Evening star., 1948-02-12
| Taft Sees Solution
I0f Priee-Wage Spiral
In Commodity Drop
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

BY The Assoeiofsd Press
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Feb. H..
Senator Taft, Republican, of
Ohio said today that a recent
dip in the commodity markets.
may have solved the problems of
Iprice-wage spiral.
| Here for a major foreign policy
speech tonight, Senator Taft told a
news conference he does not believe
faltering commodities prices point
toward any general depression.
But the Ohio Senator said he
hopes that I'VE may now look toward
Strengthening out Of the curve of
Imitation"
| IF that takes place" he said,
/ then we will have the problem of
adjusting those things which are
out of line"
Need for Parity Support.
"In this connection it may be-
come necessary for the Government
to support the price Of wheat and
other commodities at the parity
level return for farmers which, he
said, Congress has promised to
maintain throughout 1948."
Asked If the drop in commodities
prices would halt attempts to reduce
Federal taxes, Senator Taft said he
foresaw no such result. He said only
a. general depression. would be likely
to reduce revenues so sharply as to
make it impossible to cut taxes.
II see no reason to think this drop
will bring depression or interfere
with full employment unless it be-.
comes much more serious than 1t
now appears" Senator Taft said.
Stern Attitude on Marshall Plan.
Senator Taft has found a hard
boiled approach to the Marshall
Plan and tax reduction the most re-
sponsive issues among Illinois and
Indiana Republicans.
At least, supporters noted, his
mention of those issues has drawn
the largest share of infrequent ap-
plause at speeches delivered in Chi
cago, Bloomington, ILL.,; Gary and
Hammond, Ind.
Senator Taft invaded today the
nominally hostile territory of Min
nesota. Here, former Gov. Harold
E. Stassen, who broke the un-
written rules by challenging Sen
ator Taft's Ohio backing for the
Republican presidential nomina-
ton, is strongly intrenched.
Taft Backers Confident.
In fact, Mr.. Stassen is credited
with such grass roots support in
this State that Senator Taft's
hackers say their friends will not
raise their heads publicly until what
they regard as an opportune time
at the Philadelphia COP conven-
ton.
Mr.. Stassen's supporters contend
that time never will come. But the
Taft people remain outwardly con-
fdent they can land on their feet
with the Minnesota delegation of
25 if Stassen fails to make the
grade.
Senator Taft's MidNestern recep-
tion thus far has not been such as
to change his views on any Of the
major issues of the day.
He got his biggest. applause of
the trip at Hammond yesterday
when he demanded that Europeans
show signs they intend to help
themselves before they receive any
help from the United States.
I'm in favor Of aid to Europe,
but I think it ought to be ad-
ministered with due regard to the
American taxpayer" the Ohioan
asserted.
| With this as a primary cretd,
Senator Taft was expected to eall
in Lincoln speech here tonight
for tough policy Of administer
ing the Marshall Plan for Euro
pean recovery. @
He already has said he wants
cut in the $500, ,000, 900 starting
cost proposed by President Truman.
He has called for the plans man
agement by separate administra-
tor with cabinet status. Both pro-
posals seem likely to get favorable
consideration of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee.
! The Ohioan discussed the Taft
Hartley labor law yesterday at
| Gary, stronghold of organized labor.
He conceded, in connection with the
i Federal indictment of CIO Presi-
dent Phil Murray, that some
change in the acts ban on union
activities may be needed.
Senator Taft said he had no
knowledge of the Federal case
against Mr.. Murray and could not
pass on it. But he said he thinks
that any regular union newspaper,
sent to members and a regular sub
scription list, should be allowed to
point political opinion and adver-
tisements.
The only ban he would place, he
said, would be against the free, or
throE-away, type of circulation of
such papers to influence campaign
results,