-line Democrats not only have lost incentive (private jobs pay better, anyhow, these days) but a great many of them blame Mr. Roosevelt for their fall from political power. In most of the states visited, the PAC took over the New Deal driver’s seat because no one else seemed to want it.
There are notable exceptions to the latter rule, as in Montana, where the bitterest sort of struggle for control of the Democratic Party is being waged. The principal contestants in Montana are now the veteran Senator Burton K. Wheeler, notoriously anti-Roosevelt, and former Congressman Jerry J. O’Connell, now state director of the PAC.
CIO leader currently on top
Mr. O’Connell presently is on too, to the extent that the Democratic nominee for governor, Leif Erickson, is his man.
Mr. Wheeler, in 1940, engineered the defeat of the O’Connellite Democratic Governor Ayres by the simple process of backing his Republican opponent, Sam C. Ford.
The point of the matter is that Mr. Wheeler must face the voters himself in 1946 and hence his political life is more than ever at stake. He certainly is supporting Governor Ford again this year and the hope of Mr. Dewey’s managers in Montana rests largely on the calculation that Mr. Wheeler especially cannot afford to permit President Roosevelt to carry his state, if it is within his power to prevent it.
Similarly in Idaho, the CIO sored a signal victory when the conservative Democratic Senator, D. Worth Clark, was defeated for renomination by the cowboy crooner, Glenn Taylor. All straw votes taken in Idaho have placed it in the Republican column this year, both for President and Senator, a condition attributed in large part to dissatisfaction of Senator Clark and other old-school Democrats because of the rising power of the CIO in their party.
Union rivalry a factor
In Washington, likewise the intra-Democratic ferment is working, but in somewhat different fashion. The friction here is not so much between the Hillmanites and the old-school Democrats as it is among rival factions of organized labor.
Dave Beck, West Coast head of the AFL Teamsters, seemed well on his way toward running everything in this state until one Arthur B. Langlie arose to put him in his place, first as Mayor of Seattle and then as Governor.
The rising power of the CIO within the Democratic Party now has faced Mr. Beck with a new threat.
This intraunion strife is illustrated in the Seattle Congressional district, where Rep. Warren G. Magnuson stepped out to run for Senator. The Democratic nominee for Mr. Magnuson’s seat is Hugh De Lacy, a college professor, who was backed by the CIO. Against him, the Republicans have nominated Robert Harlan, who was state president of John L. Lewis’ United Mine Workers until he was named state director of labor.
The effectiveness of the attempt Mr. Dewey is preparing to make to coin this labor division into votes for himself is likely to prove the most interesting phase of his drive all the way from Seattle to Los Angeles this week.
Cables from prisoners
New York –
Red Cross officials have been notified that American prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East will be permitted by the Jap government to send 10-word cable messages collect to their families in the United States.
In Washington –
Senate yields to House on reconversion
Drops demand for more benefits
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No Pearl Harbor action expected
Washington (UP) –
Rep. Forest A. Harness (R-IN) said today he would press for prompt consideration of his resolution for a special investigation of the Pearl Harbor disaster, but all indications pointed toward a delay until at least after the November elections.
Mr. Harness said a principal obstacle was that of getting the resolution cleared by the House Rules Committee, since Committee Chairman Adolph Smith (D-IL) is not in the Capital.
Another obstacle, however, is the fact that leaders do not want to consider new legislation before an election recess.
This virtually destroys Mr. Harness’ purpose of having the investigation before the election. He told the House that if President Roosevelt was “not responsible for the Pearl Harbor disaster, he could be cleared promptly of such grave and serious charges.”
He said:
On the other hand, if, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he has been culpable in directing our military activities in Hawaii, the American people should have the facts before they are called upon to pass judgment on his fitness for reelection to a fourth term as President.
The Harness Resolution followed several days of Republican speechmaking blaming Mr. Roosevelt for American unpreparedness at Pearl Harbor when the Japs made their surprise attack.
