Evening star., 1947-08-01

FoLtotptng 70 the tert OF the
address OF Senator Taft, Repub-
Hcan, OF Ohio, at a Republican
dinner In Columbus, Ohio, last
night:
Fellow Republicans Of Ohio:
On January 3. 1947, there met In
Washington the first Republican
Congress in 16 years. During that
period there had grown up, in
Washington particularly, the legend
of New Deal perfection and invin-
cibility. Everything done by any
Republican was to be deprecated,
derided and smeared unless it hap
pened to accord with some New Deal
policy. From the time the Repub-
licans gathered, the S0th Congress
was subject to the same type of
calculated and bitter attack by the
New Dealers, and by the allies they
had gradually accumulated in the
field of propaganda. They said the
Republicans could not organize the
Congress, that they could not oper-
ate 1t when 1t was organized, that
they could not pass labor bill,
that they could not save money,
that they could not cut taxes. that
they would wreck American foreign
policy.
Fail In Predictions.
AS the session went forward these
saboteurs of good government were
disappointed in each prediction
The Republicans organized without
friction, and without Bilbo. The
job was more complicated than
usual because of the La Toilette
Monroney Act, which abolished all
of the committees and created en-
tirely new committees with new
chairmen and new Staffs. No Re-
publican in Congress had ever been
chairman of a Senate or House
committee. These men had to or
ganize the committees and learn
their new jobs. Yet, contrary to the
charge OF delay, the records show
that Congress went to work faster
than at the beginning Of any pre-
vious Congress, that the committees
did more and better work and that
Congress. as q whole, worked more
steadily and covered q broader field
than any previous Congress. Issues
were met squarely. Republican
policies again became respected
and even fashionable. Most of the
Democratic members of Congress
also are willing to testify to the
efficiency OF the organization of both
houses and to admit that 1t would
have been impossible to do more
than was actually done.
How was the result accomplished?
1t was accomplished by team play
and hard work on the part of the
Republicans. There was never any
substantial difference between the
leaders Of the House and the lead
ers Of the Senate. Differences
within the party were reconciled In
the party interest by the surrender
of individual views and advantage
for party opinion and party welfare.
OF course, there were some excep-
tions. And those exceptions received
publicity out of all proportion to
their actual importance; but few
indeed were unwilling to abide by
the majority sentiment of their Re-
publican colleagues in House and
Senate. Congress succeeded be-
cause Of the ability. and the CO.
operation. OF Republican Senators
and Representatives.
Grateful to Bricker.
In the foreground of Republican
cooperation stood the Republican
delegation from the State of Ohio.
John Bricker and myself worked
together in the Senate. I have
never seen a new Senator who
gained so rapidly the affection
and respect of his colleagues, or
took hold Of the job so. effectively
I shall always be grateful for his
effective cooperation throughout
the sessions and also for the kind
words he has said about me yester-
day. The 10 Republican Congress
men from Ohio may not have teen
the largest Republican delegation
in the House. but they were the most
effective. Most of them had been
there long time and had acquired
influence in committee and in Re-
publican councils. They had pre-
dominant influence on Rules, Ways
and Means, Armed Services, Foreign
Relation and many other commit
tees They are trained in the party
tradition, and in the willingness to
sacrifice individual interest to party
policy, as all OF us are trained here
In Ohio.
The work In Congress was long
and hard. For the last four months,
we have never recessed a regular
day, and in the last month we in
cluded Saturdays in our long $es-
sions. making it impossible to keep
up with the rest Of our work. II
our constituents have felt them
selves neglected in the last few
months, 1t is only because We have
literally not had time to answer
correspondence. The last three
days were the most strenuous Of
any days in my experience.
Many Important Laws.
Nor was the start of Congress at
all slow, as frequently charged. II
citizens are to have the right to
present their views on legislation,
committees must hold hearings. and
before reporting bills, they must
study the problems long and care
fully, for they cannot be studied on
the floor Of the House or the Senate.
Today we have a vast field Of legis-
lative policy. 10 times as broad as
that dealt with by the early Con-
crosses. Government has extended
its hand into every field of activity,
and even the conservatives in most
fields come to us for some govern
mental action. In one session, Con-
sress cannot possibly make over the
world or even the United States. We
must select the subjects Of most
immediate importance and leave the
rest for further consideration. But
considering everything, the list of