could not work actively for Taft without political and economic repercussions.48 The

Taft leadership then took it upon itself to create a body of unionists who would

campaign actively for their candidate and against the CIO-PAC. An undated memo

circulated to campaign staff claimed that Taft was held in high esteem by the general

union membership and argued that an organization of workers for Taft would

encourage undecided laborers to support his candidacy. More importantly, it would

"throw confusion into the opposing camp and in itself would be a diversionary device

which would take a lot of the time and attention away from the Senator."49

 Although the Taft group planned to establish local Labor League committees

throughout the state and sign up a total of 200,000 members by election day, they fell

far short of their membership goals. A press release from September 28 claimed a

membership of just over 10,000. The Labor League, however, generated a good deal

of publicity and gave the appearance of a Taft-following among organized workers. It

published a short newsletter titled Buckeye Labor News and provided a well-funded

but numerically weaker alternative to the CIO-PAC. The Taft organization was

obviously pleased with the LLFT's performance, as it was subsequently recreated two

years later in Wisconsin, the most industrial state Taft entered during the 1952

presidential primary, but there is little evidence that the group rallied unionists in any

meaningful way.50




48 In an undated letter likely written in 1949, Taft told Don L. Fernandez, editor of the Tri-County
Labor Press, "I know [supporting me] was a difficult position for a labor paper to take, but I feel that
the result of the election showed that you represented at least as many union labor members as did the
so-called leaders of labor unions." Taft to Don L. Fernandez, undated, Box 307, Taft Papers.

49 Memo, undated, Box 683, Taft Papers.

50 Quotation from Cincinnati Enquirer, August 14, 1950; press release, Labor League for Taft,
September 28, 1950, Box 298, Taft Papers; Unsigned, Memo to Taft, 5 February 1952, Box 455, Taft
Papers.