The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1945-04-24
. BEHIND THE SCENES
IN WASHINGTON .

was q natural enough reflex re-
action when the shock of Roose.
velt's death was first felt. Il
therefore said to be entirely Z
false alarm by the people who
know Truman's Washington re-
cord and should therefore be in
a position to judge his capabili.
ties.
DESERVES EVERY CHANCE
This is admittedly a prejudic-
ed appraisal. But at the time
when all eyes are on the man
from Missouri, wanting him to
succeed, realizing he must sue
coed, anxious to give him every
encouragement in assuming the
worlds greatest responsibility.
this is the only fair appraisal to
give Truman the chance that he
deserves:
There is no question Of Tru-
mans honesty or sincerity. He
works hard. That, plus a large
share of good luck, have put him
where he is today.
He is decisive. When he finds
a bad situation he moves in on 1t
before it gets worse, instead OF
just letting it ride. When he
thinks he has the facts on a case,
he goes ahead.
In carrying out the work OF
the Truman Committee he did
not hesitate to move in against
sacred consciousness or politi-
cal. On his carpet were called
u. S. Steel, Curtiss-Wright and
Alcoa, Basic Magnesium. He
flayed the Army on Canol and
the Navy on its initial landing
craft bungles. He went after
Donald Nelson for supporting
Philip G.. Reed Of General Elec-
trio and subpoenaed cabinet Of
ficers and other top administra-
tors when they were reluctant to
give information he thought the
Senate was entitled to have.
He will not hesitate to hold
labor leaders to their response
bilities, either. In the Currier
housing project case in Detroit,
he tore into Sidney Hillman.
then co-chairman of OPM, tell
ing him either to do his job or
else get out and let someone else
do it.
WELL UP ON
DOMESTIC ISSUES
On postwar domestic issues it
can be claimed that Truman is
far better grounded than Roose-
welt was because Truman had
the time to study these issues
while Roosevelt was preoccupied
with the war and International
affairs. The Truman commit
tees third annual report, issued
in 1914, is now pointed to as one
of the first analyses on the prob
lens of reconversion.
While his dominating interest
with the Senate war investiga-
tions were production supply
and the maintenance of sound
national economy on the home
front, Truman was also men,
Der Of the Senate committee on
military affairs. That gave him
the opportunity to follow closely
the planning and strategy. So
he does not 60 to the White
House a novice on military mat
tiers and besides, the war is going
to be won no matter who is
President.
For some weeks at least, there
may be no changes in top Wash
ington personnel. Truman will
of course move into the White
House with a new personal Sc
cretarial staff of his own choos-
ing. His acquaintance with Har-
ny Hopkins, Judge Samuel N.
Rosenman and others of the
Roosevelt White House staff is
slight. There is known to be no
love lost between Truman and
several members of the old cab
met. and changes there would
come as no surprise.
But even If changes should be
made in the cabinet and other
administrative posts, they would
be presented as not necessarily
a change in Roosevelt policy
merely a change in the men Sc
lected to carry it out.