Evening star., 1949-06-05

Many OF the Presidents most
jealous campaign supporters have
voiced their great disappointment
at the obvious lack Of progress
The Americans for Democratic
Action, criticizing the Senate and
House Democratic leaders, talk
about a flag Of surrender" and
betrayal of the Democratic plat
form" President Philip Murray
of the CIO complained to Senate
Majority Leader Scott w. Lucas
about the failure to carry out the
promise to repeal the Taft-Hart-
ley labor law, to raise the hourly
minimum wage and to extend the
social security coverage.
Republicans Happy
Meanwhile the Republicans are
jubilant. although their platform
contained many planks generally
similar to those in the Democra-
tic. Chairman Hugh Scott exulted
the other day:
mo man ever made more prom
ises to the American people than
did MIR. Truman during the 1948
campaign. Never was 50 much
promised to so maryland so lit
tie done about it."
The Dixiecrats, who opposed
Truman at the Philadelphia con-
vention and entered their own
candidate In the election, just lay
low and join with the Republicans
when the most important items
are in committee or up for a vote.
They definitely hold the balance
of power in the Senate, and can
on occasions, such as on labor
legislation and probably on the
minimum wage, determine what
the House will approve. reject or
compromise.
The Southern Democrats--Re-
publican coalition is the principal
reason for the present lack of
positive performance. Another
factor that ties In with the coali-
tion is the Senate rules permitting
filibusters, which the Truman
administration succeeded only in
modifying, not repeating. last
winter.
A third factor is inept staff
work at the White House, includ-
ing timing of definite proposals.
Mr.. Trumar1's fear Of trespassing
on what he thinks are the legisla-
tive prerogatives. and his shoot
ing-from- -the-hip remarks.
Timetable Doubtful
The performance also looks
small because 30 much was prom
ised. It LIS highly questionable
whether the country could digest
or be able to pay for ut this time
all the far-reaching legislation rec
commended by Mr.. Truman in his
campaign speeches. his state-of-
the Union. budget. economic and
inaugural addresses. It is also
highly questionable whether he
intended his recommendations to
be enacted at one session or by
a single Congress. He offered no
timetable except for Taft Hartley
repeal, rent control, housing legls-
lation and a few laws that would
automatically expire unless ex-
tended.
1t is a matter of record, of
course, that in his acceptance
speech at Philadelphia, after
enumerating the similarities in
the Democratic and Republican
platforms. the President asserted
that if there were "any reality
in the Republican platform, they
could do the job In Is days"
in the extra session Of the 80th
Congress. But that was campaign
talk and campaign tactics. He
got virtually nothing from that
special session. and made the most
of that fact in his whistle-Stop
campaign.
He interpreted his victory in
that campaign as a mandate for
all he had promised. though, in
fact, some of his promises were
in generalities, such as his farm
subsidy program that required
months of study before it was
finally drafted by Agriculture Sec
retary Charles F. Brannan, and
his national health insurance plan
on which hearings are just being
scheduled.
Short Honeymoon
Some Of the Presidents pro-
gram, like extension of civil rights
increase of minimum hourly
wages, extension Of social security
coverage. Federal aid to educa-
tion, housing loans and subsidies
and parity subsidies to farmers
was also included in the Repub-
lican platform and promised by
Thomas z. Dewey. The Repub-
licans also favored. though less
specifically, continued economic
aid to Europe. and Mr.. Dewey
wanted something like the At
lantic security pact.
Because of the similarities in
the Democratic and Republican
platforms there was talk, at the
beginning Of MFR. Truman's elect
ed term. Of honeymoon" in
which q large part of the admin
istration's program would be
quickly approved by Congress. Al
this correspondent pointed out ir
January. however. the honey.
moon" was not expected to last
six months and the next 100 days
would be the test Of the admin.
istration's social welfare program
It was also noted that although
MIR. Truman had not made public
any timetable Of priorities on leg.
islation. he would have to put the
force Of his position as President
and as head of the Democrats
Party behind specific Legislation
II he wanted to make q recort
- ~~~wf ~s.<yH a yana