Labor and the Elections

Those of us engaged in what is loosely called “the New Politics” have been told for some time that we cannot succeed without the labor movement. And we believe it: there was a conspicuous effort in 1970 by peace candidates, antiwar liberals-and even students-to reach the working class. The general failure of this effort, particularly in the East, where the Jim Buckleys had an easier time courting workers than the Joe Duffeys, raises problems for labor and those who insist on its primacy in any progressive politics.

Of course organized labor is divided into many houses-some of which, such as the UAW, are now against the war, and most of which campaigned effectively for liberal congressmen in 1970. Still the single most ...