Evening star., 1947-02-07

way on labor legislation. The House
bill will not be identical with the
Senate bill. It probably will be still
fer and 1t may pass the House be-
fore the other body acts. But the
Republican leadership in the Sen
ate as we'll as in the House knows
that last November the Republican
Party received a mandate for action
at this session to protect the public
from the abuses of arrogant labor
bosses who have not scrupled to en-
danger the public health, who
threaten the nation with economic
strangulation and openly defy the
United States Government itself.
Less Fear OF Labor Bullies
They also know that In all parts
Of the country, and especially IN
New York, these professional labor
bosses and their radical allies, solid
ly opposing Republican candidates,
demonstrated complete inability to
affect the election and revealed
themselves as political phonies. AS
q result fear of the labor bullies In
Congress has greatly lessened. Their
political power clearly was greatly
exaggerated. knowledge of these
facts makes it reasonably sure that,
despite Republican differences,
there will be labor legislation and it
will be effective. Republican failure
in this respect would be indefensible.
Certainly, it would disgust a great
many who supported Republican
candidates last year.
Nor Is it likely Republican lead
ers are sufficiently sappish to be di-
verted from their purpose by the
transparent tactics of alarmed Ia
bor bosses, who recognize they have
overplayed their hands, and are
now toning down the more truculent
of their agitators and making agree
ments with the steel and building
industries.
Perhaps it is natural for President
Truman to express qualification at
this, but 1t is idiotic to believe the
present faxed and forced pacifism
of the labor bosses is any guarantee
of a more tolerable attitude in the
future If Congress should be be-
guiled into inaction. But the big
reason for believing the differences
between the House and Senate lead
ers are not too serious is the basic
fact that every Republican, regard
less of his factional alliance, his
presidential nomination preference
or his personal legislative views
wants his party to win in 1948. That
needs no argument.
Must Run on Record.
Nor should it be necessary to point
out that the Republican Party next
year has got to run on the record 1t
makes this year in this Congress
There is nothing else upon which it
can run. For IS years it has been
the minority party, in both the ex-
ecutive and legislative branches of
the Government, with neither power
nor responsibility. Now, in full con-
troll Of both branches; 1t is con-
fronted not only with the oppor-
tuaity but the necessity of making
a record. For the first time since
1920 the Republicans have better
than an even chance to elect a
President. but that chance is not
so good it cannot be wrecked by a
record of incompetency and bung-
ling.
If, after the advance promises of
the Republicans to reduce expenses,
balance the budget, cut taxes, re-
duce the debt, enact adequate labor
laws, ETC., ETC., they permit fac
tiosal feeling, personal ambitions
and intraparty politics to cause
them to flop, their party will then
be branded as unworthy of trust,