The Poplar Standard

LABOR LAW: Gets Priority

With domestic issues having been given the green light over foreign affairs, the U.S. senate was committed to wrestle out a new labor law—or repeal Taft-Hartley—before adjournment.

The importance of the labor question to the administration was indicated in the senate's shelving discussion of the North Atlantic security pact until the troublesome labor issue has been disposed of.

The reason was rather obvious. Organized labor, worried by an apparent disinclination of congress to go along with the President in repealing Taft-Hartley and fearing further delay, was pushing the administration to get going. There was constant reminder behind the scenes of the President's campaign pledges to scrap the present over-all labor law and labor wanted action.

The 1950 congressional races weren't too far off and the administration evidently felt it had better deliver or face labor's antagonism at the polls next year.

Majority Leader Scott Lucas declared that if all major legislation were not disposed of by July 31, 'we shall extend the length of the session until we have dealt with the most urgent proposals.'