Evening star., 1947-06-03
The Political Mill
Politicians Urging Veto
Of Tax and Labor Bills
New Dealers Tell President He Must
Cater to Lower Income Voters
By Gould Lincoln

Cater to Lower Income Voters
By Gould Lincoln
President Truman. If he listens to the advice
OF New Deal Democrats in Congress, will veto
both the labor bill and the tax BILL Their
argument, purely political is that Mr.. Truman
at best has an uphill fight for reelection next
year. and that he must cater to the labor vote
and to the great mass of lower income voters.
The labor bill. they claim, is anathema to
organized labor. The tax bill. they maintain.
is bill for the relief of the rich-not the poor.
It is generally agreed on Capitol Hill that
Mr. Truman may be expected to veto the tax
bill. He has stated repeatedly that this is not
the time to reduce taxes-but that whatever
savings are made should be used to reduce
the national debt Furthermore, the large
array OF Democratic votes in the Senate against
the tax bill is supposed to have been due to the
fact the administration is opposed to a tax
reduction now
But the labor bill is a different matter. II
the President vetoes the labor bill and his veto
should be sustained, the country would be in
just the same position as it has been should
an industry wide strike occur-for example in
the coal industry-except for the fact that
Government seizure of the mines would not
be possible after June 80. Nor would Govern
ment seizure be possible in the case of rail-
road strike, for the seizure law is expiring.
Strike Would Put Him on Spot.
John L. Lewis president of the United Mine
Workers and the coal operators are getting
nowhere fast in the matter of new contract.
Should MIR. Lewis call strike July next, or
soon after, Mr.. Truman would be in tough
spot. The Republicans would place the RESPONSE
bility on the President-for killing proposed
law that would have been effective in dealing
with the miners $50 they would claim. 1t is
easy to understand how the ordinary man in
the street would figure that one.
There is of course, the chance that Congress
would override veto of the labor bill. The
House. it is believed, would repass the bill by
the two-thirds vote necessary to overcome a
veto. There are many who hold that the
Senate would do likewise. The vote in the
Senate was 68 to "a on the passage of the
labor bill Three Senators, Overton, Democrat
of Louisiana; Tobey, Republican, New Hamp-
shire, and Thomas, Democrat of Utah, did not
vote. It was announced that Senators Overton
and Tobey would have voted for the bill, while
Thomas Of Utah would nave voted against it,
1t is obvious-as well as mathematical-that If
veto is to be sustained seven Senators must
be weaned away from the bill
Twenty-one Democrats voted for the bill on
It's passage in the Senate: Byrd and Robert
son OF Virginia, Connally and O'Daniel Of
Texas, Eastland of Mississippi Ellender of
Louisiana, Fulbright and Mcclellan of Arkan-
sas, George and Russell of Georgia, Hoey and
Umstead of North Carolina, Hatch of New
Mexico. Holland of Florida, Lucas of Illinois,
McKellar and Stewart of Tennessee, Maybank
of South Carolina, o'Conor and Tydngs of
Maryland and Sparkman of Alabama Here
is the field from which Mr.. Truman must gar
ner seven votes to sustain veto of the labor
bill. Two Republicans voted against the bill.
LANCER of North Dakota and Morse of Oregon.
1t is not expected that the President could
gain another Republican vote to sustain veto.
Could Blame Republicans.
1t is argued by some Democrats that the
President would be better off If the labor bill
were passed over his veto; that he would then
have the friendship of organized labor and also
the new labor law on the statute books-and If
the law were not effective Mr.. Truman could
tell the country that the Republicans who put
the measure through were not too good Should
this be the desire of the White House it would
be simple enough to arrange to permit the bill
to pass over veto. But labor leaders might
scream that Mr.. Truman had not used his in
fuence to win over the necessary seven votes
to sustain veto.
Mr.. Truman has not said definitely what he
is going to do about the labor bill, contenting
himself with waiting until the bill reaches him
in its final form 1t is believed, however, he
would like to veto it," although many Demo-
Gratis are urging him to sign it.
One cynical observer has suggested that the
President will sign the labor bill and offend
organized labor. and that he will then veto the
tax bill and enrage every one else who is look
ing for tax reduction now.
The labor BILL as finally agreed to in con-
ference and as it will go to the White House
is in many respects a good bill and a needed
bit of legislation. It's designation by some of
the labor leaders as slave labor bill" is utter
nonsense. 1t marks a real beginning toward
better adjustment before the law of labor
and management All the arguments pre-
sented are political. Perhaps the President
will act for the good of the country In the end.