Evening star., 1947-03-25
Intimidation Drive
By Left Wing Seen
Truman Warned Against Heedins
Radical Advice on Vetoes
By David Laurence

By David Laurence
Although the Republican majority has
not yet finished the major pieces of
legislation it will present to President
Truman, the cleft wing" is beginning Q
campaign of intimidation by talking
about presidential vetoes.
Mr. Truman took the advice Of the
lef-wingers on OPA legislation last sum-
mer and vetoed bill which was obvi-
ously the wish of the country and the
cratic party lost Congress.
Following more of the same kind OF
advice will cause Mr.. Truman to lose
the 1948 presidential election. From .
Republican viewpoint, nothing could
bring a better break politically than
series Of Truman vetoes, for it would
furnish the spark for the 1948 campaign
which would then be designed to get rid
of an obstructionist President.
The Republicans could argue that
they needed an even bigger majority
in Congress and Republican in the
White House in order to achieve the re-
forms which they will have put up to
President Truman and which, If q series
of vetoes comes, would have been
blocked.
Portal Bill Understood.
Thus. the portal-to-portal bill Is
thoroughly understood as to its objec-
tives by the country. If Mr.. Truman
takes the side of the groups which have
been organizing huge campaign of
exhortation on technicality, the damage
to the economic system will be so ap-
parent that the responsibility of Presi-
dent Truman for the chaos that could
conceivably follow would be plain.
Again, If Mr.. Truman listens to left
wing pleas and vetoes a tax-reduction
bill, the Democratic Party might as well
dispense with the holding Of nominat-
ing convention in 1948
The trouble with the left wingers is the
deep-seated view they hold that only by
left-wing tactics can the President be
reelected in 1948. The left wing has had
control for so long that it cannot imag-
inc government or elections without
continuous power by that group.
But there is not the slightest evidence
as yet that Mr.. Truman will put his
political future in jeopardy by following
the radical groups in his party II he
turns to the left again, he will be follow
ing the New Deal doctrines against
which there has been rising tide of
sentiment ever since the 1914 presidential
election. Only the Commander in
Chief" argument and the existence OF a
state of war saved the Democratic Party
from defeat in 1914 In 1916, when the
war had been ended, the anti-New Deal
feeling Of the electorate was manifested
by the election of a Republican ma
jority In both houses of Congress.
New Deal Thought.
Those of the New Deal school Of
thought who are advising Mr.. Truman
to veto what the majority In Congress
are about to propose in major legisla-
ton are assuming that the country will
back up their view In 1913. This means
that their opposition to tax reduction,
portal-to-portal reforms, and reduc
ton of Government expenses would have
to be defended at the polls by the Demo-
Gratis in the face OF growing trend to-
ward anti-New Dealism and anti-radi-
calism in America.
Mr.. Truman has lately gained in
popularity because he has abandoned the
radical side. He will be urged to con-
tinue that course as offering him the
best chance for reelection. The hints
and intimations that Mr.. Truman will
veto the major laws passed by the Re
publican Congress emanate from those
with whom the wish is father to the
thought. Until Mr.. Truman gives evil
dence that he means to obstruct the will
OF the majority in Congress, there is no
ground for attributing to him q return
to the role the New Dealers wish him to
follow.
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