Evening star., 1944-12-27


hrmation they so heroically opposed.
Viewing the election as a man
date for Mr.. Roosevelt not only to
proceed farther to the left than
ever he had gone but to use them
exclusively in running the country,
1t naturally anguished their souls
to have him announce the appoint
ment to high posts of five conserva-
tive, and anything but impover-
ished, gentlemen and only one
blown bottle liberal"
And, though their White House
hero soothed them with sweet words
while he forced acquiescence in his
wishes, they are by no means wholly
reconciled. Nor will they be until
the inevitable gift to the left, which
always has followed Roosevelt
gesture to the right, has been made.
Not until then will they cease to
mutter and sQuirm.
Sees Post for Wallace.
However, unless the political seers
are all wrong, they have but a short
time to wait. Almost any day now
the appointment to Government
post of the first Importance" of the
retiring Vice President, Henry Wal
lace, who is the best advertised
leader Of the liberal movement"
and the loudest champion of the
common man." may be announced.
After his two-hour conference with
the President, Mr. Wallace emerged
beaming and mysterious.
He was ostentatiously secretive
toward the reporters but purred
with such persistence and on such
note that the idea was widely spread
that something very tasty, indeed,
was about to be handed him.
AT the moment no one seems quite
sure as to the exact nature Of the
Office he is soon to adorn, but au-
thoritative spokesmen of his school
assert that one of three cabinet
positions will be offered him-Secre-
tary of Labor, Secretary of Com
merce or Secretary Of Agriculture.
All three, to be sure, are of first i'm
portance and the spokesmen may be
right.
Nevertheless, certain minor facts
keep any Of the three from seeming
ideal for this noble and ambitious
man. For example, while the CIC
undoubtedly would be delighted tc
have him for the labor post, the
leaders of the AFL would be any
thing but enthusiastic. His close
ness to the modest Mr.. Hillman ano
his Endorsement for the 1948 presi-
dency by some impulsive CIO unions
more or less seems to put their
stamp on him and thus makes him
not wholly palatable to the other
labor faction.
Jones Expected to Stay.
AS for the Department of Com
merce, there are two things in the
way. First, Jesse Jones would have
to be gotten out and, lacking CO.
operation from Mr.. Jones, that is
not an easy thing to do. A great
many people in Congress and out
think Mr.. Jones has done fine job
in the last u years. To oust him now
for a less qualified man would be
a queer way to reward distinguished
public service and unquestionably
would be resented by his friends
particularly in Congress, where they
mean lot to Mr. Roosevelt.
The second thing is that the Sec
retary of Commerce is supposed to
work helpfully with industry and
business. The Wallace attitude and
speeches would seem to disqualify
him for such work. He appears to
be as completely antagonistic as any
labor leader and is SO regarded in
business and industrial circles.
AS for Agriculture-in the first
place Mr. Wallace had that job fol
eight years and there would be
neither honor nor pleasure for him
In holding 1t again. In the seconc
place, it is contended, in the last
four years Mr.. Wallace has grown
way beyond agriculture His inter.
ests are no longer centered upon
the farmer. They have expanded