Evening star., 1947-06-19
|TruInanRebukes
ISouthernGroup
On Labor Advice
ToMuke Own Decision
On Tuft-HurtIey Bill,
He Informs Visitors
VETO CARAVAN parades through
downtown streets. Page AS
By Joseph A. Fox


cred a mild rebuke to Southern
Democratic leaders when one of
their number sought to impress
his labor bill views on the Chief
Executive in the course of a
White House visit.
Taking time out from drafting
the message he will send to Con-
gress tomorrow, the President met
with national committeeman and
State chairrnen from half dozen
Southern States on one Of series
of visits that Democratic chieftains
are making here.
Afterward, reporters learned that
Col. Marion Rushton of Montgom-
cry, Ala, had told Mr. Truman he
wanted to see him sign the con-
troversial bill to curb certain labor
activities.
Participants said the President
answered quickly, telling him that
he hadn't been hearing the labor
people and he hadn't been hearing
people from the other side, and that
he wasn't going to hear Democrats
on the matter.
Will Reach Own Decision.
Mr.. Truman added that he was
analyzing the measure on which he
is sending message to Congress to-
morrow and that he. would reach
his own decision.
Senator Johnston, Democrat, of
South Carolina told the President
that if he did veto the bill he could
be assured of one Senate vote to
sustain the rejection.
In sharp contrast to the situation
earlier in the week. when veto was
predicted freely as he went to work
on the tax message, the Presidents
closest advisers professed ignorance
of the course he would take on the
labor bill.
While the. President worked be-
hind closed doors today on the mes
sage. Presidential Secretary Charles
G. Ross, refused to be drawn out
by reporters questions as to MIR.
Truman's likely action. Mr.. Ross
did say the message may be avail
able around noon tomorrow, but
added he wouldn't even 'guaran-
tee" the time.
Rejection Expected.
Prevailing sentiment was that Mr..
Truman would reject the labor curbs
just as he did the COP plan to cut
income taxes, although his own
party is divided on the issue. But it
was admitted that this was only q
guess" as the President mulled over
the mass of material collected by
aides to assist him in reaching a de-
cision.
In the event the measure is
vetoed, 1t will occasion no surprise If
the President, in sending the mes
sage to Congress. specifies ex-
actly the sort of revised bill that
he would approve, and urges prompt
enactment. On Capitol Hill, how
ever, proponents of the present
measure claim enough votes in both
Senate and House to provide the
necessary two-third majority to
override a veto.
Veto Favored in Survey.
In the meantime the Associated
Press said today that survey of
Democratic leadership across the
country-conducted by the Demo-
cratic National Committee-showed
1o3-to-66 division in favor Of a
veto, plus four recommendations
that the measure be allowed to be-
come law without signature.
A party official who disclosed re-
suits of the survey said National
Committee members and State
chairmen and vice ci1airmen were
asked to submit their considered
judgment" of the issue without
coloration."
| The committee made the check
on it's own authority without in
structions from the White House,
the official said.
| He added that the strongest senti-
ment for a veto was found in re-
plies from the West, New York and
Pennsylvania.
! One reply from New York, he
said, contended that unless there
were veto the Democrats would
lose that highly important State in
the 1948 election.
Signing Urged by South.
The South generally urged that
Mr.. Truman sign the measure.
| The results of the party survey
have been submitted to presidential
counsel, Clark M. Clifford for relay
| to the President.
Mr.. Clifford has been working
with presidential assistant, John r.
/ Steelman, in rounding up the opin-
ions of all cabinet members, con-
gressional leaders and others for a
composite recommendation
/ This study, together with an
analysis of the effects of each pro-
vision of the measure, has been laid
on Mr.. Truman's desk for the final
decision.
The bill would become law auto
matically in the absence of presi-
Dental action by tomorrow mid
night.
Volume of Mail Mounts.
AS proponents and opponents
urged their views on the White
House in ever mounting volume,
with veto advocated reported in
the majority, a telegram was sent
to the President and top Republican
and Democratic congressional lead
ers by 40 economists and lawyers
who said they represent mo organi-
zation or partisan interest" urging
the bills death.
The message said the legislation
includes many provisions which are
extremely unwise, unfair or un-
workable
Among its signers were Lloyd Z.
Garrison, former chairman of the
/ War Labor Board, and Edwin E.
Witte, economics professor of the
University of Wisconsin. a former
member.
On the other side, Donald r.
Richberg, longtime labor counsel
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