Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-20
The Political Mill
Unions Stand Caused
Opposition to Beeson
; Strikes Against Him Were
Reuther, Meony and Lewis
BY Gould Lincoln

Reuther, Meony and Lewis
By Gould Lincoln
Albert C.. Beeson, whose appointment
to the National Labor Relations Board
has been confirmed by the Senate
As to 42-had three strikes against him
as soon as he said he believed the Taft
Hartley Act Sound" These strikes
could be labeled Walter P. Reuther.
George Meany and John L. Lewis. For
New Deal Democrats, that was enough.
1t so happens that the six Dem
ocratic members Of the Senate Public
Welfare and Labor Committee are Of
the New Deal variety. All six voted
against a favorable report of Mr.. Bee
sons nomination to the Senate, and
all six voted against his confirmation.
Their opposition to Mr.. Beeson, how
ever, was not so crudely put-for after
all it is difficult to oppose man for
appointment to enforce law merely
because he believes the law is sound.
First, it was urged that Mr.. Beeson, be-
cause of his background has an anti
labor bias. Second, 1t was argued that
Mr.. BeeSon, because he retained an
interest in the pension plan Of the Food
Machinery and Chemical Corp, for
which he had worked, would face
conflict of interest" in serving as a
member of the Labor Relations Board.
Third. the Democrats declared Mr.. Bee
son untruthful and untrustwortlty be-
cause of discrepancies in his testimony
before the Senate committee. In the
end, the Democrats fastened firmly on
the third line of opposition. That, they
say they will take into the campaign
next fall. Does any one believe, how
ever, that the Democrats do not hope to
gain by having supported the opposition
of Messrs. Reuther, Meany and Lewis TO
MIR. BeeSOn?
Four Democrats Bolt.
Four Democratic Senators would not
go along with their colleagues-Sena-
tors Byrd and Robertson of Virginia.
Eastland of Mississippi and Holland of
Florida. Only one Republican, Senator
LANCER of North Dakota, voted with
the Democrats against Mr. Beeson and
Mr.. LANCER is waging a war with the
Eisenhower administration over pa
tronage in North Dakota. Lined up with
the New Deal Democrats, when the vote
in the Senate came, were Democratic
Senators who usually do not pay much
attention to the likes and dislikes of
the big leaders of organized labor. But
they had an out-they followed the
Democratic members of the Senate
Labor Committee who argued that Mr..
Beeson was untruthful and untrust-
worthy
For hours the Senate debated the
truthfulness of Mr. Beeson In the end
II came down to a name-calling row,
with the hard names directed at Mr..
BeeSon. But calling names is one thing
and proving a case is another. The
arguments advanced in support Of Mr..
Beeson and his testimony made it clear
that MI. Beeson had not tried to de-
celve the committee, that any dis
crepancies arose from misunderstand-
ings.
States Beliefs.
Further, it is incredible that Pres-
dent Eisenhower would hold on to an
appointee who had been shown to be
liar. AS for Mr. Beeson's attitude
toward labor and management, his
service now beginning as a member of
the Labor Relations Board will de-
onstrate whether he is biased or
objective and honest. During the course
of his testimony. Mr.. Beeson told the
Senate committee: II believe any one
in management today with an enlight-
ered viewpoint is as much interested
in labor'S position as they are in man.
agement'S position" And, further, he
said. The job. as I see it. of the board,
is to administer the laws that are writ
ten as honestly as We can interpret
those laws in Congress meaning" II
he lives up to these statements and the
principles they assert, his appointment
will not be much of an issue politically
except to the very biased.
Mr.. Beeson has resigned formally
from the corpora ton for which he
worked and has kissed goodby to $4,000,
the corporations contribution to the
pension fund in his name. On a smaller
scale. he was doing what several other
Eisenhower appointees to high posi-
tionS in the Government had done
earlier. divesting themselves of financial
interests to take Government service.
Democrats argue he was forced into
such action as result of his testimony
and the criticisms which arose over it.
1t seems. however, that Mr.. Beeson
was clearly of mind that he had dis
continued his financial relations with
the corporation when he accepted APP
pointment to the Labor Board.
New Deal Democrats still cling to the
Taft-Hartley Act as a political issue.
and to them the Beeson appointment
has sharpened that issue. The New
Dealers in the House Labor Committee
have just sought to prevent any action
to improve the act-a short-sighted
huSineSS