Evening star., 1953-06-28
Business Chiefs Seen
Falling Eisenhower
Writer Critieizes Attitude
OF MANIC. of c. Leaders
By Fronk R. Kent

BY Fronk K. Kent
It is possible that before this Is
printed the Eisenhower Humphrey plan
to extend the excess-corporatio profits
and other taxes-for six months from
July, will have been enacted. Or, it may
have been killed, or it may be still
pending. But whatever the position. the
two great business organizations of the
country-the National Association Of
Manufacturers and the United States
Chamber Of Commerce will have
emerged t.om this fight with little
credit. -
Or, perhaps more specifically, the
blame should be placed upon the pres
ent leadership of these two bodies.
Because it seems indisputably true that
a majority Of, their membership is
against their attitude of opposition. So,
too, are most of the really important
leaders Of industry in the country. At
the head Of these stands BENJAMIN
Fairless, chairman Of the United States
Steel Co., whose policies and speeches
OF the last few years have shown
an enlightenment and breadth that
have been widely commended. Con-
corning the excess profits tax. q
Few days ago MIR. Fairless declared,
1t will cost my company a consider,
able sum Of money but am emphati-
cally In favor of it's extension"
Contrast this with the loud declara.
tions OF hostility to the Presidents pro-
gram by the NAM and c. of c. officials
and it is not too encouraging to those
who look for the return of the Nation
to a sound financial position through
business leadership and support (Edi-
tors note: The NAM directors voted
81 to 46 to support President Eisen-
hower's request for excess profits tax
extension but fell six short of the two
thirds majority necessary to change
the associations official opposition). An
even more ironical contrast with the
NAM and c. Of c. officials is presented
by the position OF the Congress Of In
dustrial Organizations. which-so far
as its leadership is concerned, anyhow,
was-and is-anti- Eisenhower. Weeks
ago the CIO came out strongly in favor
OF the EPT extension. It should, of
course, be explained that the CIO is not
for the extension of the EPT because
the President favors it, but because it
wants it continued more or less indef.
initely after January /. Nevertheless.
in the flght-in which the fate of the
whole Eisenhower fiscal program is
involved and of which the EPT is a
key feature-the hostile CIO labor
organization is with him and the sup
posedly friendly NAM and C. of c. are
against him.
Considering the facts, the NAM
and c. OF c. leaders seem in q thor
oughly untenable situation. There Is
no issue as to the merits OF the EPT.
Mr.. Eisenhower and Secretary Hum
phrey think it bad tax and want to
see 1t repealed. All they say is that,
after thorough examination Of the
fiscal facts, they can carry out the
administration promises to balance
the budget and reduce taxes next
year-but that to do so they must have
the $500 million that the EPT will
produce in. the next six months. With
out that plus the other extensions
asked for-and the economies
planned--it simply cannot be done. +,
One would think that the NAM,
and c. OF c., having so valiantly and
solidly supported Mr.. Eisenhower for
election. would be the first and FORE
most of his supporters to get behind
him now on such program. It seems
almost incredible that they should be
lined up with those who hope that
failure Of his present program will
make it impossible for him to make
good on his. party and personal
pledges next year. Concededly, it will
be serious thing for the administra-
ton If its financial plans bog down in
this session. Ammunition will be pro-
vided the Democrats for their 1854
campaign. to overturn Republican con-
troll Of Congress. Also, real tax relief
for those in the lower brackets will
be more remote than ever Also an
other push toward imitation will be
given.
Yet there they are. Certain mem
bers Of the NAM and the c. of C.
have frequently whimpered in the past
about their inability to get the same
kind of favorable publicity in the
newspapers as the big labor organiza-
tions. Partly, 1t has been said. this Is
because of their own stupidity plus the
relative inadequacy of their public
relations staff. Their opposition to the
EPT extension is not calculated to
clear them Of this charge. Secretary
Humphrey Is an able and optimistic
man. He has expressed the conviction
that the extension will go through
despite all obstacles If this happens
the obvious thing for the NAM and
the C. Of c. to do would be to change
their leadership as quickly as possi-
ble-that is if they really want favor
able publicity.