Evening star., 1946-11-25
Taft Informs Aiken
He 5 Inclined 10 Take
Labor ChaiirInanship
By the Assoeioisd Press

Senator Taft, Republican, Of Ohio
is somewhat inclined" to take the
Craftsmanship of the Senate Labor
Committee and has written Sem
ator Aiken, Republican, Of Vermont
to that effect, it was learned
yesterday.
Senator Taft's letter, dated Mo-
vember 10, told Senator Aiken that
"newspapermen assumed I would
take Finance without any statement
from me to that effect" but that
his final decision would not be made
until next month.
Senator Aiken had expected to
become chairman of the Senate la
Dor Committee in the new Congress
following reports that Senator Taft
probably would take the chairman
ship of the Finance Committee.
Senator Aiken has been quoted as
saying in st. Adams, VT, that II
don't intend to be sidetracked--flot
without fight"
In Montpelier, vt, Senator Aiken
said, II can't have any complaints
If Taft decides to be chairman of
the Senate Labor Committee. After
all, he outranks me. /"
Committee Called Key to 48.
Senator Aiken said also that the
letter indicated that his seniority
on the committee would be respected
II Senator Taft decided instead to
accept the Craftsmanship Of the
Finance Committee.
The Vermonter said he answered
that the decision was entirely up
to Senator Taft and adding, "the
fortunes of the Republican Party in
1948 depend on how the Labor Com
mittee conducts its affairs during
the next two years"
This matter became a touchy SUBJ
ject with the Republicans after 1t
was revealed that members OF the
COP Steering Committee, headed
by Senator Taft, had looked over
Senator Aiken's voting record and
found he had opposed the majority
of Senate Republicans on policy
matters 80 per cent Of the time.
Taft Tells Of Hesitation.
There were plain indications that
some COP Senators did not want
Senator Aiken to head the Labor
Committee, where he ranks second
to Senator Taft in seniority. This
committee will be charged with
sponsoring labor legislation, q sub
ject of paramount interest since the
coal strike.
BY the seniority rule, Senator Taft
could have the craftsmanship Of the
Finance Committee, which handles
all tax legislation. But he told
Senator Aiken he had 'shesitated
from the beginning" over which
Craftsmanship to take.
Labor has more matters before
it on which I worked and on which
I have taken an interest,"" Senator
Taft wrote Senator Aiken because
Of the labor bill and my bills on
Federal aid to health and education,
I am somewhat inclined to take
that rather than Finance. I am
postponing my decision, however,
until the committee on committees
meets the week of December 81
Won't BE Sidetracked.
Senator Aiken has served notice
that he will fight In the December
80 Republican conference any effort
to sidetrack him from any place to-
which he is entitled by seniority
Senator Taft said reports that any
such move is In the Air we're wholly
without jtiStidcatiun
"You are, Of course, entitled tol
every right given by seniority on the
committees and no contrary sug-
gestion has been made by anyone in
my discussion" he wrote Senator
Aiken.
Senator Aiken was not amongl
those assigned by the Steering Com
mittee to study labor legislation, de-
spite his position as second in line
on the present Labor Committee.
Complains Of Writers.
sWhen the question came up OF
drafting q labor BILL" Senator Taft
explained, 'I naturally referred it to
Ball, Republican, Minnesota, Smith,
Republican, of New Jersey, and my
self, o prepared the Case bill and
had taken the greatest interest in
labor legislation. Later Senator
Morse. Republican, of Oregon was
added because he has developed
quite an affirmative program in his
speeches in the campaign"
A potential candidate for the Re-
publican presidential nomination in
1948, Senator Taft took occasion to
complain in the letter about the at
titude of what he called New Deal
writer's"
II feel that the effort Of the New
Deal writer's from now on is going
to be to create a dsssension in the
Republican Party and I certainly
hope for harmony and good feeling" !"