Evening star., 1944-08-18

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more politics, -
that, Of course, is FRANK Asn"
open to debate. BY some it IS con-
tended his trip to Pearl Harbor was
fully justified, because it helped the
morale Of the troops; that he. as
Commander in Chief, Is the best
Judge of the military necessity OF
such tours; that his meeting with
Gen. Macarthur was beneficial, 1t
being generally known that their
personal relations had not been too
good; that 1t is not the Presidents
fault If pursuing his constitutional
duties" as Commander In Chlel
helps him as a candidate.
On the other hand, it is said there
was not the slightest military neces-
sity for this trip; that 1t was prl-
parily timed to influence voters
10th overseas and at home; that
its political nature was shown by
the stop he made at Chicago FOL
conference with Chairman Hanne-
gan and also by the deliverance two
days later of his speech Of accept
ance from the San Diego naval
base; that he took on the trip with
him. among others, Judge Samuel
Rosenman, who certainly Is not
connected with the military opera
tions of the war, but is regarded as
q close personal and political ad-
wiser who shapes up many OF MS
political utterances; that on the trip
the President made a number OF
speeches to soldiers and sailors
which had the effect of campaign
speeches; that the absence OF Gen
Marshall and Admiral King made 1t
impossible for anything in the way
of military strategy to be discussed
or determined, it still, fortunately
being the fact that military strate-
gy Is determined by the joint chiefs
of staff.
It is true that in the Presidents
absence the fourth-term leaders
were unable to get into personal
touch with him to present their par
ticular problems. But 1t Is not true
that his campaign was neglected.
On the contrary, Mr.. Sidney Hill
man, who, with his CIO committee,
is the most aggressive and powerful
of the fourth-term managers, has
been proceeding at full speed. Among
the things he did while the Presi-
dent was away was to assemble his
Communist American La
Dor party in convention and NOM
mate Roosevelt and Truman as its
ticket, himself making glowing
speech commencing 1t to the Amer
lean people.
Also, the Presidents absence in no
way impeded the vital business of
collecting the campaign fund. Mr..
Hillman, of course, collects his own,
now estimated at between $4,000, 900
and $4,000 900, but that Is distinct
from the fund of the national COM
mittee.
Normally this would be raised by
the chairman, Mr.. Hannegan. But
in this important business Mr.. Han
neean has the invaluable aid OF
Postmaster General Frank Walker.
Mr.. Walker is not only a member
of the Presidents cabinet, but he
is also his close personal and polit-
ical friend-a lot closer than Mr.,
Hannegan. Also. In the matter Of
raising money for Mr.. Roosevelt he
has had greater experience than
any one else.
Not only has Mr.. Walker had a
large hand in the raising of previ-
Gus Roosevelt campaign funds but
it was he who raised the money for
the Roosevelt memorial library at
HYDE Park. 1t Is fair to say OF
Mr.. Walker that he is the greatest
of all Roosevelt money raisers. Bet
ter than any other he knows the
rich men who will give money to a
Roosevelt campaign, knows how
much they ought to give, knows
how to get it. And the givers know
that when they give through Mr..
Walker their gifts will not escape
the personal knowledge Of the
President.
First Business.
Mr.. Walker did not accompany
the President on his trip. After
helping run the Chicago convention,
ne returned here. 1t hardly can be
doubted that in his self-effacing, un-
dercover. unnoticed way Mr.. Walker
has devoted large part of the past
month to the work he so successfully
has done in the past and for which
he is so we'll equipped-the work OF
raising money which, always, Is the
first business of a campaign.
So 1t is q mistake to assert that
Mr.. Roosevelt either ignored politics
or that his political interests suffered
by his absence. The reverse of that
is true. He did himself more good
by his tour than If he had stayed at
home, because it impressed the main
idea sought to be inculcated by the
fourth termers-to wit, that he is the
Commander in Chief and not cam
didate seeking votes for reelection,
And, If he had been here, no greater
progress in the business of raising
money could have been made. That
was in capable hands. Now that he
is home, undoubtedly he will confer
personally with his running mate
Senator Truman; with Mr.. Hanne-
gan, with Mr.. Flynn, Mr.. Walker and
Mr.. Hillman. All of these will visit
the White House more or less openly
except, perhaps, Mr.. Hillman.