Evening star., 1949-12-18
Both Parties Divided
On Policy, But 6. 0.P.
Has Bigger Headache
By the Associated Press

ndS Digger ntdudlht
BY the Associated Press
With 1850 politics popping like
corn, both major parties will go
into the new session of Congress
split wide open over some basic
issues.
AS the opposition party, Repub-
licans face the task of agreeing
early in the year on a statement
of politics that may we'll bring into
BorkIey Says Voters viii Confirm Belief
In Democrats Program. Pose AS
Congress viii Renew Lobbyist Probe, May
Revive Other Investigations. Page AS
the open the back-stage fighting
that has been going on in its
ranks on the conservative VS..
liberal issue.
An administration move to force
congressional action on civil rights
legislation will bring new wedge
into the already divided Demo-
cratic ranks. And, like the Repub-
licans. the Democrats also are
split on whether the Government
should veer to the right or to the
left.
President Truman proved by his
presidential election victory last
year that the Democrats could
win even when they were riding
off in different directions.
Pressure For Unit.
The Republicans have no such
assurance that they could do SO
and thus will be under strong
pressure from some party candi-
dates for House and Senate seats
to get together-at least outWardly
on a program.
Republican orators have stressed
the need for an affirmative pro-
gram. But as it stands today, most
of the agreement within the
Republican party comes on the
negative side.
For example, most Of the Re
publicans are against what they
call the "socialized state" against
raising taxes. against red ink
spending, against Taft-Hartley
repeal, against compulsory health
insurance, and against the Bran
nan farm subsidy payment plan.
When they get over on the af-
firmative side, the Republican
members have a lot of trouble
agreeing among themselves.
Most of them say they want
civil rights legislation. But Sem
ator Taft of Ohio. chairman of the
party's Senatorial Policy Commit
tee. opposes any compulsory fair
employment practices bill.
Military Aid Is Issue.
Senator Taft favors Federal
aid to education and public
housing. proposals that some Of
his party colleagues bitterly op-
pose.
Senator Vandenberg, Republi-
can, of Michigan, wants to keep
on with the military aid program
for Western Europe, which Sena-
tor Taft says ought to be stopped.
Senator Ferguson, Republican,
Of Michigan. wants to abandon
the Marshall Plan aid system in
favor of United States Govern
ment loans to private firms in
foreign countries. Senator VAN
denberg and Senators Smith of
New Jersey and Lodge of Massa-
chusetts wouldn't be likely to
agree to that.
Senator Millikin of Colorado,
chairman of the Republican Sem
atorial Conference, is cunning for
President Truman's point four"
program of encouraging Ameri-
can investments in the worlds
backward areas. Some of his
colleagues support the Presidents
plan.
DSRloSA a. - <11SV DIt1uCus
Party members say these differ
ences indicate the difficulty Re-
publicans will have, in drafting a
program that appeals to the voters
but still avoids the "me-too"
stamp that leaders have said
ought to be wiped out.
Besides the civil rights issue,
the Democrats are divided on
many other policies.
Some of them don't like the
Presidents proposal for compul-
sorry health insurance any more
than the Republicans. Practically
none of them is for increasing
taxes at which Mr.. Truman has
limited. They are split down the
middle on Taft-Hartley repeal
and the Brannan plan. They
can't agree on Federal aid to
education.
While most of the Democrats
support Mr.. Truman's foreign
policy proposals. plenty of them
will be calling for reduction in
Marshall Plan outlays and some
of them will be fighting foreign
arms outlays.
Economy Drive Due.
Senator Byrd. Democrat, Of
Virginia will be leading a fight
to cut Government spending and
to balance the budget, despite
strong indications Mr.. Truman
will say it can't be done this year,
but he holds out hope for the
future.
Despite their differences. the
Democrats will have a made-to-
order program for the 1850 elec-
tions. It will be the program that
Mr.. Truman lays before Congress
in his messages. 1t will be up to
NM n