Evening star., 1946-11-11
No StuIemute Is Seen
As Result of Election
Southern Democrats Expected
To Join COP to Kill Veto

Southern Democrats Expected
To Join COP to Kill Veto
By David Laurence
The talk of "stalemate" and dead
lock" in Government as result of last
weeks congressional election is perhaps
natural but it may be safely predicted
that such contingency will never ma
terialize on any really important issues.
The executive and legislative branches
of the Government of the United States
are more likely to cooperate and work
together in the next two years than in
any similar period in American history.
There is an inclination to draw paral-
lels with other instances In which the
Congress was dominated by one politi-
cal party and the White House by the
other. There were differences and vetoes
by the President, some OF which were
sustained and some overridden; but the
words deadlock" and "stalemate' are
gross exaggeration.
Actually there is more unanimity in
Congress today than there has been
in the history of the present generation.
For out of the 1877 Democrats elected
to the House of Representatives, 100
come from the South. This means that
on issues that are vital and important
to the Nation, the Republicans with
their 248 seats can pick up AZ or more
votes from the Democratic side to get
the necessary two-thirds to override a
Presidential veto, and enough votes on
some occasions to Offset any defectlons
in Republican ranks.
In the Senate, Democratic-Republ
can coalition can likewise furnish the
two-t thirds vote to override veto when
the issue is clearly drawn and the
peoples wishes are rightly interpreted
by the congressional majority.
Situation Works Two Ways.
1t works both ways. If the President
Is right in his veto and the Republican
majority is merely playing politics or
trying to put the opponents in hole on
a piece of legislation which the country
would not approve, the Democratic
votes will not be forthcoming to override
| a veto.
On conservative and radical issues.
however, the Congress will be able easily
| to muster more than a two-thirds vote.
| For the Southern Democrats, though
formally expressing disappointment over
| the outcome of last weeks election in
the North, are privately rejoicing. They
knew tnat the CIO-PAC, if successful in
its organizing drives in the South, would
eventually unseat many Of the present
Democratic members of Congress.
The 1916 election was crucial. It
marked turning point for the South.
| And it may be assumed without ques-
| ton that a substantial number OF
Southern Democrats will vote with their
Republican colleagues from the North
against any and all measures involving
| announcement to labor union leaders
to extend their political control over
this country.
But there is another major reason
why cooperation rather than deadlock
between the executive and legislative
branches Of the Government may be
expected. It is because there is no per-
sonal antipathy to President Truman
on Capitol Hill or anywhere else in the
! National Capital.
Truman May "See the Light"
Mr.. Truman's position on public ques-
tions is usually attributed to those mis-
taken advisers who told him to play ball
with the left wing. 1t is assumed now
| that he will 'see the light" and 60 along
with the liberals and progressives in
his own party rather than with the radi-
Gals of the Wallace-Pepper wing.
Back in 1918, when the Congress
changed from the Democratic to the
Republican Party. the bitterest kind
Of feeling prevailed against President
Wilson. This unfortunately colored the
! League of Nations fight. Also Mr.. Wilson
| had made the mistake of failing to
cooperate with the Republicans in his
selection of delegates to the Paris Peace
| Conference in 1918 and in the making Of
foreign policies Mr.. Truman has fol-
lowed the right course, and bipartisan
cooperation on foreign policy has been
an outstanding success.
Mr. Truman knows Congress well, and
| If he will be himself and not be in
fiuenced by left-wing radicals he will
get more out of Capitol Hill in the next
two years than he did in his first two
years. If he does follow left-wtng adj
vice, he will find his vetoes overridden
because the American people have voted
into Office more than two-thirds in both
Houses who are antiradical and anti
left-wing.
There will be no deadlock" The
people rule and happily the Constitu-
ton did provide that Congress, when
| it musters a two-thirds vote Of both
Houses, is the Government of the United
STATES. That was the safeguard against
deadlocks and arbitrariness of party or
| individual. The American people have
spoken and their wishes in Government
| will prevail. The future may be re-
garded with considerable optimism be-
cause the people have recaptured their
own Government.
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