Evening star., 1950-05-13
The Political Min ?
Trumon Unlikely TO Win
Fight Against Toft Act
Roll Strike Stirs Public Ire
Aquinst Labor Bosses
Ev Gould LINCOLN

BY Gould Lincoln
President Truman is crying aloud
again his determination to repeal the
Taft-Hartley labor law-notwithstand-
ing the>rash Of important strikes this
year. including coal. automobile and rail-
road. The last is not calculated to put
either Congress or the country in the
frame Of mind to turn the country even
more completely over TO the domination
Of labor bosses.
1t Is not surprising. however, that Mr..
Truman still demands that the country
return to the one-sided Wagner Labor
Relations Act. 1t was one Of his promises
to labor in the l948 political campaign
and this year he is fighting for the elec-
ton Of Democratic Congress (more to
his liking. he hopes, than the present
onel.
The promise OF the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers to
keep the Presidents special train rolling
on his western trip-no matter what
happens to other trains. freight and pas
senger. and to other would-be travellers
is a new kind Of special privilege. II
may be that it is more important for
Mr.. Truman to travel about making
for trains to move carrying the great.
necessary traffic of the country-but 1t
is difficult to understand.
Suspicion of Reward.
The promise of the fremen not to In
terfere with Mr.. Truman's movements
may be predicated on a desire Of the
brotherhood. to respect the offce Of
President of the United States But
there is suspicion that it is also in
tended to reward this particular Presi-
dent-who at one time threatened to
draft into the armed forces all railroad
men.
Just before the President uttered his
pledge of unending battle to repeal the
Taft Hartley Act. the Senate. by a vote
of So to 80, turned back his attempt to
repeal part of the act by executive order.
The vote came on the resolution Of
Senator Taft of Ohio to kill Mr.. Tru-
mans order. under the reorganization
act, to do away with the present inde-
pendent general counsel of the Labor Re-
lationS Board, and place all authority in
the chairman of the Labor Board. Rob-
ert N. Denham, general counsel. has,
since his appointment. Striven to bring
about the enforcement of the Hart
ley Act. The sympathies of the men,
bers of the board. however. have been
those of Mr.. Truman-against the Taft
Hartley Act.
Obviously. with Congress in its present
temper, there is no slightest chance Of
Mr. Truman being able to carry out his
pledge to repeal the Taft Hartley Act.
Indeed the vote in the Senate is merely
a reiteration of support for the labor act.
Further. If there is any new labor legis-
lation. it will be in line with demands
that the laws be amended so as to pro-
vide for compulsory arbitration in rail-
road disputes so as to prevent future tie
ups imperiling the entire country.
Strike Had No Appeal.
This particular railroad strike, to COM
pei the employment of extra firemen
on Diesel locomotives has had no public
appeal whatever. Two fact finding
boards in the past have declared such
employment not necessary. ........as
The course of the Truman administra-
tion. however. has been to give labor
what it demands whenever 1t can. Cyni-
cally, why shouldn't 1t be that way2
The CIO-PAC and AFL's League for Po-
litical Education are adjuncts Of the
Fair Deal Democrats. In some States,
they have virtually taken over the run
ming of Democratic campaigns. There
has grown up. too. touching belief in
Fair Deal circles that labor bosses can
deliver the votes of union members.
One of the strangest happenings in re-
cent days, on Capitol HILL was the action
of Representative Lesin-ki. Democrat. Of
Michigan. chairman of the House Labor
Committee, which prevented an imme-
diate investigation of charges that John
l.. Lewis. by secret signals, had kept
alive the coal strike last winter, when Mr..
Lewis was publicly calling for resump-
ton of coal mining. Mr.. Lesinski ac-
compliShed this by removing subpoena
power from Chairman Jacobs, Democrat.
of Indiana, head of subcommittee, who
was going to put Mr.. Lewis on the grill
What will the public think Of such tao
tics?