Snubs for A.D.A.

Is Americans for Democratic Action an albatross around the Democratic Party's neck? By last week it was clear that the Democratic high command thought so. No sooner had Massachusetts State Treasurer Foster Furcolo, a Democrat, told A.D.A. that its political efforts backfired (TIME, Dec. 21) than A.D.A.ers found they were being snubbed by Democratic National Chairman Stephen Mitchell. On a TV panel show in Philadelphia, Mitchell ignored an involved question from an A.D.A.er in the audience, merely quipped: "I'm certainly glad to see a member of the A.D.A. in person. I've read a lot about you A.D.A.ers, but never saw a real live one until now."* Two weeks later, in Chicago, again on TV, Mitchell cut deeper. Said he: "The A.D.A. has been developed ... in the press and by Republican speakers . . .

out of proportion to ... the organization's size or importance ... I think we can get along without [its endorsement] all right." He contrasted A.D.A. with the C.I.O.; the C.I.O., he said meaningfully, is "very responsible, very important."

To soothe stunned A.D.A.ers, Mitchell wrote them a clarifying letter with a, friendly tone, but he did not take back his remarks.

* Not quite true, since Adlai Stevenson's 1952 campaign braintrust included two top A.D.A. men, onetime Housing Expediter Wilson Wyatt and Columnist-Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr.

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