Evening star., 1951-08-26

ISO1. DC11 SlOoUy, O11C VI UIlC dUlcSb
men in the State or any depart
ment. He reported a move afoot
to wipe out the public liaison di-
vision Of the State Department,
which provides facts on foreign
policy for such organizations as
the American Legion, the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars and for in
quiring individuals.
Found Senator Tom Underwood
Democrat. of Kentucky, and Estes
Kefauver, Democrat, of Tennessee,
who also are interested in keeping
the channels of information to
the public open. South the help
of Majority Leader Mcfarland
and Senator Pat McCarran. DEM
ocrat, of Nevada, and got it.
Twenty-four hours late, the
Senate sustained us.
Heading toward lunch at 3:27,
stopped by Bob Ball, who said
that Senator Burnet r. Maybank,
democrat. of South Carolina, had
called rush meeting of the Bank
ing and Currency Committee at
to hear Eric Johnston and Mike
Di Sale discuss the Presidents
anti-inflation message.
Back on the floor at 3:45, after
a snack, found that some Republi-
cans either had had a dose of
conscience, or were trying a cute
trick. Three had introduced an
amendment to the anti-inf1ation
law repeating the Capehart and
Herlong DirkSen amendments
which had booby-trapped the
anti-inflation law, and restoring
slaughtering quotas, to check
black markets. Some of our boys
thought it just a trick, so the Re-
publicans could say they had tried
to do just what the President
wanted. I think we should well
come them as new recruits to the
anti-inflation drive. Take them
at their word, and pass a decent
law.
Socialism" Charge Made.
On the floor, some of the very
Senators who were instrumental
in torpedoing adequate provisions
on the previous bill now were
charging that the President really
wanted imitation, and that, any
how, any direct attempt by the
Government to hold prices from
rising is socialism" This got
me into a brisk little exchange
which made me late for the Bank
ling Committee.
The meeting with Johnston and
Di Sale, where we decided to
take up the imitation issue during
the coming week, lasted until 10
of s. with a presS conference fol-
lowing. After that, returned to
the floor.
This was mistake. The only
Democrats in the room were the
Vice President, in the chair, and
Majority Leader Mcfarland. Sen
ator George w. Malone (Republi-
can of Nevada. with one other
Republican mtently listening, was
making q speech, which lasted 90
minutes.
Senator Mcfarland said that he
had q long-distar1ce phone call to
take. He instantly appointed me
Acting Majority Leader, a rather
empty honor at the moment, since
it involved sitting there on the
I"dog watch" I protested, Work
to dol" He promised to be back.
Shortly, he surprised me by COM
ing back.
Back in my Office around $50,
answered five newspaper phone
calls on the imitation issue. Called
Senator Maybank suggesting that
the Senators who had suddenly
got conscience" be called as first
to testify before our committee.
Ball reminded me to finish final
touches on speech before Demo-
cratic caucus at 7:15. but Gillis
Long, investigator for the Small
Business Mobilization Watchdog
Committee. of which Senator
Sparkman made me chairman,
came in for a conference on the
black market in nickel.
Constituent Needed Help.
This made me late to the caucus,
but in time for the steak. Re-
turned to Office at 1926 pm. to-
find long-distance call from con-
Istituent who needed help-quick--
on contract relationship with gov
Iernmeutal agency. Listened for
20 minutes. Six minutes later,
constituents associate called from
New York. Then constituent called
back.
At 11:43 pm. started signing
mail. Then, at 1911 am. decided
that I'd better digest speech for
press release. Ball, who works
twice as hard as I do, said:
mix. I'll do that. You have to
do three radio tranScriptions first
thing In the morning-for your 81
Michigan stations, for WJR-De-
troit, and for WLS-Chicago. You
have dates with that gal from
Pageant magazine, and with Holo-
han of the Michigan bean growers,
and CHS is bringing television
equipment for comment on the
price bill at IL. In the afternoon.
you have to battle this thing
through for Crosby, and the effort
to cut the heart out of the Voice
of America is up on the floor, and
you have to write that column and
get it in New York by 8 pm. Go
home"
That, believe it or not, Larry,
was my day.
tReleAsed by the Bell Syndicate. Ine.)