Detroit evening times., 1945-10-17
PAUL
NIALLON
Behind
The News

trouble with Congress than is
apparent.
An increasing number OF
members of both houses are
stiffening their backs against
the usual political presSures, be-
lieving the nation is IN A serious
crisis.
The utmost effort of Senate
floor leader Barkley was neces-
sary. for instance, TO get the
CIO-PAC man, Raymond Nc
Keough. confirmed for six years
on the maritime commission. 1t
was dragged out of the Senate
by a margin of only eight votes
after considerable inside dicker-
ing. To get it through Barkley
had TO make 1t a party matter,
and even then nine Democrats
refused TO go along.
The opposition frankly ques-
toned the wisdom Of putting
CIO official, but even more than
that. a man who led the POLITl-
CAL ACTION part of CIO in
three western states, into po-
sition of power over the Mer-
chant Marine whose unions are
recognized as probably the most
extreme in the country-and all
over the objection Of AFL.
More Democrats privately
held this conviction, than voted
il. These were appeased by
personal promises McKeough
would not use his position for
CIO-PAC purposes, but his ac-
tionS on the commission will
find close congressional scrutiny
from now on.
/ suspect more than a ma
jority Of Democrats thought 1t
a mistake to place an outside
party man, able to WELD such
immense political action power
in A six-year job.
Conversely, the developing
administration foreign policy is
meeting almost unanimous SEN
ate approval After two and a
half hours behind the doors with
State Secretary Byrnes, the for
eign relations committee MEM
berS, both Republicans and
Democrats emerged in a favor
able mood.
Mr.. Byrnes knows how to
handle senators from long ex.
perience and he handled them
this time by leaving them con-
vinced he had told them all
there was to know about the
London conference.
What they heard did not con-
tradict anything the public al
ready knows, but the details
which Byrnes gave put con-
vincing emphasis upon the
public announcements Of the
results.
This enabled him 10 escape
the hole he was in on the
Braden appointment. This NOM
ination of the new ambassador
TO Argentina has been delayed
through several secret sessions
of the committee.
Senators felt Byrnes had
made a mistake in not consult
ing the committee in advance,
not notifying the other Latin
American nations, and thar
Braden had been too active in
earlier Argentinian affairs.
Some were angry because the
Pan-American conference set
for Oct. 20 had been postponed
10 Nov. 20.
| Judge that Latin affairs got
out Of Byrnes' hands while he
was busy preparing for London
and at the peace conference.
Even the ByrneS policy on
the Far East found favorable
support when he told the sena-
tors he was behind Gen. Mac
Arthur without reservation.
The tax bill went almost un-
animously through the House
when the administration came
10 terms with the varying view
points.
1t will he amended in the Sem
ate, but only in details, unless
the Republicans break loose and
demand p less modest cut. The
other parts Of the administra-
tlon program are sun racing
opposition.
Considered all in all il is evil
dent Mr.. Truman has lost some
ground IN Congress, but not 10
any decisive extent yet COM
parable TO the condition into
which Mr.. Roosevelt worked
himself.
His statement when he re-
tured from his weekend vaca-
tion urging the country 10 go
10 work conveyed an inspira-
ton which caught popular favor.
although many are waiting to
see how he comes out with the
strike question.
For instance the oil people
got their Is per cent and the
opportunity 10 dicker for the
4 -