Evening star., 1949-02-22
me Tont'eo' NH 'Se'4sssffr
Foes of Taft Act Seen
Preparing for Retreat
Murray Takes Comfort From Fact
Taft Won't Oppose Amendments
Bv Gould Lincoln

l. With number of face saving statements,
opponents Of the Taft-Hartley labor law
apparently are preparing to retreat from
the position of outright repeal of that act
This goes for Philip Murray, president Of
the CIO, who does not cease denouncing
the law, but who now takes comfort from
the fact-as he recites it-that Senator Taft.
co-author of the law, is himself willing to
have a series of amendments made
Senator Morse of Oregon, one of three
Republicans who voted against the act when
it was before the Senate, also is drawing
satisfaction from what he calls "one of the
finest things" which have come out of the
Senate hearings on the repeater bill-"the
fair-minded objectivity with which Bob Taft
has considered testimony and evidence on
the shortcomings of the Taft-Hartley Law"
Senator Morse concluded that he and Sem
ator Taft were much nearer together on
the point of the need of law less drastic
against labor than we were in 1947 when
the Taft-Hartley Law was passed"
Odd Claims Expected.
Perhaps the opponents of the Taft-Hart-
ley Act will get around to claiming that
the Ohio Senator believes in repeal of the
law which bears his name-although that
would require tremendous stretch of the
imagination. The fact is Senator Taft was
not entirely satisfied with the bill as it
passed and has never contended that 1t
should not be amended.
The opponents of the labor law are, in
their statements, trying to weaken the po-
sltlon OF its supporters by seeking to show
that its chief proponent in the 8Oth Con-
gress is in measure lukewarm to it, and at
the same time pave the way for face-saving
on their own part. 1t is impossible to read
the statements of either Mr. Murray or
Senator Morse without receiving an inn
preston that-much as they wish repeal
the final result will be compromise.
Senator Taft Is neither luke-warm to the
law which bears his name nor is he likely
to lose IN his fight to have many of It's pro-
visions retained. Fifty-three Senators who
voted to pass the Taft-Hartley bill over
the Presidents veto are in the present Con-
gress, and several of the newly elected Sem
ators would nave voted for the bill had they
been In Congress at the time. majority
OF the Senate is 40. Obviously the so-called
repeater bill is going to be written on the
floor OF the Senate-and the administration
and the labor leaders-are going to be
compelled to take the product whether they
like it or not.
Hearings Nearly Ended.
The hearings on the repeater bill-the
Thomas bill-are virtually concluded. In
the committee, which is heavily pro-labor
the Thomas bill may stand unchanged, or
at most. be slightly modif1ed-depending on
how far the administration is willing to
make concessions. In the Senate itself.
however, the repeater bill is due for a thor
ough going over. 1t is at that time the great
est pressure will be brought to bear on
Senators to vote with the President and the
labor leaders. The Democratic whip of the
Senate, Senator Myers. of Pennsylvania, has
called on the labor unions to exert all their
powers to win votes in Congress for the re-
pealer. This means threats of defeat at the
polls If Senators and Representatives vote
against the wish of the labor leaders. It was
a bare-faced attempt to make use of the
strongest lobby in Washington.
Obviously. after the repeater bill has been
passed-if it has been amended in many
particulars-the opponents of the act will
undertake to show that the new measure is
really repeal act, even though Taft
Hartley provisions are retained. On the
other side. supporters Of Taft Hartley will
argue there has been no real repeal
Both Senator Taft and Senator Morse
come up for Te-election next year. Senator
Taft has already been marked for defeat by
organized labor, while Senator Morse may
expect its support. The decision in the Taft
race will be more significant, probably, than
any other single election next year.