CIO Political Action Committee moves to hop over law barrier
Washington (UP) – (June 17)
The CIO Political Action Committee moved today to strengthen its hand in the 1944 presidential campaign by announcing plans for a committee modeled after national political parties, which would be exempt from the Smith-Connally Act’s restraints.
Already committed to support President Roosevelt and Vice President Henry A. Wallace for reelection, the Political Action Committee revealed plans to establish a national committee, with representatives from outside as well as within the ranks of labor, which would receive and spend voluntary contributions from individuals.
The plans were announced at the closing session of a two-day conference attended by 300 delegates representing CIO affiliates.
CIO President Philip Murray and Political Action Committee Chairman Sidney Hillman told the conference that the proposed program would set up machinery for achieving goals ln the platform adopted by the delegates yesterday. They also assailed Governor Dewey of New York and Governor Bricker of Ohio, the principal candidates for the Republican presidential nomination.
While Hillman reiterated that the Political Action Committee had no purge list, he promised that foes of the committee could expect “more surprises” and that changes would be made in the membership of Congress.