Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1949-11-25
Republican Policy
Assures Democrats
Big so Victory
By NATHAN ROBERTSON


ers by deciding to continue their blind OPP
position TO the Fair Deal program have vir-
tually assured big Democratic victory in next
years Congressional elections-provided labor
does its part in getting out the vote.
Making predictions is not my forte Too
much of the modern forecasting game is hocus-
pocus But post-electon by Republican lead
ers make it safe to forecast that next year
unless something unforeseen develops-the
Republicans will take their worst off-year
beating since 1884 when the late President
Roosevelt was at the height OF his popularity.
These statements from their responsible
leaders indicate the Republicans will continue
to roll up a voting record in Congress OF
almost solid opposition to the most important
Fair Deal proposals. This voting record has
spelled defeat for the Republicans In almost
every election for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of
the candidates they put up or the tactics they
use during election campaigns.
That the Republicans plan to continue the
same obstructionist policy in Congress was
made clear by Sen. Robert A. Taft, Republi-
can boss of the Senate, and by former Cow
Harold Stassen of Minnesota, once the white
hope" of liberal Republicans.
Taft told the Republican New York Herald
Tribune that he did not regard the New York
election as a setback for the Republican party
nationally-and said that Republicans in Con-
gress would go ahead with plans to oppose
most of the Truman plan in Congress.
Stassen said almost the same thing. Although
he admitted he Republican party was in a bad
way and needed reorganization, he said it
should oppose the Truman Administrations
'gravey train" approach to domestic issues
These statements show the party has not
learned anything from the defeat of Sen. John
Foster Dulles and the other Democratic tri-
umphs in the recent elections, The Republi-
cans seem to believe they can continue to vote
against the peoples interests from one election
to the next and still win.
To most Washington observers their perss-
tence seems suicidal Perhaps it is induced by
the fact that the Republicans get their big cam
pagn funds from duPonts and others like them
who would not support any more liberal pro-
gram. Partly it results from the fact that the
Republicans still in office, after 20 years of
Democratic victories come from the most con-
servatve areas of the country and no longer
represent the view point of the rank and file
even within the Republican party.
There once were many liberals in the Repub-
lican party--men like LaFollette, Norris and
Borah, They are gone. Few liberals are left,
The conservatives are in control.
Regardless of causes the determination Of
the Republicans to remain ultra conservative
assures continued Democratic victories The
voters this year showed again that they favor
the Truman reforms and cannot be scared by
such catchwords as welfare state" and stat
ism. They want social progress regardless of
what it is called.
So long as the Republicans continue to vote
against measurer that are obviously needed
and wanted by the people, and to denounce
such measurer as gravy, the people will vote
for someone else
The people obviously believe, with President
afford better standard of living for many of
its people--that only by raising the living
standards OF the ill-fed and ill-housed can the
nation reach its objective of sustained full en-
ployment.
The only "if' in all of this is whether the
people generally are kept sufficiently informed
of what goes on to get out and vote on election
day. That Is where organized labor plays big
part in the future OF the country.
Republicans like Taft and Stassen represent
well-oreanized minority who have vested
interest in maintaining conditions as they are
lin high profits, in monopoly powers, and in
weak government These people have money
for political organization and propaganda They
are always on the job
Labor unions are composed of millions of
people who have only begun to realize how
political decisions affect them and their lives.
They know the kind of country they want
but they have had little experience in organ
izing politically The last two elections have
shown they are lecrning. If they continue, the
political future of the country is assured.