New superfuel plant placed in production
Unit to cost $100,000 a year to operate
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Dinah Shore returns
New York –
Singer Dinah Shore arrived at LaGuardia Field today aboard an Air Transport Command plane after a six-week tour of Britain and France. Other members of the USO camp shows unit returning with Miss Shore were comedian Sammy Walsh, pianist Picket Freeman and magician Harry Mendoza.
Post-war planners urge overhauling of U.S. tax system
Elimination of levy on corporation income and curb on excise charges suggested
By Beardsley Ruml, written for United Press
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Stokes: Dewey on labor
By Thomas L. Stokes
With Dewey party, Seattle, Washington –
Governor Dewey made a bold bid in his Seattle speech for labor votes, a major factor in the election, on the theory that enough of labor, particularly of the conservative type undoubtedly enlarged by war prosperity, is ready to break away from the New Deal if approached with a sound progressive program.
That is what he offered. He talked in New Deal accents. Right-wingers could get no comfort from his speech, nor could extreme left-wingers.
He proposed to take nothing from labor that it now has in guarantees written in law by the New Deal. He promised better and more direct administration of these laws. He offered labor higher wages in an expanding economy, which has become his major theme.
Two aspects of New Deal labor administration and policy are vulnerable for indictment. The Republican presidential candidate seized them and made a bill of particulars to which realistic New Dealers themselves must subscribe privately.
One is the multiplicity of agencies through which labor cases have to go, often, as Governor Dewey so strikingly illustrated, creating confusion doubly confounded, and causing delay from which labor groups suffer.
Favoritism for CIO
The other is the obviously political complexion of some New Deal labor decisions, with favoritism for the CIO, illustrated by the CIO plump for President Roosevelt, taken so far in advance that that section of labor lost some of its political effectiveness.
This was shown by two defeats – the dumping of Vice President Wallace at Chicago, and the passage of a reconversion bill in Congress which it finds most unsatisfactory.
Very cleverly the Republican candidate exploited the controversy and delay in the steel case before the War Labor Board, centering about the attempt to break down the “Little Steel” formula.
“The strategy of delay,” he said, “sets the stage for a great gesture – a big favor to labor before Election Day,” but he added pointedly this is something to which “labor is justly entitled” without representing it as “a special gift from on high from the New Deal.”
When he went on record against the Smith-Connally Act, which labor so detests, he neglected to mention that President Roosevelt had vetoed it, only to have Congress pass it over his veto.
The difficulty that Governor Dewey faces in trying to win labor over to the Republican side was revealed in his speech. All he could find of labor reforms in the last 30 years which he could credit to Republicans was President Taft’s creation of a Cabinet post for labor and the Railway Mediation Act of 1926.
Filibuster recalled
And the latter was sponsored first by Alben Barkley, present Senate Democratic leader, then a House member. The Republican leadership of the House fought it.
The writer recalls sitting in the House Press Gallery through one night when a Republican filibuster, engineered by then Speaker Longworth, scuttled that measure for the time being.
Republican difficulties have been further emphasized on this transcontinental tour. To his labor conferences held at every stop, the Republican candidate has been able to attract only small-fry figures. Everywhere, too, his aides have received reports of effective registration by CIO’s PAC in the cities.
It was significant that Governor Dewey did not even mention the PAC. Lesser Republican lights will do that job.
The Republican Party was once the party of labor. The exodus to the Democratic Party began in 1916.
After that, the Democrats slowly improved their standing with labor and it was ready for its big parade to the Democrats when President Roosevelt capitalized the lack of attention to labor by Republicans during the ‘20s and created the New Deal party.
Governor Dewey thus has a handicap in party heritage. But he could not have gone much further in trying to overcome it.
What will Johnny be like when he comes home?
Wecter: ‘Love’ is returning soldier’s prime need
Understanding and encouragement needed to help him readjust his life
By Dixon Wecter
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‘Seeing Paris burn really got me,’ says Ernie Pyle on return to U.S.
