Evening star., 1945-03-05

70 4dltd MT. nOOSeVclC sent TWO
strong messages to Congress on the
subject. 1t is true, also, that while
at the Crimean conference he sent
. letter to Senator Barkley rather
mildly expressing hope that the
Senate would pass the House bill.
But that is all he has done to put
through this measure which he has
joined with the united military
authorities in urging as essential to
the success of our armies in the
field. There are two things to be
said about that-flrst, that what he
did was wholly inadequate; second,
that he could have done-and still
can do-a great deal more.
His personal absence to attend
the Big Three conference, of course
was unavoidable. But he took with
him the Assistant President" War
Mobilizer James r. Byrnes, whose
popularity in Congress and whose
long legislative experience, political
tact and talents make him an ex-
ceedingly effective force on Capitol
Hill.
Must Be Followed Up.
Through Mr.. Byrnes the Presi-
dent could have transmitted his per-
sonal influence in behalf of the
national service act. Without Mr..
Byrnes there was no one left here
who could follow up the presidential
recommendations as they should be
followed up. Scarcely any one is so
unsophisticated as not to know that
presidential recommendations have
to be followed up.
Any presidential recommendation
on controversial matter not fol-
lowed up by real White House pres
sure loses its force. 1t is naturally
taken as a sign that the President
is not acutely concerned.
In this case there was no follow
up. The President was away. Mr..
Byrnes was away. Mr.. Hopkins was
away. Mr.. Early was away. There
was no one left to put the pressure
on. No other member of the Cabi-
net carries any weight with Con-
gress or is recognized as a presiden-
tial spokesman. The chairman of
the National Committee, Mr.. Han
negan, is Intellectual as an admins
tration lobbyist.
There was no one to act for the
President and no one did act. As a
result, the Presidents own friends
under heavy CIO pressure, felt free
to scuttle the Presidents proposal
And that is exactly what they have
done. The House modified the origi-
nal measure, but passed the fairly
satisfactory May-Bailey work or
fight bill.
But in the Senate, the CIO Sena-
tors, who are also White House SEN
ators, tore that bill to pieces in COM
mittee and produced bill so made
quate as to be ridiculous. It was
thus described in a scathing indict-
ment by Senator Bailey on the Sem
ate floor.
There the situation stands. How
ever, it is by no means hopeless.
Some time next week the Senate
probably will pass the meaningless
Kilgore bill, which is satisfactory
to the CIO but not to many others,
and certainly not to the chiefs of
staff or the Secretaries of the War
and Navy Departments. 1t falls ab-
surdly short of their urgent requests
and of Mr.. Roosevelt's messages.
Perhaps, it will be improved by
amendments but there appears NO
chance of it emerging as an ade-
quate bill. But the House seems
really determined not to retreat
from the May-Bailey bill
Real Job on Committee.
Eventually, of course, the final
draft will be written in the confer
ence committee, the Senate men,
bers of which will be named by
Vice President Truman and the
House members by Speaker Ray
burn.
1t is in this committee that the
real job will be done. Upon it now
depends whether or not the Con-
gress Of the United States at an ex-
ceedingly critical moment, with, as
the President says, "the wars not
won," will refuse the earnest pleas
OF the responsible men conducting
these wars and listen to the voice
OF selfish labor leaders who are now
using the political power they have
accumulated through Roosevelt sup
port to defeat Roosevelt proposal,
demanded by the national interests.
AS one caustic Senator remarked
the other day, 'The CIO is always
with the President when the Presi-
dent Is with the CIO."