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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT Forty-three Months of Maw His Excellency concocted his administration. MAW IGNORED OBLIGATIONS TO LABOR Labor should remember the attitude of His Excellency toward its recommendations during the heyday of his power when he filled in the State in virtually 1941, particularly every important office Government. No one will that the unwavering support given Maw deny in his 1940 campaign by the labor organizations—particularly the CIO—saved the day for him. Conservative estimates attribute more than 50% of the Maw vote to labor. Yet, in spite of that staunch support, and in spite of his moral obligations to recognize labor, the Governor gave those stalwart supporters scant consideration. One State Commissioner- ship—William M. Knerr—and three or four minor jobs seemed to have been Maw’s idea of the recognition due to the men and women who actually elected him. In the face ent protest of violent from opposition virtually and Governor appointed Wendell Grover Industrial Commission—designated man of the Commission. mission to is a labor. ment Union of interest State Grover And agency of protests were of the Industrial against no avail. Similarly were ignored. as approachable as the If there be any of them possessing first-hand make even stronger statements. Similarly, in the formulation labor was left out in the cold. either or unwelcome were and vital agencies, was about of any here. Many information will of State Policy, Its views were callously ganization’ as a State Policy. have been able to tossed to one side. Labor’s legislative program could not even he discussed with the Executive. A number of Senators and Representatives came to Labor’s rescue, but that was all. Everything was sidetracked for the Governor’s “State Reorganization” scheme, and labor was not consulted as to that. Under cover of the word “Reorganization”, learn, in “State Reor- And, so far as we neither did His Excel- lency consult any other party group. With the exception of a few bombastic hints dropped here and there among favored Democratic leaders, nothing at all was known about his scheme by the people who elected him until it was about to be submitted to the Legislature. Well organized opposition. Not ballyhoo what He were reach to run into full flower. all Governor ac- the assured millennium the smothered do, his opponents and Meanwhile, the Great himself. upon The Maw knowing tually planned to were tongue-tied. political Those who are not tied un to Maw, made the adoption by the Governor of the doubt in the mind will confirm every assertion of State affairs, labor was not consulted importance reader about the accuracy of these statements, any leader in Rail, CIO, and AFL unions should be consulted. tion outdid appoint- But that’s another story. In spite of its heavy vote for Maw, and its corresponding right to a voice in the administra- iser the The Governor farthest star. sity of Utah. Com- Labor’s in other State Commissions the to the State him chair- infinite concentrate new and vast powers over State departments and State money in his own hands. And his arbitrary and irresponsible use of those powers brought some departments of the State Government to the verge of collapse, and almost disrupted orderly administration of the Univer- vehem- every labor group, a half-baked scheme to happy was people of of His about Utah. millions. magnitude the critics Prom- world to State Democracy Excellency’s that descend savings was to adolescent dreams and magnificent promises caught the entire State of Utah off guard. The people took the bait, hook, line, and sinker. And before they awoke from their torpor Maw’s scheme had been enacted into law. Little else was permitted to come But before the Legislature. shortly afterward when the Reorganiza- tion scheme proved to be an expensive flop, resentment flared throughout the State. The people were peeved at Maw for having been hoodwinked by him, and were even more peeved at themselves for being soft-headed enough to fall for such a preposterous scheme. The shabby organizations neglect in 1941 Maw dished carried on out to labor until repeated exposures by the Searchlight forced His Excellency to alter his course somewhat. Thereafter he gave superficial lip-service to labor’s needs. But Continued on page 6 |