Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-01-04
Washington
LaborReport
BY Bradford V. Carter


labor and progressive forces
are fast moving away from
him. Last week he took a
couple of steps forward
after the many steps back
ward, to reinstate himself in
the favorable graces of labor.
First, he delivered himself
of an Unexpectedly fortnight
statement on the ability-to-
pay issue confronting the fact
finding panels in the oil and
G. eral Motors disputes.
There were advance indica-
tions that the President would
decide in favor of the unions
contentious that the, ability to
pay was a relevant issue in
collective bargaining. Very
few predictions, however, had
anticipated that his decIara-
ton would be as positive as
it was.
The second straw in the
wind was his veto of bill
which included, among other
things, rider returning the
United States Employment
Service to the states. Very
rarely does President have
the fortitude to veto a meas
ure with the main purpose of
which he agrees in order to
get at the rider.
RESPONSIVE
Congress has always been
very responsive to the power
full lobby which the state gov
ernments have had here in
Washington opposing the con-
tinuation of the USES under
Federal control. It's part of
the general campaign against
the liberalization of unem-
ployment compensation which,
by the way, has long been
overdue.
Even without liberalization,
it is inconceivable that the
Federal government can en-
force any kind of full employ
ment program without having
some control over the public
employment service.
These two events are GER
tainly no justification for
joyous street celebrations. The
President has been quite will
ing in the past to write thrill
ing messages to Congress.
But he has so far had little
success in making the words
come alive. There is no guar
antee that even if he were
more vigorous in fighting for
things he talks about, that this
reactionary Congress would
be forthcoming with a pro-
gram of progressive legisla-
ton.
WELL SCHOOLED
But what we're hollering
about is the fact that Truman
doesn't even try. The Presi-
dent is we'll Schooled in the
methods of modern politics
whereby you get recalcitrant
Congressman TO vote the way
you want them.
Even though the ability to
pay" message and the USES
veto are all to the good, if he
is going to travel the full road
of repentance, he will have
to try making appointments
to important positions from
the ranks of people who know
the score.
The two most important
jobs in the Federal govern
ment, Director of War Mobili-
Zation and ReconverSion and
Director of Economic Stabili-
zation are held by well mean
ing but Intellectual indivi-
dualS, who find their reSpec-
tive jobs way beyond their ca
pacities and comprehension.
Mr.. Snyder, the incumbent in
the former job, is a st. Louis
banker about whom it is goS-
slipped that his bank is sat
isfied to have him him stay in
Washington. Mr.. Collectt, the
Economic Stabilizer, is an OBJ
Scure judge who has grown
even more obscure in office.
Truman has within his
reach the ingredients of sem
Sible economic program, if
Robert Hannegan will let him
grasp it. These ingredients
are: an implemented full en-
ployment bill, the all-in-one
social security program and
the housing program.
Tackling the problem of
full production in the next
several years will not be met
by two steps forward and six
teen steps backward. Mr.. Tru-
man must get himself into the
state of mind where he real
ICES that it's wholesale pro-
gram that is required and not
bits and pieces. And what's
more, he's got to go to bat for
the program as if he believes
in it, instead of acting as if
he lost the toss up in choosing
sides in a high school debate.