Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-18
President May Face
Difficulty in Uniting
Party Behind Program
BY the Associated Pres.

Signs multiplied today that
President Truman will have diff
Guilty getting united Democratic
support for whatever legislative
program he submits to the new
Republican, dominated Congress
in January. If he hopes to win
it, he may have to drop many
past proposals.
Democratic leaders, still groggy
from the Republican election land
slide, have delayed any move to-
organize their forces for their new
role in the minority.
They apparently are agreed, how
ever, that Mr.. Truman will write
the official party program in his
state of the Union message. They
seemingly have no intention Of at
tempting to fix detectives, as the
Republicans Of both House and Sem
ate already have done.
No Indication Of Course.
Mr.. Truman has given no con-
crete indication yet Of the direction
he intends to pursue In his recon-
mendations, except to urge that the
legislative and executive branches
cooperate for the welfare of the
Nation.
But Southern Democrats, who
haven't gone along in the past with
many of the Presidents proposals,
openly hope that Mr.. Truman won't
bring up again such leftovers from
President Roosevelt's agenda as
antipoll tax and antilynching legis-
lation and proposals to establish
permanent Fair Employment Prac-
tices Commission.
New Deal Senators and Repre-
sentatives, on the other hand, have
seized on a phrase in MIR. Truman's
truce message, in which he urged
continuance Of "a progressive con-
cept Of Government" as q sign
that he intends to continue to fol-
low the Roosevelt line.
Pepper Asks Liberal Program.
Senator Pepper, Democrat. Of
Florida, for one has made 1t abund-
antly clear that he wants what he
calls liberal" program, and will
fight proposals that he feels don't
measure up to that standard.
1t is q political truism, however,
that q party finds it little easier
to maintain unity when In the
minority than when In the majority.
That has been demonstrated since
the election in Republican differ
ences over leadership and legislative
questions.
In contrast to COP warning over
top party posts there Is no indica-
ton Of an exception by any leading
Democrats to the reported White
House nod Of favor for Gov. Robert
s. Kerr Of Oklahoma as successor
to Robert E. Hannegan as Demo-
cratic national chairman. Mr..
Hannegan Is expected to resign
soon.
Gov. Kerr, who keynoted the 1914
Democratic convention, has been
labeled q New Dealer. But some
Of the more conservative members OF
the party regard him as more &C
ceptable than others who might be
chosen.
Craftsmanship in Doubt.
Latest scrap among the Repubh-
cans Is over q quiet move by some
colleagues to sidetrack Senator
Aiken, Republican, Of Vermont, from
the Craftsmanship Of the Labor Com
mittee. This group wants 1t to- 60
to Senator Bali, Republican. of Min
nesota.
Senator Aiken frequently has sup
ported labor's viewpoint and fought
last spring against the Case strike
control bill which Congress even
tually passed but President Truman
vetoed.
COP leaders In both House and
Senate are on record for passage Of |
some new bill along that line and |
are counting on substantial Demo-
cratic support.
On visit here last week, Senator |
Ellender, Democrat, of Louisiana,
said that II Mr.. Truman doesn't |
recommend some substantial changes |
in the labor laws, he will find lot |
Of Southern Democrats voting with |
the Republicans.
Byrd Pledges Cooperation.
From Senator Byrd, Democrat Of
Virginia, longtime advocate of
Government economy, came a |
pledge of cooperation with the
in their announced |
intention to trim spending. i
Senator Olin D. Johnston, Demo- |