ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes description of labor and management political activities during the Christian Herter Administration. Attempting to light a backfire against the Herter reorganization program, Paul A. Dever pointed out that it had been his special message in 1949 which led to the creation of the Baby Hoover Commission, and he warned against a purge of Beacon Hill officials. The party division in the 1955 General Court resulted in another long, drawn out legislative session which saw the Democratic House pass a great deal of labor-sponsored legislation only to have it defeated in the Republican Senate or vetoed by Governor Herter. As in 1955 the Republicans used a binding caucus in the Senate or the Governor’s veto pen to defeat much of the House passed legislation, and labor’s attempt to get initial approval of a graduated income tax amendment was again defeated.
