ABSTRACT
The Governor advocated a Fair Employment Practices Act similar to the one defeated in 1945, a state wage and hours law, and increased unemployment compensation benefits. During the legislative session, the Governor’s legislative counsel, Harry Klaus, also appeared in favor of labor’s peaceful persuasion bill, arguing that Massachusetts should bring its injunction laws into compliance with United States Supreme Court rulings. The Fair Employment Practices bill was enacted over employer opposition when several church groups and women’s clubs joined with the racial groups and labor organizations supporting this legislation. Much of the labor campaign was devoted to disputing the claims that the referendum’s sponsors were the friends of the working man. The unprecedented Democratic success in the statewide elections of 1948 marked a significant turning point in Massachusetts political history as well as in the postwar legislative battles on labor legislation.
