Evening star., 1945-06-20
Trumun Action HuiIe1
On Law Of Succession
Direct Approach Cut Through
Delicate Problem, Says Writer
By David Laurence

delicate Problem, Says Writer
BY David Laurence
For more than a month there has
been a good deal of talk behind the
scenes as to what the situation would
be II President Truman were taken
from his post by the hand of fate.
This correspondent and others wrote
dispatches pointing out that an ap-
pointed officer in the cabinet would
succeed to the presidency under the
present succession law. Members OF
Congress talked about it among them
selves. But everybody realized it was
a delicate subject and difficult to press
without seeming to be visualizing
tragedy in the White House.
Representative Joseph Martin, Re-
publican, thought about it, too, and
decided the other day to discuss it
with Speaker Rayburn. But then Mr..
Rayburn might be embarrassed because
Mr.. Martin felt the succession should
pass to the Speaker of the House. He
might have to get behind bill that
could conceivably affect him.
Then President Truman acted. With
characteristic simplicity and with
directness that cuts through any deli
cate problem because his approach il
honest and straightforward. Mr.. Truman
relieved everybody of embarrassment
by placing the subject squarely before
the American people with a definite
recommendation that meets the situa-
tion in every respect.
Old Succession Law
The trouble with the old succession
law, which was on the books from 1897
to 1886, was that 1t provided for the
President Pro Tenn of the Senate to
succeed and then the Speaker of the
House. The change was made so that
the same political party could name
the President, and that's why in 1886
the new law specified that the cabinet
officers, starting with the Secretary Of
State. would form the line of succession.
But this same law fails to meet two
major objections. First, an elective
and not an appointive officer should
become President and, second, the peo-
vacancies in the Office of President and
Vice President in the next regular cleo
ton. This Is the custom now when a
Senator or Governor dies in office. In
some instances, of course, special cleo
ton is held, and President Truman sug-
gests that Congress may wish to pro-
vide for such a means of choosing a
successor. But the likelihood is that
the scheme will be adopted which pro-
vides for the selection af a new Presi
dent and Vice President at the next
congressional or presidential election,
Whlchever is nearest to the date on
which the second vacancy occurs,
namely, the date when the Vice Presi-
dent who has succeeded the President
Is himself incapacitated or dies.
The solution which Mr.. Truman has
proposed might never have come before
the American people If the hazards of
wartime travel had not appeared on
the horizon in connection with the
announcement that the President Is
going overseas to meet Marshal Stain
and Prime Minister Churchill. Some
times tragedies happen in government
when no provision has been made to
meet them and the superstitiously in
clined believe that when provision has
been made then nothing untoward
happens.
Precious to Nation.
Certainly President Truman has
made remarkable record in the few
brief weeks that he has been President
which makes him at the moment more
precious to his country than any other
man In public life. There was no false
pride or artinciality about his handling
OF the matter Of succession. He recos-
nized the possibilities the moment the
matter was drawn to his attention in
the public prints as his own forthcom-
ing trip had to be announced.
These are not matters of a personal
nature. They concern preparedness for
succession IN q democracy at a time
when the Nation is engaged in an un-
precedented war. The American sys-
TEN OF representative government is
strong because 1t does provide con-
tinuity
Mr.. Truman took over suddenly from
his illustrious predecessor and the con-
duct OF the war and Of the government
itself was not impaired. Confidence in
the capacity of our elected leaders to
meet any crisis has grown as a result
OF the success of the transition which
began on April IL. To assure the
American people that another elected
leader is ready to step into the White
House and that the people will have
a chance to choose new President and
Vice President at an election to be
provided for by Congress is to build
faith in the institution of representa-
tive government itself. Mr.. Truman
has made notable contribution and
Congress unquestionably will accept his
recommendation at once.
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