Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-05
g. Leaders
Fear Labor,
Truman Says

truman 0dY
DETROIT, Sept. S P).-For-
mer President Truman told a
labor union audience today the
Republican administration is
"afraid of labor" because OF what
lit will do in the elections next
year.
He asked his audience to sup
port the Democratic candidate
for President in 1856, adding he
Twill mot be the kind Of man who
gives you a big smile and some
nice promises in the political
campaign, and then turns you
over to your enemies for the
next four years"
The former Presidents speech.
prepared for delivery before the
Detroit and Wayne County Fed
eration of Labor. was short and
lacked some of the fire of his
former speeches.
Mr.. Truman singled out the
guaranteed annual wage" as a
"notable achievement in the field
of collective bargaining" and
described it as "a stout blow
against communism"
Refers to Indictment
Turning to what he described
as the Republican administra-
ltion's fear Of labor, Mr.. Truman
cited an indictment against the
Clio here in Michigan for an
alleged violation of the Taft
Hartley provision which forbids
unions to make political expend-
itures."
He said he understood this
was because of a union broad
cast where Senator Mcnamara,
Democrat of Michigan, appeared
on the program"
The Supreme Court, he said.
had decided this provision could
not constitutionally be used to
suppress free speech.
Just this spring." Mr.. Tru-
man continued, "a representa-
tive of the Republican admins
Itration testified before a Senate
committee that the Supreme
Courts decision made 1t almost
Impossible, certainly impractical.
to prosecute under this pro-
vision. Nevertheless. they come
along now and indict a union
because 1t supported a Demo-
cratic candidate for the United
States Senate.
Sees Rough Plan"
"You can judge for yourself
what caused this about-face. To
me. it seems that certain Re-
publican politicians are getting
ready to play rough"
Mr.. Truman said the Taft
Hartley Act still has injustices
and inequities which need to be
cured.
lone evil which has grown out
of the Taft-Hartley legislation is
the so = called and mlscalled
'right-to-work' laws. These laws
have been passed by a number
of States. They prohibit the
union shop and and other forms
Of union security. Their purpose
Is to destroy the unions"
He said Taft-Hartley express
ly permits the States to pass
these anti-union laws. That was
one Of the reasons \ vetoed it
It has become clear that I'M
employment insurance benefits
never will become adequate I'M
til Federal standards are pro-
vided. Mr.. Truman said.
Estates in Competition"
THE reason is that the States
are in competition with each
other in this matter. and it's
just against human nature to
expect them not to hedge on
these benefits in an effort to
attract industry. But is this So
called dynamic. slow moving,
conservative Republican ad-
ministration in favor Of Federal
standards? Not that have
been able to discover"
| Looking ahead. Mr.. Truman
noted that Science is opening up
vast new sources Of power and
new means and methods of pro-
duction. There is a bitter struggle
going on TO determine whether
these new forces are to be con-
trolled by monopoly for the bene-
fit of the few or used for the
benefit of all the people.
If our growing productive
ability is used widely. we can
have a standard of living far
beyond anything we have seen
before To achieve this will re-
quire action by the Government
as well as by private business.
Urges Bold Planning
I'VE will not achieve the full
promise of the future unless we
have a Government that is
aware of the significance of these
things, that is able and willing
to make bold plans for the flu
ture. and is dedicated to the well
fare of all the people.
THAT is the kind of Govern
ment I expect to fight for as
long as / live"
| Mr.. Truman told a news con-
ference yesterday his highest
political aspiration is to be a
Missouri delegate to the Demo-
cratic National Convention next
summer.
Il just want to be a delegate
,,Ak~ ~ 50