Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-15
The Political Mill
Senate Vote on OIds Seen
Blow to Party Discipline
Democrats Wonder Why Truman Tried
to Put Heat on Upper Body

President Truman and Democratic Ma
tional Chairman William Boyle have discov-
cred it's difficult thing to put the heat on
the Senate-and some of the Democrats are
wondering just why they tried it. The vote
IN the upper house on the reappontment
OF Leland Odds to be member of the Fed
eral Power Commission showed only IS
Democratic Senators supporting the de-
mand Of the President for confirmation.
Twenty-one Democratic Senators voted
against Mr.. Olds. The President insisted
that 1t was a matter of party discipline
support of the Olds appointment If that
Is the case. 1t looks as though party disci-
plne, Tor the time being at least, has gone
with the wind
main charge against Mr. Olds was that
he had written pro-Communist articles
showing himself a fellow-traveler The re-
ply OF his supporters was that these articles
were written 20 years ago and should not
be held against him now. Mr. Odds himself
told the Senate Interstate and Foreign Com
merce Committee that he would have writ
ten the articles differently today-but he
did not recant
Issue in New York Campaign.
This raises again the question whether
the Administration is inclined to be soft
with the Reds and fellow travellers in this
country. It's an issue which has already
been thrust into the senatorial campaign
now going on in New York where Senator
Dulles. Republican. is pitted against For
mer Governor Herbert H. Lehman. Mr.. Dulles
has not charged that Mr. Lehman is a Com
munist or sympathiZer with communism.
He has insisted, however, that Mr. Lehman
is receiving the support of the Communists
and of the American Labor Party which Is
Communist dominated Mr.. Dulles, who
came back to Washington especially to vote
against Mr.. Odds, is continuing to ring the
changes on this issue.
The fact that the President tried to crack
the party whip over members of the Senate
raises another important question. The
Senate, under the Constitution has the duty
OF passing on presidential appointments
The Senate. belonging to separate and dis
tinct branch of the government, is not con-
additionally expected to take orders from
the head of the executive branch
Governor Tuck of Virginia, Democrat, re-
plying to Mr. Boyle's telegram urging him
to bring pressure to bear on Senator Byrd
and Senator Robertson - both Virginia
Democrats-in favor of Mr.. Odds, said that
he never had and never would, as Governor
undertake to influence the vote of mem
Der of Congress from his own State He
added:
DUTY and Power of Senate"
The United States Senate has the duty
"A1S' oAiS Po"CA VI SOlll1 ul1lB TeJeCLlnS
certain appointments made by the Presi-
dent. which power under our system of de-
mocracy is separate and distinct from the
executive and ought to remain so. .
Your implied threat of withholding patron
age (jobs) from those who may refuse to
vote for confirmation is violation of the
fundamental principles of checks and bal
ances."
1t you'd be idle to contend that other
Presidents have not sought to influence
members OF the Senate to vote for their
appointees, and put pressure on them. But
never before has it been done in such a
wholesale and public manner, the President,
through the partys national chairman, call
ing on Governors, State chairmen and ma
tional committeeman to help push the SEN
ators into line. The refusal of the Presi-
dents own party members in the Senate
to go along with Mr.. Truman on the Olds
appointment, glaringly exposed in the Sem
ate may be blow to Mr.. Truman's prestige.
1t may also mark the beginning of a cam
paign to eliminate some if not all of the
recalcitrants.
The actual vote in the Senate on Olds
was So against and Is for his confirmation.
This does not give a complete picture, how
ever. Nine Democrats were paired for Olds
and three against him. which would be a
division Of "a Democrats against and % for
him, with half dozen Democratic Senators
not voting and not paired.