Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-04

At the mo- SSSss(l ~ ia
ment, both the $$ss b
conserv atives - ~
and radicals Frank r. Kent.
claim him. Each insists he Is one
of them and both cite evidence te
sustain their claim. Each, for ex-
ample, will cite one OF the two ap-
pointments just announced-Robert
E. Hannegan and Mr.. David E
Lilienthal. Naturally the conserva-
tives point to the Presidents first
appointment-that of Mr.. Snyder
the St. Louis banker and friend OF
Jesse Jones, as Federal Loan Ad-
ministrator.
They also assert-and with reason
that Mr.. Truman takes no stock
In the New Deal economic nonsense
which holds that the size of the
national debt is unimportant, as
we owe it to ourselves" They are
particularly jubiIant over the big
cut in appropriations he has just an
nounced.
Furthermore, some of his friends
say not only has he never felt any
thing except repugnance for deficit
financing" but he never personally
subscribed to the basic New Deal
philosophy, founded on the John
Maynard Keynes theory, that it is
possible for nation to spend its way
back to prosperity. Mr.. Truman is
said to believe this just as unsound
an idea for nation as for an in
dividual.
Reputation for Sense"
1t is on these and other known
views that the Truman reputation
for common sense is based. 1t is his
possession of common sense that
makes conservatives regard him as
their own. Common sense, they
contended, Is distinctly not a part Of
the mental equipment Of the true
liberation the contrary. quality
thoroughly despised by that group.
On the other hand, the true
liberals" of the administration
counter with considerable data of a
concrete and convincing nature con-
corning the new President. Look,
they say, at his voting record in the
Senate, where he supported every
Remembering" measure put for
ward by the administration. Look,
too, at his consistent labor support;
at his support of the fair employ
ment practices appropriation; of the
Roosevelt veto Of the Smith Con-
nally antistrike bill, etc.
Look also at his acquiescence in
the appointment OF Mr.. Robert
Nathan as deputy war mobilization
director in charge of the great re-
conversion problems. Mr.. Nathan is
one of the most advanced of the
administration liberals: in fact,
so advanced that his appointment
somewhat appalled, conservatives
here who assert that he lacks both
the experience and knowledge to
deal with the very vital business of
reconversion. And, finally, look at
the Lilienthal appointment.
The liberals" advance still other
evidence to show that Mr.. Truman's
soul belongs to them. But both they
and the conservatives appear to
minimize the strength of a third
element engaged In the struggle
to wit, the politicians-the poll
ticians who care little about issues
or principles, conservatism or lib
eralism, but are strong on party
organization and winning elections
There are good many of these
here now and Mr.. Truman numbers
quite a lot of them as his personal
friends. Also Mr. Truman is a poll
tician himself of very practical
kind machine politician who
knows the game and has played II
for a good many years. One Of his
close friends is Chairman Robert
Hannegan of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, who is from his
own state and whom he has just
nominated as Postmaster General.
Others Pushing Way In.
And there are other politicians
(neither conservative nor liberals
but just politicians) who are push
ing themselves into the White
House picture, appearing on the
White House calling list and acting
pretty SNUG about the White House
generally.
At bottom, their belief is that Mr..
Truman is one of themselves. Per-
haps he was, but there is always the
chance that the great Office he now
holds may change him. At any rate,
there is nothing much in his recent
acts or words to indicate that the
practical politician is still his pre-
ferred bedfellow.
The outstanding political appoint
nlent, Of course, is that Of Mr.. Han
negan as Postmaster General. An
other is that of Mr.. Edward Pauley,
treasurer Of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, as chief repara-
tons representative. Chief reason
for viewing this as political is that
no other reason has been advanced
for naming Mr.. Pauley to this post
which some believe the most i'm
portant the President had in his
gift.
Little is known about Mr.. Pauley
except that, according to some of
the larger contributors, he was
rather hard boiled and ruthless in
collecting money for the last cam
paign.
It is agreed that the President is
justified in sidetracking Mr. Isidor
Lubin Is our chief reparations rep
resentative. but 1t is much doubted
that in Mr.. Pauley he has a man
who knows any more about the
subject-some say not as much.
If the politicians put this over on
the President it is to be hoped that
they lose out in the struggle. OF
course, 1t may result in the Presi-
dents keeping his own soul, which