Evening star., 1952-09-13
Taff's Promise
0fAid CIearsA All
For Eisenhower
General Brushes Up
On His Speeches
For Midwest Tour
BY Crosby S. Noyes
Star Stoff Correspondent

tomorrow evening by train on his
trip which includes back-platform
appearances in nearly 70 commu-
mites. The 13-day. 11-State tour
opens in Fort Wayne, Ind, Mon
day.
Tuesday afternoon, the general
will leave the train to fly back
to New York for a major speech
at the American Federation of
Labor convention, returning the
following evening.
Gen. Eisenhower this morning
took time out from work on his
speeches to address a meeting of
the Citizens for Eisenhower Nixon.
He told the cheering volunteer
workers that a crusading spirit
will go further than political Or
ganization toward winning the
election.
The general said, IT believe in
organization. but I believe more in
spirit. and that is what I see here
today"
Little Reaction on Taft.
There has been little reaction in
the Eisenhower camp to the state
ment issued yesterday by Senator
Taft. pledging the general his un-
conditional support in the drive
for the presidency. It's immediate
effect will be to clear the air and
put an end to rumors about the
Senator's course of action-rumors
that have thrown the general and
his advisers recently into a state
of nervous irritation. Whether or
not it will achieve real party unity
and the enthusiastic backing of
the more conservative party ele-
ments is something that remains
to be seen.
Certainly. there have been no
complaints around here that the
Senator has not done his part to
heal the breach.
Perhaps the most striking thing
about the Taft statement was that
it defined the generals views on a
number of subjects far more clear
ly than the candidate himself has
defined them so far.
1t was known, of course, that
Gen. Eisenhower stood generally
for Republican principles as laid
down in the party platform. In
general terms, he has sounded off
on the subjects of Government en-
croachment and savings in the
national economy.
Agree on Economic Goals.
Never. however. has Gen. Eisen-
hover been nearly as specific
about his economic goals as Sen
ator Taft was yesterday. The
Ohio Senator said he and the gen.
eral agreed emphatically on a
program to reduce drastically all
Government expenditures. Where
as, the general, in earlier speeches,
has spoken vaguely of great saw
ings to. be accomplished over an
unspecified length of time, the
Senator pinned it down firmly:
"Our goal" he told reporters,
els for a Federal budget of about
$40 billion in the fiscal year 1854
and $50 billion in fiscal 1855. That
would make possible a reduction
in taxes to the $50 billion level for
the year 1856"
The Senator was equally specific
in revealing what Gen. Eisen-
hover believes about the Taft
Hartley law. Gen. Eisenhower
own comments have been limited
to general observations. At va
rious times he has spoken of Taft
Hartley as an omnibus law, some
of which should probably be re-
tanned and some of it changed. He
also has expressed doubt that
bigger and better laws can supply
the real answer to the Nations
labor problems, and has spoken
somewhat vaguely on creating q
better spirit Of cooperation" by
the establishment of advisory
councils representing all segments
Of the economy.
Views on Labor Law.
Apparently what Gen. Eisen-
hover said to Senator Taft was
something else again. The Senator
reported firmly that the general
believes in the law as a protection
for the people against arbitrary
use of power by big business OF
big labor, and is opposed to Its
repeal" The amendments that
the general had in mind. he said
were ones that he Senator Taft
had been advocating all along.
Without drawing a breath, thu
Senator licked off the things thai
Gen. Eisenhower believes in. They
include. according to the Senator
"the right of free and representa-.
tive collective bargaining, without
Government dictation: the right
to strike, except for brief waiting
periods, in national emergency
cases; the prohibition of unfair
labor practices on the part of man
lagement and labor; prohibition ol
the closed shop, jurisdictions
strikes and secondary boycotts,
the protection of the right tx
work, even under legalized unior
shop agreement and other indi.
vidual rights of the individual
union member; the omission o1
seizure of property as a remedy
for national strikes, except by spe.
cial legislation"
After this review. the general.
own effort to express his labor
policy before the AFL next Tues.
day should supply an interesting
lcomparison.