Evening star., 1953-09-24
The Political Min
Eisenhower Clarifies
His Labor Law Plans
Talk Of a Double Cross
Is Entirely Out Of Line
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
President Eisenhower, in message
to the American Federation of Labor
convention, said he will send his own
suggestions for amendment of the Taft
Hartley Act to Congress when it meets
in January-and thereby put cap
stone on the controversy which has
ragged for weeks over charges he had
douhle-croSSed former Secretary Of
Labor Martin Durkin.
The President made it abundantly
clear he was not bound by recon-
mendationS prepared-or still being
prepared-by an informal committee
consisting of executive officials and
legislative leaders" for changes in the
labor law. He made it clear, too, that
a presidential message to Congress is
not message until it is signed by the
President and transmitted to that body.
He made it further clear that Presi-
dent of the United States retains and
must retain the right to change his
mind on matters of important policy.
It is to the last that the statements
by Mr.. Durkin go for clarif1cation. The
former Secretary of Labor asserts that
the President on August 10. at con-
ference in New York, said that he would
go along with "the agreed-to 10 points
(amending the Taft-Hartley Act)." On
September 10, Mr.. Durkin added, the
President informed him he, the Presi-
dent, had changed his position and
could no longer go along with the
amendments. Mr.. Durkin has argued
that he and the President, at their
meeting August 10. virtually entered
into a contract-a contract which was
not lived up to by President Eisen-
hover. So, Mr.. Durkin said, having
been brought up in the belief that a
contract once made must be lived UP to.
he resigned.
Two Alternatives.
Mr.. Durkin had a right to resign. Also
the President had right to change
his mind. It's right that any Chief
Executive of the United States must
reserve to himself. Talk of "dou-
BILE cross" is entirely out of line. A
cabinet officer who reaches a con-
cluSion that policies of his chief are
unpalatable finds it necessary to de-
eide whether to retain his Office and
seek to change those policies, or to
step out Of Office. Mr.. Durkin chose
the latter course.
Democrats have found the incident
much to their liking. They argue that
the President has shown he is no friend
to labor. Will labor believe that? Many
of the leaders of organized labor will
or o1nY0O 40 ixa oil
probability. The Presidents sincerity,
however, in asserting he intends so far
as he is able to remedy any defects in
the Taft-Hartley Act which may be
used to the detriment of the workers
may have it's effect. Certainly, judg-
ment should be withheld until the
President has made his own suggestions
now promised for next January-to
the Congress.
The President, in his message to the
AFL, was frank in declaring he be-
lieved the Taft-Hartley Act was "a sub
Stantial contribution to the quest for
Sounder abor-management relations"
Apparently the majority of Americans
believe as he does. Two Democratic
Congresses, with former President Tru-
man prodding them, would not repeal
the labor law. Gen. Eisenhower was
elected overwhelmingly last year and
the people well understood he was
against repeal; that he would seek just
amendments.
The President, in his effort to bring
about better relations between labor
and management, tried an experiment
when he picked for his Secretary of
Labor a leader of organized labor,
although he was Democrat. It is un-
fortunate it has not worked out. In
this connection, the illness and death
OF the late Senator Taft Of Ohio. Re-
publican leader of the Senate and
author of the law which bears his name,
came at crucial time in the consid-
GRAFTON Of Taft-Hartley amendments.
His advice and drive were sorely missed.
Appointment May Wait.
Gen. Eisenhower's selection of a sue
cessor to Mr.. Durkin may be delayed
until Congress meets. Certainly this Is
the advice of Senator Smith of New
Jersey, chairman of the Senate Labor
Committee. The delay will give the
President full opportunity to canvass
the field for the best possible man he
can find for the job. Senator Smith
recommended that the President pick
a man of the type of j. Douglas Brown,
economics professor at Princeton where
he is dean of the faculty and an author
ity on industrial relations. There is a
practical side to the delay proposal. It
will be necessary to obtain Senate con-
f1rmation of the appointment. When
the Senate meets again, it will be COM
posed of 48 Democrats-if Gov. Lausche
appoints q Democrat to fill the Taft
vacancy-47 Republicans and Inde-
pendent. Senator Morse of Oregon. An
early appointment would place the new
Secretary Of Labor in position to be
attacked during a three-month period