Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-07-24
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook
PegIer

CHICAGO, July 24-The party
~ of unity, tolerance and JUS
tice went primitive in the LAD
sessions of the convention called
to ratify Mr.. Roosevelt's accep-
lance of his fourth nomination.
The leeons of those who
would enforce brotherly love
with a sawed-off pool cue found
themselves mere playthings Of
passion in an ecstacy of the old
party spirit.
They wound il up in a mag
nificent exhibition of double
crossing reminiscent of the long
parliament of 1924 in which
Tammany Hall packed the old
Madison Square Garden and
wooed the proud and sensitive
southern brethren with March
ing Through Georgia"
The Democrats of the south
ern tier and the urban bosses Of
the North were responsible for
the first great political beating
ever given the CIO.
This group, represented by
Sidney Hillman, set up conven-
ton headquarters and boldly
undertook 10 dictate the selec-
ton OF Henry Wallace 10 Sue
coed himself.
The South is afraid OF the
Go because of its memorable
violent instructions in Michi.
gan. Ohio and Pennsylvania.
TllE southern politicians had
L noted Wallace's expressed
impotence with Bill OF Rights
democracy and his open fellow
ship with manipulators Of the
Communist conspiracy in the
United States.
And. in the actual convention,
the picket-line methods of the
direct actionists Of the Go were
reproduced in subdued but DIX
turbing version by the Walla
claque. obviously organized ac-
cording 10 the radical or Com.
munist system of intimidation.
Ed Kelly, the mayor of Chicago
and the one Democratic local
machine boss who had slugged
IL out with the Go Communists
in a bloody riot and beaten
them. was IN technical command
OF the actual convention.
Nevertheless, the stooges who
packed the hall on two occasions
were not kellys pc o-ple but
Wallace's and Hillmans.
The sight of their big plac-
ARDS, mounted on sticks, was a
reminder Of ensy riots Of other
years, when the Go, I'm der
many OF the same organizers,
also carried plaeards which were
quickly removed from the sticks
which then became handy clubs.
TIVE Wallace elemen had
i hooed and issued not re-
quests or petitions but com.
mandS 10 the Democratic con-
vention and the reaction was
the nom ion of Harry
Truman.
This Missouri senator has a
soldiers record from the first
World War 10 be weighe
against his long and knowing
association in Kansas City with
the corrupt machine of Tom
Pendergast. 10 whom he once
publicly profesSed his political
debt and personal devotion.
He is the product Of one Of
the most revolving systems OF
vice thuggery. larceny and
other low crime in American
urban history. who accepted its
favors and support until il dis
in'egrated OF us own vileness.
Had Wallace been selected
the Communists truly coy
have a j m d that they ~ (
named the man who would S6..
coed 10 the presidency in the
event Of President Roosevelts
demise or retirement during
fourth term.
True. the political action COM
mittec supported the President
too But there were. in his adj
hcrcnce. so many other factors
that II could not claim sole re-
sponsibility for his success.
The Democrats Of all groups
had 10 accept Mr.. Roosevelt.
But Wallace lacked even the
unqualified approval of the boss,
and the Hlllman groups sup
port was so arrogant and COM
temptuous Of all other sections
OF the party that il became at
once Wallace's greatest strength
and his fatal weakness.
QY CON TR A S T with the
- Democrats pleas 10 the ma
ton and the whole world to
live in peace and trusting
friendship. their own convention
was spectacular revival of its
own old, quarrelsome trait.
There are A number OF Demo-
Gratis who left town so bitter
and so distrustful Of Mr.. Roose-
welt on domestic issues, es-
pecially labor and taxes. that
they will give themselves the
private satisfaction of voting
for Dewey.
The wives Of three eminent