Evening star., 1946-09-20


given special Endorsement this year
The Messrs. Mead and Guffey OBJ
viously need help; the Messrs. Muir
ray and Pepper obviously do not
The latter do not, perhaps, appre-
ciate how lucky they are but they
quite understand that they have
not been sighted; that they stand
Just as well in CIO favor as the
Messrs Mead and Guffey-perhaps
little higher, as they fight more
dashingly, make more noise, talk
more loudly about their liberalism.
Spoke With Wallace.
At any rate. Senator Pepper
though not candidate this year
is not entirely inactive in his own
behalf. With characteristic modesty
he has let 1t be known that, While
he expects Mr. Truman TO be nomi-
mated in 1948 for the presidency
though he would prefer Mr.. Wal
lace, that he, Pepper. is avail
able for either the presidential or
the vice presidential nomination
would gladly take either
Recently he acquired some public
ity by speaking with Mr. Wallace
on the night that gentleman made
his famous New York speech, in
which, before largely CIO audi
ence, he assailed American foreign
policy. The Pepper speech differed
from the Wallace speech only in
being more violently ti-American
and pro-Russian.
While 1t is true the Pepper an
nouncement of his l948 aspirations
attracted little attention. got no
response. except IRON labor leaders,
and hardly any enc, except Senator
Pepper himself, seems to think he
really is "available' for such high
Offices, it is interesting in that it
shows the extraordinary lack of
proportion and balance which the
CIO manages to inculcate IN its own
leaders and those who play politics
with them. They get almost wholly
out of focus not only about issues,
but about themselves.
Talk Irritates Colleagues.
Take Senator Pepper, for instance
Some of his senatorial colleagues
laughed at his announcement
others were irritated by what they
called his ''lnsufferable effrontery"
and other things. But neither the
laughter nor the irritation affects
Senator Pepper at all. He is an in
sensitive man, as shown by various
incidents OF his sensational career.
It Is not easy to offend him. How
ever. not until he became closely
affiliated with the CIO politicians
did he begin to take himself with
such great solemnity. Partly this is
due to the CIO publicity which reg
ularlv drenches him with praise;
partly to frequent reference to him
IN the radical New York press as a
great liberal statesman: partly to
his recent visit abroad, where he saw
both Marshal Stain and Marshal
Tito. and came home to make eX
travagsntly eulogistic speeches about
both, the general idea sought to be
conveyed being that they not only
are two noble fellows, but very close
friends Of Senator Pepper.
Critic of L. ). Foreign Policy.
This combination has been just
too much for MIN. One of his COL
leagues says it has caused him TO
blow MS top Actually, of course
Senator Pepper is not one Of the
frst,grade Senators. Nor is he high
lv regarded by those of the first
grade. He has no record of Sena
torial achievement, has performed
no outstanding public service, made
no contribution to the national life
His prominence-such as it ISIS
wholly due to the enthusiasm with
which he has espoused the CIO
proposals and has identified himself
with What the CIO leaders call the
liberal movement" That is really
all there is to Mr. Pepper Never
theless. here he is seriously proposing
himSelf for President or Vice Pres
whichever he can get And
he has become the loudeSt critic Of
American foreign policy, the most
srdens defender of the Russian posi-
ton and the leading advocate Of the
abolition Of party lines in the in
terests Of his brand of liberalism. -
Charged by Representative Lea
Democrat, of California, chairman
Of the House Interstate Commerce
Committee, with proposing a class