Evening star., 1945-12-07

political element seemed to spell
political ruin.
But that is not the way thought
full and experienced political ana
lysts see the situation-quite the
contrary. These feel that, far from
damaging Mr.. Truman politically.
his request for law that will fully
acquaint the American people with
the facts and protect them from
unnecessary and disastrous strikes
ultimately will rebound to his po-
litical advantage. They do not be-
lieve he had this In mind when he
took his position, but they are new
ertheless convinced that such will
be the result.
Looking at things solely from the
practical political angle, they reason
as follows: While Mr.. Truman's
recommendations have enraged the
CIO professionals, to say nothing
of Representative Marcantonio,
American-Labor of New York, 1t has
been enormously gratifying to the
people as whole to find the Presi-
dent neither subservient to these
blatant union bullies nor tender to-
ward the big industrialists but OBJ
viously anxious to solve a very diff
f1cult domestic problem in the gen.
eral interests.
Reaction to Independence.
The fury of the radical journalists
and the abuse of the CIO dema-
gogues is easily understood. For
years accustomed to a President
who, regardless of the facts, sup
ported and aided them in every
controversy, it is natural enough
they should feel outraged when the
White House incumbent, on whose
support they had counted, took an
independent position. Their typical
reaction was to call him names
which some of them already are
beg dning to regret.
fhe more intelligent among these
union bosses know perfectly we'll
that while it Is easy to win VIC
tories over the employer and to
terrify Congress when the Presi-
dent is an answering and active
union particularly CIO) partisan.
1t is a vastly different story when
the President proclaims his inde-
pendence and asserts his primary
purpose not to promote the inter-
ests Of any labor faction but to pro-
tect the public. And then, the more
acute political observers ask, con-
ceding that the Murrays, Hillmans,
Marcantonios, Reuthers and the
rest are mad with Mr.. Truman,
what are they going to do about it?
And where are they going to go
when they leave him?
The answer to the first question
is that they are going to do very
little about it. Certainly, they do
not expect the President to weaken
or retract because few cheap union,
leaders call him names. Nor do they
expect Congress, already hostile,
to 60 all obsequious and fearful
when, for the first time in 10 years,
the PRECEDENT has shaken off his
shackles and spoken like man.
Not to Leave Truman.
AS to where they are going when
they Eeave Mr.. Truman, the answer
Is, they are not going to leave Mr..
Truman and they are not going
anywhere.
They are not going to like it, but
they are going to stay just where
they are-even If Mr.. Truman kicks
them In the face very much harder
than this message kicked them,
which was scarcely at all. The rea-
son Is because it is as completely
impossible for them to go Repub-
lican as it is to form a third party.
Actually, the Republicans are lit
tie sore with Mr.. Truman, not be-
cause they are not in accord with
his views, but because by expressing
them he has spoiled an issue for
them, prevented the Republicans
from taking a frankly conservative
position.
Most Republicans in House and
Senate will support the Truman
proposals and the Republican party
will offer no sanctuary for the ar
rogant CIO leaders who abuse the
President like pickpocket because
he ceases eating out OF their hands.
Truman Strengthened.
II it did, the Republican party
not only would make itself ridicu-
lous, but it would completely alien
ate the big business sources which
nourished it financially.
AS for third parties, at best they
are futile in this country, and the
CIO outfit Is unequipped and un-
prepared to launch one. For 10
years 1t has built itself up through
the active and unprecedented CO.
operation of the President. When
that is withdrawn, it shrivels. When
that is withdrawn, these truculent
labor bosses are reduced in size and
importance. When that is with