Evening star., 1950-05-07
Sees Pepper Defect
As Blow to Trumun
Writer Believes Smothers
Will Fovor Economy
By Fronk r. Kent

The particularly pleasing thing about
the defeat of Senator Claude Pepper in
the Florida Democratic primary was it,
size. The smashing SmatherS majority
was so large as to leave no room for the
prepared alibiS that victory was achieved
with Republican votes or corporation
money. Nevertheless, the professional
liberals" whose darling Mr.. Pepper was.
have not Scrupled to use these in the
vain effort to minimize the blow to their
so-called cause" and its national signi-
fcance
The truth is the elimination of Mr..
Pepper by so emphatic a verdict is q
severe shock TO the forces Of what Mr..
Hoover calls the New Generosity"
These have dominated the Government
OF the United States for nearly II years
and by their uncontrolled expenditure
OF Federal funds have created a state OF
financial disorder and unbalance appall-
ing TO every thoughtful citizen. bringing
US perilouSly close to fiscal disaster.
In the whole Congress there has been
no more effective. and unreStrained adj
vocate of the spending policies than Mr..
Pepper. Undaunted by either debts or
has consistently supported every New
Deal and Fair Deal proposal costing
money. In his campaign he urged more
Federal financing. further expansion Of
the Federal authority and functions,
increased old age and unemployed PEN
SionS, SocialiZed medicine and repeal OF
the Taft Hartley Act. In contrast, Mr..
SmatherS Is against deficit financing.
Tor balancing the budget. against social
lze medicine, for more free enterprise
ana less Government control.
In addition, of course. while Mr.. Smath.
ers favors the Taft Hartley Act. Mr..
Pepper has been the practically perfect
ClO stooge. From its viewpoint he is a
shining hero with hundred per cent
voting record" 1t is not surprising the
C1O plunged deeply into the Florida
night. made special drive to get the
Negroes registered and, aided by the
AFL and railroad brotherhoodS spent
considerable money to save their boy. In
consequence the CIO took 1t on the chin,
along with Senator Pepper and again has
demonstrated that its loud boasts Of
political power are without solid base.
In Florida last week their support of
Senator Pepper was just as futile as their
opposition to Senator Byrd last year.
II, as expected, Senator Taft carries
Ohio by big vote in November, the dire
threats of these labor bosses about driv-
ing disobedient public men out of politi-
cal life will be far more widely recognized
as the hollow bluff they really are--and
that will be very salutary for the country.
AS to the effect on Mr.. Truman, the
result is more significant than II Mr..
Pepper had merely been succeeded by q
Republican. Mr.. Smathers, in open OPP
position to Trumans policies particu-
larly his FEPC policy-is a Democrat.
That makes it doubly bad for the admin.
iStration. 1t threatens the whole Tru.
man welfare program. It emphasizes the
split in the Democratic Party on domestic
issues. 1t strengthens the position Of
Senator Byrd and other antiwelfare-
state Democrats. It probably will be
another Senate vote and voice for econ
omy. And, though Mr.. Truman was
cagey enough not publicly to become in
volved in the fight, the Pepper defeat
starts him off on his big whistle-stop
tour with loss in party strength which
hardly can be explained except on the
embarrassing ground that his program
failed to appeal to the people in the
first State where test has been possible
this year. He has been further weak
ened by inevitably diminished confidence
Of many Democratic members OF Con-
gress as to the vote-getting potency OF
the Truman policies.
In brief, all along the line the Florida
result is unfortunate from the Truman
standpoint. Certainly 1t will be more
difficult for him to keep up his cocky
assurance that either the public or his
party is behind him with any degree OF
solidity.