Evening star., 1946-05-31

lidu IllC COuI age W StoIlO oQudlcly
against the ''unpatriotic obstinacy'
of the professional labor bosses who
had the Nation by the throat, telling
them that what they were attempt
ing would not be tolerated. He
could not have done less except at
the cost of great national humili-
alton and his own self-respect.
That the labor bosses who had
achieved unprecedented power
through years of presidential and
congressional support land their
satellites, parasites and tools) should
have been infuriated at President
who said mo" was natural enough.
Opportunities for Enemies.
It is also natural that short
sighted, self-seeking Republican
politicians should see chance to
gain favor with the labor bosses by
joining in the attack on Mr.. Tru-
man and echoing the Daily Work
er's use of the words ''fascism, .
tyranny" and slavery" In fact,
a fine opportunity was presented
for the Presidents political enemies
and they are taking full advantage
of it. Even the heroic Mr.. Morgen-
thau rushed in and bit him from the
rear. And, perhaps, he has gained
gree-t deal more. At any rate,
some things seem clear.
One is that, while there are ad-
mitted defects in the Truman bill.
there are none that cannot be cor
rected by amendments and the
great bulk of the American people
want action along the lines he has
laid down. For another, despite the
shrill outcry of the CIO and Com
munist propagandists and the en-
thusiasm with which the paid pro-
fessionals consign him to political
oblivion, the majority of the people
believe that in this crisis Mr.. Tru-
man not only did his plain duty but
did it in a courageous way. They
liked it. A third is that the violence
of the denunciation and the threats
to crush him politically with labor
money have increased public indig-
nation and done Mr.. Truman no
harm.
Better Bill Possible.
II, under such circumstances, the
country did not warmly respond to
the White House occupant there
would be no health in us at all. 1t
Is pleasant to record that the coun-
try has so responded and that the
press commentator of Mr.. Truman
has been strong and the flood of
commendatory letters and kilograms
to the White House has been great.
Certainly, II the people do not react
favorably when, disregarding the
political power of great organized
group, a President acts boldly in
the interest of us all, our political
condition would be hopeless, indeed.
1t seems clear now that the Presi-
dents proposals will not be enacted
in anything like the form he asked
and. probably, they should not be-
Beyond question, better bill can
be evolved. But if, instead OF
amending and enacting, every pro-
posal is emasculated or killed, there
will be great public disappointment
and the right will not have pre-
vailed.
To kill all restrictive legislation is
exactly what the labor bosses and
their senatorial and journalistic in
struments are after. Any bill which
tends to curb the vast power which
has been acquired by these men Is
at once branded as betrayal" of
labor, an effort to stab labor in the
back" or to "enslave" labor, all OF
which is sheer demagogic nonsense
Test for Republicans.
The Republicans in the Senate
can perform a national service If 10y
their amendments they better the
Truman bill. which easily can be
done. But, if they assist the little
group of CLIO stooges in denaturing
or destroying every effort to curb
they will have committed a great
disservice not only to their party but
to the Nation.
The idea that Senator Taft would
associate himself with Senator Pep
per in this or any enterprise seems
absurd. Senator Taft wants to
amend the bill. but certainly he does
not want to kill all restraining bills
Nor, one would think, would any
other thoughtful Republican, In
cidentally. the attack on the bill by
Harold Stassen, open aspirant for
the presidency, would have seemed
more statesmanlike and less politi-
cal II he had balanced it with a few