Evening star., 1944-09-18


two national magazines have shown
a notable increase of Dewey strength
in the indispensable States and a
corresponding shrinkage of Roose-
velt strength. Another is the extra
ordinary vote by which the Repub-
Icans won in Maine.
Both these things are calculated
somewhat to dilute the confidence
OF the fourth-termers, and, certainly,
those 3-to-1 betting odds of which
so much was heard early in August
seem to have disappeared. At least
they are not being offered in real
money-if they ever were.
But, the administration strategists
have deeper worry than any of
these. Within the past few days they
have become really convinced that
Mr.. Hillman, with his CIO-PAC and
his Communist support, has devel-
oped much more into genuine liza
bility than an asset. And they do
not know exactly what to do about it.
1t has shocked them how quickly
the country seized hold of that tren-
chant phrase Clear everything
with Sidney"-and how general is
the disbelief of Mr.. Hannegan's pas
sionate denial that he was ever thus
instructed by Mr.. Roosevelt.
Reason Made Plain.
The reason for the disbelief, of
course, is that it was made SO COM
pletely plain at the convention that
everything was being Cleared with
Sidney"
To meet this situation the fourth
term publicity agents have again
concentrated upon assertions that it
Is "all nonsense" to consider Mr.
Hillmsn as an ogre, that he really
is perfectly delightful gentleman
and a very unselfish patriot. The
mere idea that he is trying to cap
ture the Democratic party and make
himself a national political boss
would be funny, we are told, If it
were not so serious.
Actually, it is contended. this no
ton that Mr.. Hillman and the forces
he represents are sinister is just
nightmare-which the opposition is
using to scare silly people More
over, those who keep "harping" on
the subject are very tiresome. They
bore their readers and ought to get
on to something new
Possibly so, but that risk seems
worth taking If the full facts about
this Roosevelt Hillman alliance can
be made plain enough for the
people to understand and accept.
And that seems precisely what is
happening.
Apparently, the idea is finally
percolating into the popular mind
that the link between the President
of the United States and this radical
labor leader with his Russian back
ground, his Communist associations
and high-pressure methods is thor
oughly unwholesome and deeply
repugnant to the instincts of the
average American man and woman.
People are beginning really to gag
over it, and the reason for the pres
ent perturbation in the higher
fourth-term circles is because they
realize it.
On The Defensive.
From the start, they have been
on the defensive about Mr.. Hillman.
They have no real defense and
they cannot make the Whitewash
stick. No. wonder they think i.
boring to keep "harping" on Hill
man. No wonder Mr.. Hannegan
denounced the Clear everything
with Sidney" instruction.
But, it will take more than a
Hannegan denial and more than
reiteration about the Hillman
nightmare" to straighten out this
trouble-and the smarter fourth
term managers know it. The feel
ing among them Is that this situa-
tion is so serious that Mr.. Roose-
welt himself will have to deal with
1t.
1t IS reported that he will do so
In his speech (concededly a political
one) next Saturday before an AFL
union in Washington. There, he
Is expected to ridicule the idea that
Mr.. Hillman and the CLOS link
with him is closer than any other,
and dwell heavily on the "absurdity"
of trying to scare little children
with what the Journalistic brigade
calls the Hillman myth"
He may 60 so far as to disavow
wholly his partnership with Mr..
Hillman-and, of course, he easily
could get cooperation from Mr..
Hillman, who is expected to be pres
ent, to accept disavowal; or any
thing else, on the ground that it
is all for "the cause" Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Hillman understand each
other well enough for that.
At any rate. the Roosevelt liter
ary aides who help prepare the
Presidents speeches are said to be
giving the question of how Mr..