[EM] Wilson-Pakula - an odd New York law

[Dave Ketchum]

Parties could not tolerate voters making THEIR OWN choices - but it took 
three strikes to fire Vito!

-------- Original Message --------
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:32:59 -0400
From: Dave Ketchum <davek at clarityconnect.com>

This law had what seems like a simple purpose - Republicans and Democrats
were DESPERATE to end the embarrassment of having a Congressman from NY
from the American Labor Party (some called him a Communist).  When I read
of him I see a DEDICATED servant of his district and others.

A COMPLETE failure as to the law's original purpose.

So - why do we not let it die - or at least let it rest in peace?  Because
minor parties find a use - and now even major parties join in.

Vito Marcantonio was WELL LIKED.  Therefore when he expressed an interest
in becoming a Congressman it happened.  Consider:
       His own party nominated him.
       Some of East Harlem was Republican - they could not do less.
       Some of East Harlem was Democrat - they could not do less.

1947 - Republicans and Democrats pass Wilson-Pakula

1948 - Will not matter if voters sign petitions to nominate a candidate
from outside the party unless party committees approve - which Rep and Dem
committees dare not do for Vito.  But American Labor Party voters still
have the right to place Vito on their line - and voters from all parties
can and do vote for him so he gets reelected.

1950 - Republicans and Democrats join with the Liberal Party to place one
replacement for Vito on three lines, so Vito was out after serving 14 years.

Couple quotes about Vito:

http://users.rcn.com/redpost/life.html

Vito Marcantonio: His Life and Milieu

Marcantonio's connection with the Communist movement released a firestorm
of opposition. The press campaign intended to discredit Marcantonio, in
its scope and the extent of its vilification, has perhaps been unequaled
in the entire history of New York City politics. In 1944 his district was
gerrymandered to include Yorkville, an area south of East Harlem whose
major ethic groups.expressed hostility to left politics. The Wilson-Pakula
Act of 1947 prevented him from entering the major-party primaries, thereby
necessitating his running solely on the American Labor Party line at a
time when it was almost universally identified as Communist controlled.
And ultimately in 1950, he was defeated by the "gang up," a coalition
candidate of the Democratic, Republican and Liberal Parties. Only the
"gang up" could allow Marcantonio's relatively poor showing in Yorkville
to overcome the undying loyalty of his East Harlem bastions.

Aside from Public School 50 located in El Barrio, which was named for him,
no other memorial to date has been raised in memory of this politician who
when he died had an estate worth less than $10,000, and who in 1950 when
faced with almost inevitable defeat could rise to his feet and declare in
the House of Representatives: "I have stood by the fundamental principles
which I have always advocated, I have not trimmed. I have not retreated, I
do not apologize, and I am not compromising."
-- 
  davek at clarityconnect.com    people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/davek
  Dave Ketchum   108 Halstead Ave, Owego, NY  13827-1708   607-687-5026
            Do to no one what you would not want done to you.
                  If you want peace, work for justice.