Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-03-29
NEWS
BEHIND
NEWS
BY Paul
Mallon

-
WASHINGTON, March %
w A question most often
asked me-even by both Re-
publican and Democratic lead
erS-is:
what kind OF a man is
Dewey"
More has been written about
the life and background of the
New York governor and leading
Republican presidential pros
pect than any other public man
except Mr.. Roosevelt.
But much of IL has been SUI
perficial and of the Time-Life-
Fortune variety which could
not suppress a reflection of
owner LuceS preference for
Wendell Willkie. The people
seem TO know Dewey's picture
and his story-but not the man.
TO Me. he is Mr.. District
Il Attorney come into the
larger field of government and
politics. He is definitely not the
familiar political type-tall.
white-haired and handsome
with smooth way and oily
tongue. In most communities,
there is a straight, earnest,
smart or wise young lawyer
who is working, or has worked
up that way. That is Dewey.
still
His prosecuting experience
and courtroom background have
given him an analytical type OF
mind. 10 an extraordinary ex-
tent. II is his dominant charac-.
teriStic.
His technique in public af-
fairs apparently is to search
out facts on an issue as if on a
case, TO detect the phony argu-
ments as well as the phony
arguer, and TO decide his stand
in the manner Of a Judge con-
Quoting a private personal trial
on public problems.
This has made him unusually
free from prejudices and emo
tlonal errors which frequently
sweep both leaders and their
people from their feet.
IN THE current field of in
L ternational debate, for in
-stanee. there are many pHblie
and private men who feel they
know exactly what should be
done to preserve peace forever.
and some have convinced them
selves Heaven can be trans
planted To earth if only they be
permitted TO do the planting.
In this fervid and not often
reasonable discussion, Dewey
has sometimes been called an
isolationiSt. He is not. Others
have picked up his endorsement
of an alliance with Britain and
tagged him with at brand of in
ternationaliSm. do not believe
any ism" describes him.
/ think his sole notivating in
tent is TO be realistic and rea-
sonable-only that. He seems
10 me bent on weighing the
facts and hopes, and measuring
these against what can be done
for the best obtainable practical
solution. In the end. our peace
makers will have to follow his
course anyway.
Certainly no one in Washing
ton yet knows what the peace
will be Both Stain and Church
III lWho are not talking airily
but acting charily) have shown
no signs Of following either our
vociferous internationalists or
iSolationists.
4 CRITICISM heard OF Dewey
"A is that he is too suspicious
Of people. ! would leave out
the too" The world being what
il is. this defect may be an at
tribute. In neither domestic nor
foreign affairs do conditions call
for happy go-lucky fellow who
wants every one TO be his friend
While Dewey is not a political
type, he is a good politician. The
popularity Of his administration
of New York State. indeed the
way he is now getting conven-
ton delegates without using his
laryRX- or raising his own hand,
substantiates this conclusion,
Obviously, he does not over
look or disdain politics. Locally,
he has handled this phase with
the same technique as OF h er
problems. He has picked good
men, and he knows how TO dele
gate authority TO them TO do
Their work efficiently.
HIS ability 10 choose men Che
IL spends lot of time AT it,
and Ia assert administrative
leadership over them. avoiding
fights among them. is one of his
indISputable qualities. in which
his friends attribute primarily
his success as governor. ! will
deal with this angle in detail to-
morrow
He Is not vain. will listen 10
advice, and will accept il against
himself when proved wrong By
his associates who are not yes
men. He is serious but not