Evening star., 1949-01-06
Truman S MESSAGE
Called Satisfying 10
Radical Side in u. ).
Eurmurks of Socialism
Seen in One Section of
Address to Congress
By David La,crence

Address to Congress
By David La,crence
President Truman walked rather
gracefully the tightrope Of equal
balance as between conservatism
and radicalism so far as the care
full phrasing Of his state-of-the-
Union message was concerned.
But while the conservatives got
q dose of soothing words, it was the
radical side of American politics
which derived more satisfaction.
Mr.. Truman recommended in
brief that America embark on a
course of spending and redistribution
of property which has many of the
earmarkS of a program of state
socialism such as has weakened
Great Britain and caused the eco
nomic disintegration of Europe.
The President speaks favorably of
American capitalism and the free
enterprise system and then proceeds
to show how effectively it can be
undermined - something whic h
should please Prime Minister Stain,
who is betting on the inroads of
socialism into the American eco
nomic system and the weakening of
that structure.
No Mention of Economy.
Oddly enough. Mr.. Truman, who
says America Is prosperous, does not
viva thu c1inhfacf hint tn hNm
artificial the present boom happens
to be when it is considered that
nearly $15,000,000, 900 is based on
armament spending. made necessary
by mishandling of foreign affairs.
The President outlines many new
projects involving the spending of
more billions and asks for more
taxes. Not a line or word in the
message mentions economy or re-
duction of Government expendi-
lures or reduction. of Government
pay rolls.
Instead. there is a direct threat
to American business by suggestions
that Government money be used to
go into competition with existing
enterprises or that loans of Gov
ernment money be made to sub
sidize those who cannot stand up
as competitors under the free enter
prise system.
There is vague reference to wage
ceilings in connection with some
form Of price control, but such a
return to wartime controls is some
thing on which members of Con-
gress of both parties differ.
Evaded Labor Act Issue.
Mr. Truman wisely refrained from
spelling out how additional taxes
should be levied. He evaded the
issue with which labor -union lead
ers are whether there is
to be immediate repeal of the Taft
Hartley Act and restoration of the
Wagner Act and later some amend
ments to the Wagner law. AS writ
ten, the message could mean imme-
diate amendment of the old Wagner
law or a deferment Of the amend
ments once repeal of the Taft
Hartley Act is accomplished.
This, however, is something Con-
gress will decide, and 1t appears
certain that there will be no repeal
of the Taft-Hartley Act till sub
stitute passes both houses-a sub
stitute that contains the main
features of the Wagner Act and the
Taft-Hartley law.
Unwittingly, perhaps, Mr.. Truman
came out against the closed shop.
The following language, whether so
intended or not, will be quoted
again and again in support of the
closed-shop provisions of the Taft
Hartley Act, as Mr.. Truman said:
I'VE believe that no unfair preju-
dice or artificial distinction should
bar any American from an educa-
tion, or from good health, or from
a job that he is capable of per-
forming"
Program Of Coercion"
The foregoing will be applauded
as an excellent statement on the
Importance of all manner of civil
rights in this country.
Perhaps the most startling section
Of the Presidents message is his
sanction of the entering wedges to
State socialism and Government
ownership. He advocated not merely
the public ownership of transmission
lines from the sources of electrical
power but also threatened the steel
industry and other key industries
with what could conceivably lead
to a naturalization program such
as has been legislated in socialistic
Britain.
Here Is Mr.. Truman's exact Ian
guage proclaiming a program Of
coercion upon American industrial
companies:
Il recommend that the Congress
enact legislation
ITO authorize an immediate study
Of the adequacy of production facil-
tiles for materials in critically short
supply. such as steel; and, if found
necessary, to authorize Government
loans for the expansion of produc-
ton facilities to relieve such Short
ages, and furthermore to authorize
the construction of such facilities
directly if action by private industry
fails to meet our needs"
Other Socialistic Note Found.
Another threat to use emergency
powers, presumably related to short
ages, but introducing a phase of
socialism, is to be found in this bold
II not naive confession of purpose:
"The authority, which I have re-
quested, to allocate materials in
short supply and to impose price
ceilings on such materials, could be
used, If found necessary, to channel
more materials into homes large
enough for family life at prices
which wage earners can afford"
Here is a proposal that threatens
existing property values and the
mortgages held by life insurance
companies and others constituting
the savings of millions of citizens.
Here is the Government proposing
to go into the housing business to
build houses at prices lower than
private industry can afford at pres
ent and to hold over the construc-
tion industry the threat of Govern
n1ent control IL not nationoljzo fioo