Evening star., 1946-02-05
Writer Sees Trumun
MisIed by Advisers
President Needs Time to Learn
Art of Administration, He Says

President Needs Time to Learn
Art of Administration, He Says
By David Laurence
The Republican decision to night con-
frmation by the Senate Of some OF the
men named to high posts by President
Truman. and the plea Of the left-wing
Political Action Committee OF C1O back
ground that the nomination Of Edward
Pauley for Undersecretary Of the Navy
be withdrawn because Of his connections
with oil companies, bring into focus the
whole problem of responsible govern
ment in America.
II the United States had had parlia-
mentary system, Mr.. Truman would have
been replaced within the last few weeks
because Of his failures In the wage-price
crisis. Also II he knew his administra-
ton might be erased from power, he
would never take the chances he has
taken in announcing appointments of
men who can only add political handi-
caps and controversies to his already
oyerburdened administration.
But Mr.. Truman has three years minus
about Is days to serve as President of the
United States. Under our rigid consti-
tutional system, and unlike either Can
ada or Great Britain or the other British
Commonwealths, the American people
must get along with their present ad-
ministration and try to guide 1t for three
years.
Too Much ut Stake.
Public opinion can be powerful force
for correction. Mr.. Truman is not a
stubborn or arbitrary person. He can
learn. His first mistake has been the
assumption that his personal friends
were entitled to rewards In high posts.
No man has right to consider the Gov
ernment matter for personal or polit-
teal use. Mr.. Truman believes In party
organization. He has observed other
Presidents making political appoint
ments. But there are certain places
where today politics must be banned.
These places are the Secretaryships of
State. War and Navy. Too much Is at
stake-the Nations safety and world
peace-to toy with those portfolios.
Mr.. Truman has integrity. He would
not allow any one to misuse a Govern
ment post-that Is, II he knew about it.
Government, however, is such complex
affair that it is not difacult for selfish
men to mislead President.
Mr.. Truman wants to be fair. He
knows what the average citizen wants
out Of Governments square deal and
not game Of special privilege. But
again 1t is difhcuit to make national pol
icies and be sure that the crafty hand
OF so-called advisers doesn't lead Pres
ident astray.
The word has gone out rather widely
that Mr.. Truman needs some new ad-
visers. The left wing and the right wing,
respectively, would be glad to oblge.
For many years Republican Presidents
picked their advisers from the group OF
conservatives whose economic predilec-
tions, even under the most conscientious
form of service, pulled them away from
the solution Of basic problems affecting
the workers and the operators of small
businesses who faced monopolies.
Then came . Democratic administra-
ton which, while making substantial
progress toward improvement of social
conditions, allowed the extremists to
mishandle governmental power so as
to make the previous arbitrariness and
caprice Of the resctionary groups seem
mild by comparison.
Today Mr.. Truman Is being urged to
put the left-wingers back in power and
give them control Of national policies.
What MIR. Truman needs Is no synthetic
group Of advisers. He needs mostly
time to learn the art of national adj
ministration. 1t is an expensive piecs
Of self-education, and it will require
many months OF trial and tribulation.
But there is no other way.
Mr.. Truman viii have to select GER
tain essential problems and study them
nrsthand and make his own decisions
after eliciting advice from sall sides
But he will not have the time or the
energy for this big task unless he stops
handing out jobs to political hench.
men or old cronies. Even If he opened
up the appointment scramble to mem.
bers of the Congress and allowed then
to submit dozen names each, he woul,
probably come out with better appoint
ments in the end than by trying to Al
cabinet posts and high Offices witt
those who happen to be personal friendl
or who happen to have rendered serv.
ice to the political campaigns of the
party.
Mr. Truman needs the sympathetic
understanding Of the whole country, bu
mostly he needs freedom from all So
called advisers who have axes to grind
either to the left" or to the fright" or
who have itching palms. What he
needs, on the other hand, is a group Of
disinterested persons in the cabinet
who can handle the routine business of
government while he concentrates on
q few major problems and masters each
one Of them the hard way. He would
then find the answers in due time, and
they wouldn't be far wrong.
Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
Silver Lining
! tha