The Pittsburgh Press (July 23, 1944)
May spend $6 million –
CIO throwing big war chest to Democrats
Hillman and Murray come out for Truman
Chicago, Illinois – (July 22)
Sidney Hillman, political spokesman of the CIO, three to the Democratic Roosevelt-Truman ticket today the support of two independent political committees, which have a potential campaign war chest of $6 million.
Mr. Hillman, chairman of the CIO Political Action Committee, disclosed at a press conference that the Political Action committee would take an active part in the 1944 campaign despite earlier indications that it would remain dormant until after Nov. 7. Mr. Hillman also heads the National Citizens’ Political Action Committee, an organization established under CIO leadership to embrace groups outside the labor movement.
Both can contribute
Under the Hatch Act ceiling on expenditures of political committees, the CIO-PAC and the new group apparently could spread $3 million each during the campaign.
He told a press conference that the PAC would continue its work soliciting voting registrations and would “see that people come to vote for Roosevelt and Truman.” Its activity henceforth will be financed by voluntary contributions from CIO members, Mr. Hillman said.
Voluntary contributions
The CIO first announced it would seek voluntary contributions of one dollar from CIO members in connection with plans to establish a new “National Citizens’ Political Action Committee.” It also announced that funds of the CIO-PAC – contributions from union treasures – would be frozen until after Nov. 7 to comply with the Smith-Connally Act’s prohibition on union contributions in connection with political campaigns.
Those CIO announcements then were interpreted to mean that the one-dollar contributions would go to the new committee, which includes representatives from outside the labor movement although it is also under the chairmanship of Mr. Hillman.
To meet Aug. 5
Mr. Hillman said today, however, that the CIO members’ contributions would go to the CIO-PAC and that the NCPAC would make its appeal to persons outside the labor movement. Under questioning of reporters, he insisted he had never said the PAC would be dormant between the national conventions and the general election but that he had said only that the funds from union treasuries would be frozen.
Mr. Hillman said the executive committee of the Citizens’ Committee would meet in New York about Aug. 5 to plan its campaign and that the new organization must determine its relationship with the CIO-PAC.
CIO President Philip Murray interrupted at one point to assert that the committee “certainly will be operating within the law.” When a reporter said he was interested in the CIO’s interpretation of the law, Mr. Murray suggested such questions should be left to the committee and its counsel.
He held the Citizens’ Committee had been created in response “to the call of public-spirited groups,” but that it would set up its own organization and the CIO could not speak for it.
Although the CIO leaders had been active in efforts to renominate Vice President Henry A. Wallace, Mr. Murray said they were “eminently satisfied” with the nomination of Senator Harry S. Truman for the Vice Presidency.
He said:
We are deeply conscious of the fact that the liberal elements of the Democratic Party made splendid progress in the convention. The party is presenting two liberal candidates. It is the avowed purpose of the CIO to give every possible degree of support to President Roosevelt and Senator Harry Truman.