Perfect physically, ‘inside I feel awful’
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Allen: Cousin unwanted at White House – if it’s Dewey
By Gracie Allen
Hollywood, California –
Well now I’ve heard everything: Some expert has figured out that President Roosevelt and Governor Dewey are related. No fooling.
He has traced their families back to common ancestors – Richard Lyman of Northampton, Massachusetts, and his wife, Hepzibah Ford Lyman, who came to this country in 1630. This makes Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Dewey seventh cousins once removed.
My goodness, Mr. Roosevelt doesn’t want Mr. Dewey to come and live in the White House as it is, without making him a relative to boot.
I can just imagine a scene that might take place at the White House.
The phone rings and Eleanor answers it. Then she says: “Oh, Franklin, it’s that Republican cousin of yours from New York. He wants to come and stay four years.” …you take it from there.
Well, anyway, for once it won’t be the wife’s relatives who cause all the trouble.
Radio station tells FDR ‘lay it on line’
Says ‘report’ was political talk
By Si Steinhauser
A few columns ago, we discussed the possibility of a single radio station refusing its time to presidential broadcasts. A local station manager said “it could be done but I doubt whether anyone would dare do it.” He had never heard of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, or Myles H. Johns, who owns Station WOSH there. Mr. Johns decided for his own ears that President Roosevelt’s “report to the nation,” from Bremerton, Washington, at the end of his Pacific tour was political. He sat down and wrote Governor Dewey that the station offers 37 minutes (the time FDR used) for free to answer Mr. Roosevelt.
Mr. Johns said his action was not political but in keeping with Federal Communications regulations providing that both sides of all controversial questions must be presented and that if a speaker for one side is given free time the other side must be offered equal time to reply.
That done, Station WOSH has served notice that until after Election Day it will carry no more of Mr. Roosevelt’s sustaining talks. In other words, if the President wants to be heard through WOSH his national committee must “pay through the nose.”
Speaking of presidential candidates, America’s Town Meeting of the Air has asked President Roosevelt, Governor Dewey and Socialist candidate Norman Thomas to honor its forum with their presence on Thursday, Oct. 26.
And it overlooked another candidate, Prohibition leader Claude A. Watson, who makes his acceptance speech over WJAS at 1:30 p.m. ET next Sunday. Mr. Watson is a Los Angeles attorney.
WCAE lists Governor Bricker at 9:30 tonight and KDKA lists Governor Dewey at 10:30.
Pays critics no mind –
Perkins: Accused as dictator, fiery John L. Lewis just ups and dictates
UMW Convention is run in usual one-man manner and hold is tightened
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
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U.S. State Department (September 19, 1944)
Note by the Secretaries of CCS
Washington, 19 September 1944
Top secret
CCS 678/1
Planning date for the end of the war against Japan
The President and Prime Minister approved the recommendation of the Combined Chiefs of Staff that the date for the end of the war against Japan, for planning production and for allocation of manpower, should be set at 18 months after the defeat of Germany; this date to be adjusted periodically to conform to the course of the war.
A. J. McFARLAND
A. T. CORNWALL-JONES
Combined Secretariat
The President to the Secretary of State
Hyde Park, September 19, 1944
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
I have had lengthy talks with the Prime Minister in regard to recognition of the Provisional Government in France. He and I are both very much opposed to it at this time. The Provisional Government has no direct authority from the people. It is best to let things go along as they are for the moment.
F D R
Draft of a statement by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill
This was not sent. It was one of many drafts. F D R
[Undated]
The Italian people, freed of their Fascist and Nazi overlordship, have in these last twelve months demonstrated their will to be free, to fight on the side of the democracies, and to take a place among the United Nations devoted to principles of peace and justice.
We believe we should give encouragement to those Italians who are standing for a political rebirth in Italy, and are completing the destruction of the evil Fascist system. We wish to afford the Italians a greater opportunity to aid in the defeat of our enemies.
Italy has made real progress these last twelve months. [and other essential supplies.] We believe the United States and Great Britain should give her [Italy] greater political recognition, and we propose to invite the Italian government to send its own direct representatives to Washington and London, and on our part we will give our representatives at Rome the status of ambassadors.
