Evening star., 1950-11-12
Sees Election Results
As Defeat for Loborites
Writer Says Truman Program
Also Received Setback
By Fronk R. Kent


The election results now have been
dissected, analyzed and interpreted by a
vast number of more or less profound
dissectors, analysts and interpreters.
Naturally, not all Of these agree. Ger
tainly they leave plenty Of room for
argument and. Of course, there are few
known instances of anyone ever win
ming a political argument anywhere.
However, certain things seem plain
Beyond question the outstandingly sig
nificant and most important of these is
the great victory upward of 430,0c1
majority of Senator Taft in Ohio. All
over the country there is relief and re-
joicing at this among Democrats as well
as Republicans who fully grasped what
was involved in the anti-Taft fight
That was far more than a party fight
or State fight. It was far bigger than
Mr.. Taft and his opposition as indi-
viduals. It presented the most vital
national issue of the whole campaign.
For Mr.. Taft's opponent was not the
Democratic party. His real opponents
were the labor politicians vino took over
the Democratic party in Ohio, financed
and directed the campaign, putting into
1t labor union solidity and strength
such as had never been achieved before
The avowed purpose Of the unified labor
bosses was to drive Mr.. Taft out of pub
lie life because they could not control
him. In this they were supported to
the limit OF its power by the Truman
Administration. Vice President Barkley
was sent in to make four speeches.
Various Cabinet members and other
Federal officials toured the State. As
the Presidents personal representative,
Avereu Hartman assailed MIR. Taft
before labor convention No Admin
lstratlon stone was left unturned.
Obviously had this labor boss attempt
to defeat Senator Taft succeeded. it
would have enormously enhanced their
power and prestige. It would have
demonstrated their ability to destroy
any public man who defied them, It
would have completed their dominance
OF the Democratic party and instilled
1ear among all aspirants for and hoad-
ers Of elective Office.
Fallure OF the effort is tremendously
heartening for a number of reasons: Cd
1t shows the inability of the labor poll
ltlclans to deliver their own votes; co
IL SHOWS that the reaction of the people
is emphatlcally against labor-union
dominance OF politics and government;
90 1t makes 1t impossible for them to
DULY and bluff members of Congress in
quite the way they have in the past;
I'd it has exhibited them as dirty and
unscrupulous fighters; (5) it undoubt-
edly is the worst reverse these arrogant
and greedy leaders of organized labor
ever had; (6) by diminishing them in
size and lessening the fear whieh they
inspired among the more timid members
OF Congress, 1t will have a wholesome
effect upon politics generally; CD it ends
all possibility Of repeating the Taft
Hartley Act so vehemently promised by
Mr.. Truman. Also. in Colorado, Utah,
Illinois and Pennsylvania the labor
bosses marked for defeat the Republican
candidates who won.
Aside from the Taft triumph, other
election results Of significance seem to
be: ID End Of the idea that there is
political magic in the Roosevelt name
the crushing defeat Of James Roosevelt
IN California leaves no room to argue
about that; 60 Republican successes in
so many States make 1t impossible for
the most ardent administrationist to
regard the election with qualification or
for Mr.. Truman to consider 1t as
mandate" for his program. As a matter
Of fact. chances for passage at the next
session Of the Brannan farm bill, the
socialized medicine bill or any other of
the Truman domestic recommendations
of the last session appear eliminated.
Further. it should strengthen the econ
omy forces in Congress, who believe that
nondefense expenditures should be cut
to the bone, in contrast with the view
of the White House economists.