Evening star., 1947-06-21
The Political Mill
Two Netoes Set Pottern
For Compoign in lo48
Foreign Policy Issue Seen Removed
In Coming Presidency Fight
By Gould Lincoln

President Truman's veto of the labor bill.
coming as sequel to his veto of the tax re-r
duction BILL sets the pattern for the presidential
campaign in l948-and the pattern resembles to
great degree that Of the congressional CAM
paign Of 1916. The President has taken his
position on these issues. The labor bill, passed
overwhelmingly by both houses Of Congress, he
has described as unavoidable and calculated to
cause more labor strife, not less, and as unfair
to organized labor and an imposition on man.
agement, too. The income tax reduction bill he
said came at the wrong time and in the wrong
form. This measure, too, had been passed by
large votes in both houses of Congress.
On the other hand the President, in both his
veto messages Of the bills, admitted that there
is need of labor legislation and of tax reduc-
ton. His complaint, therefore is that the bills
put through by the Republican Congress are
seriously defective. His proposal is that the
Congress write legislation that is acceptable to
him. That, clearly, the Republican Congress is
scarcely likely to do. And the result of the
Presidents vetoes, If sustained would neces-
sarily be to prevent any legislation at this time
on two issues of tremendous interest to the
American people.
'46 Issues Recalled.
The campaign of 1916, which resulted in the
election of Republican-controlled Congress,
was fought out largely on the issues OF Gov
ernment economy, tax reduction and remedial
labor legislation, plus REIMBURSEMENT of many
Government controls over the ordinary affairs
OF the people-wartime controls, fl many In !
stances
The Truman administration, in the present
session Of Congress, has shown itself strongly
in opposition to the contraction of many Gov
ernnent expenditures. It has now shown itself
opposed to immediate tax reduction, although
holding out a dim promise of tax-reduction a
legislation next year. And 1t has shown itself
opposed to any labor legislation of major i'm 4
portance-although the President did approve
the portal-to-portal pay act.
The President has flown in the face Of the
sentiment expressed by the voters In the 1916
elections. Presumably the voters elected
Republican Congress to legslate along the
lines it has already performed This may be
good politics. Time alone will show. But
apparently large number Of Democratic
members of the House and Senate did not
agree with him, for in the House many
more Democrats voted to override his veto
of the labor bill, and considerable number =
voted to override his veto of the tax-reduction n
BILL
1t Is possible that the voters will change
their minds, and that sentiment will shift
on these issues from the position taken by
Congress to that assumed by President Tru-
man. There has been nothing, however, to
indicate so far that such shift has taken
place. Members of the House, and also of
the Senate, keep in close touch with the
feeling of their constituents on important
issues. Their votes in most instances reflect
that sentiment.
In Line With Labor
It is clear that the Democratic leadership
has elected to keep In line as far as possible
with the leadership of organized labor. Labor
was violently opposed to the labor bill-in
fact, to any labor legislation whatever. It
was opposed to the tax bill as written by
the Republican Congress to bring z
about the enactment of legislation which II
would remove tax burdens from millions Of
workingmen while maintaining them on all
persons in the middle and higher brackets of
income. Nevertheless, the Republican tax
bill would have given relief to millions Of
workers-and material relief to many Of them
The Truman administration, by the veto of
the labor bill, is posing as a champion of
organized labor.
Other issues may arise In the coming presi-
Dental campaign. recession-or depression
may set in. Prices Of all kinds of goods are
exceedingly high. Employment may drop off.
But If a depression ensues, 1t will be difficult
for the Democrats to avoid having it labeled
Truman depression"-for it will have hap
pened during the Truman administration.
Serious difficulties over foreign policy may arise.
The question of huge expenditures for foreign
relief and rehabilitation has already raised Its
head. However, the bipartisan policy toward
Soviet Russia and world politics seems destined :
to continue the efforts of Henry Wal-.c,
lace-and will largely remove foreign policy 4
from the presidential campaign-depending, of
course upon the attitude of the Republican
nominee for President. u
Questions and Answers j..