The Pittsburgh Press (August 2, 1944)
Political action boomerang –
Now they say CIO ballyhoo did most to bump Wallace
By Daniel M. Kidney, Scripps-Howard staff writer
Washington –
The big ballyhoo of the CIO Political Action Committee in Chicago did more to bump Vice President Wallace off the Democratic ticket than any other thing, many Democrats and labor representatives here believe.
Convention chairman Senator Samuel Jackson (D-IN), answering the criticism of Mr. Wallace might have been put over by the PAC demonstrators had he not adjourned the convention session July 20, summed up the Democratic viewpoint:
There was no favoritism shown in adjourning at that time. Senator Guffey (D-PA), a Wallace manager, urged me to do so. Had we remained in session, the demonstrators might have gotten out of hand, but the result would have been just the same.
CIO dictation refused
I am convinced the Democratic Party was determined not to take the Vice President against after that showing. Many felt it would mean that the CIO had taken over the part, and they would never stand for that.
Perhaps President Roosevelt’s dictation of a Wallace nomination might have won out, but the party refused to accept such dictation from the CIO.
Senator Jackson conceded that when he was selected as permanent chairman he had the definite view if not the understanding, that Vice President Wallace would not be put in second place on the ticket again.
Poor impression noted
Martin Miller, legislative representative of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, expressed a similar viewpoint about Mr. Wallace and the CIO.
Mr. Miller said:
The convention was poorly handled, so far as making a good impression on the country.
But it soon became obvious that the one determination of the majority of the delegates was that they were not going to be dictated to or dominated by the CIO. That was why Wallace couldn’t win, despite the demonstrators.