Evening star., 1946-09-23
Truman Commended
For Wallace Decision
President Finally Did His Duty
Despite Earlier Hesitation
By David Laurence

By David Laurence
President Truman struggled with temp
tation last week-and won. When man
wavers and then does the right thing he
must be commended for having done his
duty. His hesitancy may not be forgotten
but it can be forgiven.
The nature Of Mr.. Trumanis struggle
needs to be told because 1t rebounds to
his credit and Is lesson in political
morals which is sometimes at the root
OF controversies over public questions
that too often are decided from q per-
sonal and selfish rather than q public
welfare viewpoint.
Mr.. Truman Is not leftish and radical
at heart. If anything. he tends In the d.
rection Of conservatism but with 4 great
sympathy for what might be called the
liberal as distinguished from the reac-
tionary thinking Of the extreme left or
right wings respectively.
When President Roosevelt died the
Democratic party had been held to-
gether by the personal skill and politi-
cal craftsmanship Of a man who had
won four national victories. Mr.. Truman
was advised that his basic strategy must
be to retain solidarity in the Democratic
party. Continuation of as much as DOS
sible Of the policies which provided the
sinews Of political strength to the Roose-
welt administration was deemed neces-'
sary. In q measure the readiness to 70
along with the C1O-PAC and the free
hand given Henry wallace In the cAbi-
net were integral parts Of q policy Of
trying to maintain party harmony.
Compromises and adjustments there
fore were inevitable. The backing and
filling on labor policy, the stern anti
strike bill followed by . retreat on the
Case Bill, the yielding to major unions
all this could be carried on with re-
spect to domestic affairs without incur
ring too many political risks. The Tru-
man administration really has been
thinking IN political terms all along.
Sought to Boost Pepper.
The fuss raised by A. r. Whitney since
the railroad strike episode. however.
showed that the left-wingers were get
ting ready to pull their followers away
from Mr.. Truman. They began to build
up Senator Pepper of Florida as a kind
Of successor to Henry Wallace who
seemed to be tied up with Mr.. Truman
Mr.. Wallace had hoped to bs the
champion of left-wingers. He probably
did not intend to stay in the cabinet
Indefinitely. Sooner or later an oppor-
tunity would have come to make an is
sue and break with Mr. Truman. He per-
maps had overstayed his time on this.
But while both Mr.. Wallace and Mr..
Truman each could see the others view,
point and the desirability of party har-
mony in the congressional elections II
was inevitable that Mr.. Wallace would
come to parting Of the ways thereafter
and then try to corral the left-winp
movement 50 that it could conceivably
control. If not capture, the Democratic
party convention in 1e4s.
President Truman, by appealing
Henry Wallace, could have saved him
self from political injury. II he had
considered only himself he would have
gone through with the compromise
whereby the former Secretary of Com
merce would refrain for awhile from
making speeches but would carry never
tneiess the blessing Of the President
to speak on foreign policy later on.
Did Not Ask Resignation.
secretary Byrnes did not demand the
resignation OF MIR. Wallace. He could
concelvably have outlined to the presi-
oent the uncertainty left by the Wal
lace threat to resume the debats after
the Paris Conference. This was obvious
ly unsatisfactory because the big Issues
IN our relationship with Russia Will
hardly be disposed Of In the lesser
treaties now being negotiated. Thev
Will loom even larger this winter when
the treaties with Germany are con-
sidered.
So Mr.. Truman had to take counsel
OF his conscience. BY tolerating the
| compromise situation he could save
himself political embarrassment for A
| while at least but he became convinced
that he also might do irreparabls in
| jury to the whole cause Of world peace
II Russia were encouraged to miscon-
strue the domestic controversy precipi-t
tated by Mr.. wallace as 4 sign of
| American diSunity and weakness.
MIR. Truman decided to risk political
punishment. He deserves praise even
though his decision was belated. For
now a break in the Democratic party
has come. Mr.. Truman win certainly
have opposition for denomination. The
left wing will rally behind Mr.. wallace
and Mr.. Pepper. The President will
have to look to the center and right
wing elements to support him.
Once he wins the nomination he
will then not have to worry too much
about the left wing, for that group
knows full we'll that q third party
means an easy Republican victory. The
left-wingers have not been Republicans.
| The left wing will hurt itself i'm
measurably If 1t concentrates on foreign
| policy and becomes pro-Russian.
What MI Truman did last week was
to invite opposition to his own re.
nomination. He will get 1t, too. The
battle for the le4s nomination is on In
earnest but the country will be more
sympathetic to Harry Truman because
he did his duty. In the ranks Of
Democratic voters he will not be the
loser for the decision he has made.
He may actually have taken on new
stature as is always the case when
men are resolute and unselfish In their
| devotion to duty.
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