Show Round Merry Cabinet Cabinet- Gets Nowhere In Coal Talk By Drew Pearson WASHINGTON J John 0 h n L. L Lewis would have got a Fal- Fal chuckle out of oC the big cabinet session t to consider what the government should do about him C Cabinet advisers had haa a ahard aft at hard time deciding how th the mine strike could be solved oved One group of advisers wanted santed to to- bargain with Lewis Levi before slapping an Injunction on him They were Press secretary Charles Ross administrative administrate e assistant John R. R Steelman Secretary of the Interior J. J A. A Krug who tangled with Lewis last year and arid federal conciliator concilia concilia- tor Cyrus Ching former head of the U U. S S. S Rubber company whom Lewis had bitterly denounced denounced de de- de- de flounced a a. few days before Attorney General Tom Clark then explained the legal aspects of the Taft-Hartley Taft act advisIng advising advis advis- ing lug that the government could get an immediate injunction against the strikers But he warned the injunction was sure to be appealed which would result in a long out drawn pro pro- the country going to use for coal while this is being fought out in the courts he asked After considerable debate Secretary Krug finally veered around to using the injunction right away If It were we're going to crack down and that seems to be the only solution lets let's do it quick and crack down hard argued Krug The interior secretary re reminded reminded reminded re- re minded Truman that the country country country coun coun- try had only 16 days' days supply of coal left Opposite Advice Presidential Advice Presidential adviser Clark Clifford however contended that the dramatic thing to do would be to let the strike proceed for a time While others at the secret meeting listened i in il amazement the young truster brain-truster advised Truman Truman Truman Tru Tru- man that if it a real crisis developed developed de de- developed de- de from a coal shortage Lewis would be easier to lick in the courts This contribution evoked no favorable response Clifford then added that in his opinion Truman Truman Truman Tru Tru- man couldn't lose in a court fight with Lewis regardless of how quick the government moved It If an injunction were granted and upheld through appeals appeals ap ap- ap- ap peals he argued the president would gain prestige by putting Lewis in his place On the other hand Clifford continued if the courts ruled for Lewis the administration could point to the inadequacy o of the Taft-Hartley Taft law At this point the pre president became quite irritated Oh forget about me he broke in Lets talk about what's whal's good for or the country This is a serious matter With coal oal supplies running short we cant can't let this strike go on in in- in definitely Well We'll have to do the best we can under the powers congress has given us However before CL making any decision I want to give further study to the report of the finding fact-finding board that has been studying the issues involved here With that Truman adjourned the meeting Branch's Record- Record Few government servants can serve their country during any length of time without arousing some some ome criticism If they dont don't either they lack courage or hold unimportant positions The other day da this this c column lumn re reported reported reported re- re ported some critical facts about bout boutan an old friend Harllee Branch of the Civil Aeronautics board re regarding regarding regarding re- re garding hi his sons son's position with the law firm for Eastern airlines airlines air air- lines at ata a time when Mr Branch was was' was was' deciding highly con controversial trover sial cases in favor of Eastern While the facts were true It Itis Itis is is also true that the usual in int interpretation interpretation in- in t based n a set of facts does not always follow Senator Barkley of Kentucky for instance was embarrassed by the fact that his son Bon was employed employed employed em em- by t the e Garsson Garason brothers now involved in a war-contract war scandal candal yet I 1 am sure his sons son's employment never affected the senators senator's votes vote And while Harllee Branch would have been wiser had he persuaded his son on to join another another another an an- other law firm nevertheless this column having paid tribute tribute tribute trib trib- ute to Branch's abilities many times over the years still believes believes be be- in his integrity Copyright 1948 Bell Syndicate |