Evening star., 1946-06-10
Alternate Actions
On Case Bill Weiqhed
Delay in Industrial Peace
Seen in Veto of Measure
By David Laurence

Either of two sets of consequences can
flow from the decision of President Tru-
man this week, depending on whether
he signs or vetoes the Case bill. This
measure endeavors to remove violence
and irresponsibilitN from the acts of
labor unions in their relations with
management.
The bill is a mild proposal. 1t doesn't
begin to do what ought to be done to
eliminate the abuses of collective bar
gaining and the damage that is being
done to the public interest by extrem-
lists in labor's ranks. But it is a start
toward long-overdue reform.
If, therefore, the President vetoes the
BILL here is what may be expected to
happen in America from both the eco
nomic and political points of view:
1. Violence, illegal picketing, disre-
gard for present Federal and State
statutes, and usurpation of more power
over management will be encouraged
and industrial peace will be further
delayed.
Aid to Communism.
g. Management will be discouraged
and the incentive to undertake new
projects will be impaired and the re-
conversion process will be deferred over
a long period of time or at least until
new President and a new Congress
are elected who recognize that the in
equality between labor and manage
ment will not promote industrial har-
mony.
g. Communism will be encouraged,
because it thrives on friction and class
war.
4. A Republican President will be
elected in 1948 who will not be a pro-
gressive. For the Republicans will figure
they can win with anybody Congress
will go heavily Republican this autumn.
5. More and more strikes will occur,
for labor will figure that the President
will uphold them in almost anything
hereafter because he fears the labor
vote. EXtremism will be given an i'm
petus.
If He Signs.
II, however, the President signs the
Case bill or let's it become law without
his signature, here is what may be ex-
pected to happen:
l. Labor will threaten and criticize
and attack but will support the Demo-
Gratis at the polls just the same, for
labor knows it can receive far more
benefits by a continuance of the present
administration than by putting a con-
servative Republican into the White
House-a natural and inevitable result
of any third party or desertion of the
President.
2. Most middle f-the-road voters and
many independent Republicans will
support the President on the theory that
he is not an extremist himself and is
trying hard to hold the scales even.
This independent vote is far more likely
to swing away from Mr.. Truman if he
deserts it than is the extreme labor vote.
so it is far more important in 194S to
the Truman administration than
dozen Political Action Committees.
8. Inasmuch as Mr. Truman was able
to win the nomination against Henry
Wallace in the 1914 Democratic Conven-
tion through the support of the anti
CIcAlclltsS Ill Lie bHIIlO-
cratic party, particularly important
church elements, he will hold that sup
port-something that would be lost to
him in the event of a veto.
Jefferson Supplies Answer
4. The President will retain the re-
spect of the vast number of citizens
who. while disagreeing perhaps with
some of the provisions of the emergency
legislation proposed in connection with
the recent rail strike. had cause to ad-
mire Mr.. Truman for his courage
5. To veto the Case bill on some spe-
cious pretext after having advocated
sterner measures only a fortnight or so
before is an inconsistency that can
never be explained on the stump To
sign the Case bill irrespective of the
fate of the stronger measure is not
only consistent but understandable and
will appeal to the electorate generally
as a sensible course
Mr.. Truman has been weighing the
problem for several days to find the
right answer. If he will re-read the
principles of Thomas jefferson, he will
find it. The answer is that Government
cannot rest on special privilege for any
group and that the public interest must
be, served irrespective of the preSsures by
groups which seek materialistic privi-
! lege. The Case bill is a measure to
abolish special privilege and put man.
agement and labor unions on an equal
footing before the law
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