Detroit evening times., 1945-04-24
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook
Peeler


HARRY TRUMAN'S nominal
II ton for the vice presidency
in Chicago last summer was a
victory over the Communists
and Fascists OF the Democratic
party who were opera ling
through the Political Action
Committee TO put over Henry
Wallace.
Never before in nominating
convention had there been such
a fierce fight over the vice
presidential nomination.
The reason was that Presi-
dent Franklin d. Roosevelt
plainly was failing in health
and strength.
The convention was pervaded
by premonition that If the
Democratic ticket should win at
the polls in November, the man
selected as his running mate
would become his successor as
the war president.
THE Communists and FaScists,
Il processing to be liberals and
long accustomed TO influence
and power in Washington and
New York. regarded Wallace as
a man who would carry out
their European design OF creep
ing -rnCroachment on The rights
and freedom of the American
people.
In Truman they recognized a
typical American, so they fought
him to the end.
This means now, therefore.
that Truman becomes PreSl-
dent under no obligation TO
either the Political Action Com
mIttee or the Go and equally
independent of those ideologlans
IN the Washington bureaucracy
-whe played The game with SId-
ney Hlllman.
MORE important 10 Truman.
~ IA u We II Tne hope,
amounting almost TO confidence.
among -fHillieHs-ef Americans,
that. he VIII. so 10 speak. grant
them amnesty and rcadmlt
them 10 citizenship and full en-
lOymeht Of their rights in their
native country.
Truman has been a moderate.
temperate and serious man and
one Of his best friends is Roy
Roberts. the editor of the Kan
sas City Star. Republican who
produced All Landon for the
Republican nomination IN 1886
and who was strongly lnhucn-
tai in smashing the PendergaSt
machine which first sent Tru-
mar 20 the Senate.
Although Roberts initiative
and tenaclty were largely re-
SpOnSlble for the conviction and
imprisonment OF Truman old
patron Truman bore Roberts
no grudge.
TT SEEMS unlikely consider
Il ing TrumanS disposition.
that he viii continue the long
haraSSmcnt and diSparagcment
of those many worthy Amerl-
cans who were gwen To- under
stand throughout the New Deal
that theirs was not q govern
ment Of. by and for all the pco-
pie but a government by an
exclusive group OF bigots for
the special benefit Of rela-
lively small portion of the
whole people. called the mi
norltieS.
Time viii tell, but il is diff
cult 10 imagine Truman retain
ing as his advisers RooSevelts
selected conhdanteS Sam Rosen-
man and Harry Hopkins. Felix
Frankturter and David r.. Niles
or placing enormous power IN
the hands Of Aubrey Williams
or Leon Henderson.
lie cuStomarily runs with a
different type Of men and n is
unthlnkable that he would So
lcct appoInteeS mainly for their
capacity TO insult his loyal fell
low citizens and turn against
their national government.
TRUMAN'S relations with
L Congress should provide i'm
mediate relief from the long
feud which Roosevelt dellber-
atcly began soon after his
accession IN 1888 and continued
until the end
Congress has been compared
by some of It's more intelligent
members 10 large student
body IN which the good men
who are after all. the great
majority quickly learn the char
acterlstlcs OF their inferior
fellows.
Though Truman may find il
necessary TO veto some meas
ureS. We may be sure that he
VIII never resort 10 such insult
ing language as provoked even
the doCile and decorous Alben
Barkley 10 his cNaspcrated re-
volt a little over a year ago
when Roosevelt vetoed the tax
bill.
TllE fact must be admitted
i that President Roosevelt
h.I -, L,,sx Il .t.-...