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Story
May 16, 1949
Trainman News
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
What is this article about?
President Truman's May 4, 1949 letter to A.F. Whitney affirms no compromise on repealing the Taft-Hartley Act, favoring the Amended Wagner Act, and expresses determination to fight for labor rights despite opposition.
Merged-components note: Merged multi-column text and associated images for the article featuring President Truman's letter to BRT President Whitney on labor policy.
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... Much Better to Go Down Fighting ...
WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 4, 1949
Dear Mr. Whitney:
I appreciated very much your good telegram of May third.
I've never believed in any compromise on the labor program other than the Amended Wagner Act which I sent to the Congress and which was reported out by the Labor Commission of both the House and the Senate.
I am in the same frame of mind you are, that it is much better to go down fighting for what is right than to compromise your principles.
The compromisers got nowhere, as I was sure they wouldn't, and they never had any consideration whatever for me.
We are going to continue to fight and we are going to win because we are right.
Mr. A. F. Whitney
President
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
Cleveland, Ohio
Truman to AFW:
There'll
Be No
T-H Compromise
President Determined to Rid
Labor of Infamous Law Even
If It Takes Four Years to Do
President Truman this week had assured President
Whitney that he would brook no compromises on repeal of
the Taft-Hartley Act and was determined to get the infamous
law off the backs of workers even if it took all four years of
his Administration to do it.
Replying to President Whitney's telegram of last week
in which he urged no retreat on repeal, Mr. Truman revealed
that the so-called compromise attempt was made without his
approval.
"I've never believed in any compromise on the labor
program," he said, "other than the amended Wagner Act
which I sent to the Congress and which was reported out by
the Labor Committees of both the House and Senate.
"I am much in the same frame of mind you are, that it is
much better to go down fighting for what is right than to
compromise your principles.
"The compromisers got nowhere, as I was sure they
wouldn't, and they never had any consideration whatever
for me.
"We are going to continue to fight and we are going to
win because we are right."
When asked by reporters if
he would take his battle to
the nation's whistle-stops, as
he hinted some time ago, the
President replied that he'd
give plenty of notice ahead of
time when and if he should
decide to make a grass roots
tour of the country, as he did
during the campaign he won.
All Eyes on Senate
Meanwhile, organized labor,
catching its breath after the
GOP - Dixiecrat - engineered
Taft-Hartley repeal fiasco in
the House of Representatives,
turned its attention toward
the Senate where it is pressing
for the Administration's policy of denying
patronage to Democrats in
Congress who vote against Administration
bills included in the party
platform.
President Whitney conferred
at the White House with Mr.
Truman during the week.
Last Week TRAINMAN NEWS
Truman during the week called
for Dixiecrats to resign from
the Democratic Party, since they
were behaving like Republicans.
Later journeying to Capitol
Hill where he talked again
with Senate leaders, urging
prompt, no-compromise action
anyway. The editorial labeled them
"fraudulent" Democrats.
WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 4, 1949
Dear Mr. Whitney:
I appreciated very much your good telegram of May third.
I've never believed in any compromise on the labor program other than the Amended Wagner Act which I sent to the Congress and which was reported out by the Labor Commission of both the House and the Senate.
I am in the same frame of mind you are, that it is much better to go down fighting for what is right than to compromise your principles.
The compromisers got nowhere, as I was sure they wouldn't, and they never had any consideration whatever for me.
We are going to continue to fight and we are going to win because we are right.
Mr. A. F. Whitney
President
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
Cleveland, Ohio
Truman to AFW:
There'll
Be No
T-H Compromise
President Determined to Rid
Labor of Infamous Law Even
If It Takes Four Years to Do
President Truman this week had assured President
Whitney that he would brook no compromises on repeal of
the Taft-Hartley Act and was determined to get the infamous
law off the backs of workers even if it took all four years of
his Administration to do it.
Replying to President Whitney's telegram of last week
in which he urged no retreat on repeal, Mr. Truman revealed
that the so-called compromise attempt was made without his
approval.
"I've never believed in any compromise on the labor
program," he said, "other than the amended Wagner Act
which I sent to the Congress and which was reported out by
the Labor Committees of both the House and Senate.
"I am much in the same frame of mind you are, that it is
much better to go down fighting for what is right than to
compromise your principles.
"The compromisers got nowhere, as I was sure they
wouldn't, and they never had any consideration whatever
for me.
"We are going to continue to fight and we are going to
win because we are right."
When asked by reporters if
he would take his battle to
the nation's whistle-stops, as
he hinted some time ago, the
President replied that he'd
give plenty of notice ahead of
time when and if he should
decide to make a grass roots
tour of the country, as he did
during the campaign he won.
All Eyes on Senate
Meanwhile, organized labor,
catching its breath after the
GOP - Dixiecrat - engineered
Taft-Hartley repeal fiasco in
the House of Representatives,
turned its attention toward
the Senate where it is pressing
for the Administration's policy of denying
patronage to Democrats in
Congress who vote against Administration
bills included in the party
platform.
President Whitney conferred
at the White House with Mr.
Truman during the week.
Last Week TRAINMAN NEWS
Truman during the week called
for Dixiecrats to resign from
the Democratic Party, since they
were behaving like Republicans.
Later journeying to Capitol
Hill where he talked again
with Senate leaders, urging
prompt, no-compromise action
anyway. The editorial labeled them
"fraudulent" Democrats.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Taft Hartley Act
Labor Repeal
Truman Letter
Wagner Act
No Compromise
What entities or persons were involved?
President Truman
A. F. Whitney
President Whitney
Where did it happen?
White House, Washington; Cleveland, Ohio
Story Details
Key Persons
President Truman
A. F. Whitney
President Whitney
Location
White House, Washington; Cleveland, Ohio
Event Date
May 4, 1949
Story Details
President Truman assures A. F. Whitney in a letter that he will not compromise on repealing the Taft-Hartley Act, preferring the Amended Wagner Act, and is determined to fight for labor rights even if it takes four years.