Evening star., 1952-06-03
Werner,
Clash on
Steel Ruling
Two 9th District
Candidates Bottle
At Bethesda c. c.

Maryland 9Th district candidates
for the House of Representatives
clashed head-on last night over
the Supreme Courts ruling against
President Truman's seizure of the
steel industry.
Mrs. Stella B. Werner, Demo.
cratic candidate, asserted the
President should have the right of
seizure in time of emergency. She
blamed the present steel seizure on
q poor price control law put
through by the Republicans.
De Witt S. Hyde. G. o. p. candi-
date, called the President insolent
and presumptuous in seizing the
industry. He thanked goodness"
for the courts decision. He added
the President should have asked
Congress for the authority.
The two candidates met for the
first time since the May S primary
before the Bethesda Chamber of
Commerce, at the Kenwood Coun-
try Club. The prepared question:
and-anSwer program was broad.
cast over station WGAY.
Agree Congress Slow.
Both Mrs. Werner and Mr..
Hyde agreed the Congress was slow
in acting. Mrs. Werner said she
thought Congress Immediately
should pass legislation giving the
President the authority to act.
1.-THE President should have
more powers in emergencies to
keep industry moving" she said.
Mr.. Hyde, however, terming the
American governmental system
clumsy and inefficient, said it was
SO with purpose.
"Our forefathers knew what
they were doing in setting UP q
Government of divided author
ity," he said. IT am against
streamlining Government along
dictatorial lines"
He added that too much legis-
lation was passed in the name
of emergency.
Questions Follow.
The two Montgomery County
residents took turn asking each
other questions. Then the way
was opened for questions from
the floor. Robert j. Smith, pub.
Usher Of three county weeklies.
moderated the program.
Asked If she favored repeating
the Taft-Hartley Act, Mrs.
Warner replied by defining the
law as an amendment to the
Wagner Act. "the labor law of
the country"
7 definitely am in favor of
realistic repeal of the Taft Hartley
amendments. but not for repeal Of
all Of them." she said.
She charged the law has penal
lied not only misuses of trade
unionism, but also has punished
honest unionists who were not
guilty Of improper acts.
Mr.. Hyde opposed Federal aid
to education on grounds it would
lead to State-controlled schools.
He added, however, there are some
areas, such as Montgomery Coun-
ty, which he thinks should re.
ceive Federal aid because of the
influx Of Government agencies
and installations, which pay no
local taxes.
Favors Local Control.
Mrs. Werner stood her ground
for a Federal aid program to
equalize students educational op-
portunities and to guarantee
teachers living wage. She added.
however. local governments must
be permitted to retain control of
spending and Of curricula.
Both candidates agreed that
there is room for reduction in
domestic spending. Both agreed a
cut could be made In the Agricul-
ture Departments appropriation.
Mrs. Werner said she would not
support the Brannan farm price
support program today, because
1t would not flt into the present
economic structure. She charged
that the Republican farm pro-
gram is negative and offers no
security to the farmer.
In answer to a question on for
eign policy, Mr.. Hyde accused the
administration of selling the
United States and its Allies down
the river. He said. that if it had
not been for the administrations
playing footsies with the Rus
slams" in the postwar conferences
there would have been no Berlin,
Turkey. Korea or Greece.
Mrs. Werner also said she op-
poses a compulsory Federal Fair
Employment Practice Commission.
She said this is matter to be
handled on a State level.