The Omaha guide., 1947-07-12
ECONOMIC
HIGHLIGHTS

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of public opinion will be Of great
political importance, inasmuch as
the program which the Republi-
cans have started will provid e the
campaign issues for next years
presidential race.
In the arly days of the current
Congress, the Republican leader
ship was widely criticized for what
seemed to be an excessive slow
ness in getting started. That critic
ism was based, at least in part, on
misconceptions. For example, il
takes a freshman senator several
years to get on to the traditions,
procedures and customs of the
Senate. The Republicans labored
under the disadvantage of having
very few old-timers in their ranks,
and a disproportionately large
numbered their senators were
brand new, and green as grass.
Some of the Democrats Of long
standing took full advantage of
this, and constantly tossed mon
key wrenches into the creaking
legislative machinery. Under these
conditions, the Republicans did a
good job in organizing their bat
talions and starting the wheels
rolling. Much of the credit for this
must 60 to Senator Taft. who re
CARELESS of ones views as to his
opinions, is an able parliament
arian.
In the all-important field of for
steadfastly maintained a biparti-
san policyy-due in large part to
the leadership of Senator Vanden-
berg. The principle Executive re
commentator, the Greek-Turkey
aid bill. passed easily, with a
minimum of debate. The appoint
ment of Secretary Marshall was
as warmly received by theRepub-
licans as by the Democrats. Thus
the COP has done its full part in
helping this country present a un-
tied front to the world.
Biggest domestic issue in the
Republican program was a labor
bill. The bill finally produced may
be imperfect, but it is difficult to
see how a better piece Of legislat-
ion could have been written on SO
controversial a matter. The Repub-
lican leadership was most effect
i've. Considering the importance Of
the subject, the time consumed in
ironing out the wide differences
between the original House and
Senate versions was not excessive.
COP party unity and discipline
was remarkable-only three Re
publican senators voted to sustain
the Presidents veto. All in all,
that is a considerable achievement.
1t is apparent now that Mr.. Tru-
man plans to use the labor issue
as a mjor campaign argument
when he runs next year and
everyone is certain he will be the
candidate. But the record of his
party members on the labor bill
will bea weakness so far as he is
concerned. In the final Senate vote
nearly as many Democrats voted
to override the veto as to sustain
it. All his efforts to promote party
solidarity in this matter were un-
availing, and the split was virtual
ly complete. This was not the
fault of the Democratic floor
leaders, who did everything to gain
support. for the President. Senti-
ment just ran the other way.
TheRepublicans promised a tax
reduction bill, and they delivered
the goods in this as well. The
great majority of the jarty in the
House voted to override the Presi-
Dental veto, but they simply did
MT have enough votes. Regard
less of the wisdom of tax reduct-
ion now, the parry leadership was
excellent.
The tax question will also loom
large next yyear. 1t is significant
that many observers who we're OPP
posed to tax reduction on the
grounds that reduction Of the
debt should come first, did not like
the Presidents reasons for vetoing
thebill. He laid particular stress
on the theory that it favored the
rich at the expense of the poor.
This, say the Republicans, is not
true and is an attempt to gain the
tvotes Of people who are not con-
versant with the facts. Some also
believe that the President vetoed
the bill so that he can propose a
tax-reduction measure of his own
next year and gain whatever poll
teal profit navy be involved. That
remains to be seen, but it is true
that the veto message was so
worded as to make tax reduction
seem a possibility for the near
future.
With Mr.. Truman's nomination
by the Democrats a seeming GER