First and immediate considerations in Italy are the relief of hunger and sickness and fear. To this end we have instructed our representatives at the pending conference of UNRRA to declare for the sending of food and clothing and medical aids to Italy.
Along with this is the need for first steps to be taken [At the same time, first steps should be taken] toward the reconstruction of an Italian economy – an economy wrecked [laid low] under the years of the misrule of Mussolini, and ravished by the German policy of vengeful destruction.
These steps should be taken primarily as military aims to put the full resources of Italy and the Italian people into the struggle to defeat Germany and Japan. We should assist the Italians in the restoration of their power systems, their railways, motor transport, roads and other communications, and send our engineers, technicians and industrial experts into Italy to speed the work of rehabilitation.
The Italian prisoners of war should be given opportunity to volunteer their full efforts in the fight against the enemy, to carry the flag of Italy into battle against Germany and Japan.
We should all look toward that day [We all wish to speed the day] when the last vestiges of Fascism in Italy will have been wiped out, when the last German will have left Italian soil, and when there will be no need of any Allied troops to remain – the day when free elections can be held throughout Italy. [and when Italy can begin to take her own high place in the great family of democratic nations.]
Draft of a statement by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill
Hyde Park, September 19, 1944
The President and the Prime Minister held further discussions Monday and Tuesday at Hyde Park, on subjects dealing with post-war policies in Europe. The result of these discussions cannot be disclosed at this time for strategic military reasons, and pending their consideration by our other Allies.
The present problems in Italy also came under discussion, and on this subject the President and the Prime Minister issued the following statement:
The Italian people, freed of their Fascist and Nazi overlordship, have in these last twelve months demonstrated their will to be free, to fight on the side of the democracies, and to take a place among the United Nations devoted to principles of peace and justice.
We believe we should give encouragement to those Italians who are standing for a political rebirth in Italy, and are completing the destruction of the evil Fascist system. We wish to afford the Italians a greater opportunity to aid in the defeat of our common enemies.
The American and British people are of course horrified by the recent mob action in Rome [the lynching on September 18, 1944, of Dona to Carretta, former vice director of the Regina Coeli Prison], but feel that a greater responsibility placed on the Italian people and on their own government will most readily prevent a recurrence of such acts.
An increasing measure of control will be gradually handed over to the Italian Administration, subject of course to that Administration proving that it can maintain law and order and the regular administration of justice. To mark this change the Allied Control Commission will be renamed “The Allied Commission.”
The British High Commissioner in Italy will assume the additional title of Ambassador. The United States representative in Borne already holds that rank. The Italian Government will be invited to appoint direct representatives to Washington and London.
Our governments are also willing to consider a revision of the present long terms of the Italian armistice, to bring them more in line with the present realistic situation.
First and immediate considerations in Italy are the relief of hunger and sickness and fear. To this end we have instructed our representatives at the pending conference of UNRRA to declare for the sending of food and clothing, medical aids and other essential supplies to Italy.
At the same time, first steps should be taken toward the reconstruction of an Italian economy – an economy laid low under the years of the misrule of Mussolini, and ravished by the German policy of vengeful destruction.
These steps should be taken primarily as military aims to put the full resources of Italy and the Italian people into the struggle to defeat Germany and Japan. For military reasons we should assist the Italians in the restoration of such power systems, their railways, motor transport, roads and other communications as enter into the war situation, and for a short time send engineers, technicians and industrial experts into Italy to help them in their own rehabilitation.
The application to Italy of the Trading with the Enemy Acts should be modified so as to enable business contacts between Italy and the outside world to be resumed on the basis of exchange of goods.
We all wish to speed the day when the last vestiges of Fascism in Italy will have been wiped out, when the last German will have left Italian soil, and when there will be no need of any Allied troops to remain – the day when free elections can be held throughout Italy, and when Italy can earn her proper place in the great family of free nations.