Evening star., 1949-05-04
Truman Labor Defeat
May Spur Him 10 Put
Case Before People
By the A,,oeiatsd Pres,


administration efforts to repeal
the Taft-Hartley labor law raised
the possibility today that President
Truman might carry his case 6i-
rectly to the people.
MIR. Truman's assertion last
week that a vote on this issue
would be regarded by him as a
test Of party loyalty backfred with
a 2l7-203 House vote yesterday
approving the Republican-backed
Wood labor bill.
For the President. this roll call
vote represented a major political
defeat on his campaign promise
to wipe of the books the Taft
Hartley Act passed by the Repub-
ucan-controlled 80th Congress.
For the II Democrats who voted
with 146 Republicans for the Wood
bill, 1t represented a break with
the President which may be re-
fiected in opposition TO other
measures on his program. The
coalition thus triumphed in the
biggest political test yet in the
8lst Congress.
The White House kept silent
today on how the President felt
about the setback and what-if
anything-he might do about the
Democrats who voted for the bill.
Mr.. Truman indicated last week
that patronage would be denied
to Democrats who swung out of
line on the labor vote.
Ross Refuses to Comment.
Reporters sought to learn from
Charles G. Ross. the Presidents
secretary. whether Mr.. Truman
now would make such a move.
They got this reply:
II don't care to add anything
TO what has been said"
Farm Plan Moving Slowly.
The defeat raised the immediate
question on Capitol Hill whether
the President might return to his
February frame of mind-when he
spoke openly Of touring the coun-
try If Congress failed to act on
his proposals.
House Speaker Rayburn told
reporters he knew of no plans of
Mr. Truman to stump the Nation
and said he did not think Mr..
Truman had any intention of leav-
ing Washington on a speaking
tour while Congress is in session.
Senator Pepper. Democrat. of
Florida said there would be
time enough next year" for the
President to tour the country If
other votes go against his program.
Another important part of that
program-the administration plan
for new farm aid system-is not
making much headway in Con-
gress.
Mr.. Truman discussed farm
matters with a group of agri-
cultural editors yesterday. They
said afterward that he discussed
his farm speeches of last years
campaign and quoted him as COM
menting:
"The farmers apparently rea-I
lized which side of their bread
was buttered. I'm sure they will
continue to realize that"
Quote Deleted from transcript.
(This quote was not in
cluded in the White House
transcript of Mr.. Trumans
remarks to the editors.)
Mr.. Truman Clearly indicated
at his news conference last week
that Democrats who don't support
the party platform can't expect
to share in party patronage. That |
marked the first open break in
the be-kind-to- Congress campaign
he had carried on since he re-
turned from a Florida vacation
March 10.
Only yesterday. William M.
Boyle. jr., executive director of
the Democratic National Commit
tee, tried to modify the patronage
edict with a statement that it is
mot a hard and fast rule"
= But Mr.. Boyle's statement,
amade after a White House visit,
scame too late to have much effect
@on the Turbulent House, where
leaders privately blamed the
Presidents patronage stand for
the loss of some votes.