The Farmville Herald And Farmer Leader

Taft's Amendments.

SENATOR ROBERT TAFT introduced sixteen amendments to the Taft-Hartley Act on the same day he held his first regular White House conference with President Dwight Eisenhower as leader of the Republicans in the Senate. Two of Senator Taft's bills met criticism voiced by General Eisenhower last year during his campaign for the Presidency.

The timing of Taft's action made it clear that Senator Taft had prepared the amendments before his visit to the White House and since he introduced them only a few hours after that call, he made his plans before his conference with the President. Many of the bills introduced had been introduced by the Ohio Senator in past years, some having been passed by one house but held up by the other.

Thus, Taft admits, once again, that the Taft-Hartley labor law needs amendment, though he is steadfast in his belief that repeal of the law is unnecessary and undesirable. He made it clear, the day he introduced his sixteen amendments, that they were not the Administration's amendments, but his own. Since Taft is the Majority Leader in the Senate, he is in a good position to see that his own proposed amendments are considered. President Eisenhower is in the position of having criticized a law which was authored by his Majority Leader and having to depend upon his Majority Leader to amend it. It seems obvious that the Majority Leader's views on the needed amendments will have to be taken rather seriously, and perhaps, just taken.