The Wilmington morning star., 1946-11-08
P0st-ElectiOn Politics

POSt.ElecClOn FOl1ClcS
Senator Fulbright's proposal that
President Truman resign, which is
seconded by the Chicago Sun, is not in
the American pattern. Were President
Truman in an office equivalent to that
of England's Prime Minister, he would
have to step aside and surrender his
office to the choice of the party victori-
Gus at the polls. It happened when
Winston Churchill was ridden out Of
office by the labor party and Clement
Attlee was elevated to the premiership.
This was pointed out in the London
press as O as the returns of Tues
days voting became known in the Brit
ish capital. But the British precedent
does not hold in this country. Mr. Ifu-
man is not the first President who has
had to struggle along with an opposl-
ton majority in Congress. 1t is not the
ideal situation, but customary.
With great good sense the republi-
cans have not Joined the Fulbright-
Chicago Sun fanfare. Their national
chairman, Carroll Reece, sagely declares
it is a matter between Mr.. Truman and
his conscience; he is legally entitled
to remain in the White House for the
balance of his term and by the same
token legally entitled to resign. To do
the latter, however, would prove to the
country at large that the democrats are
without leadership and set them back
half a century. Particularly would this
be true if, as the Fulbright-Chicago Sun
combination proposes, he should appoint
a republican Secretary of State (Senator
is mentioned who upon his
resignation would become President.
The democratic party's interest obvious
ly is to have President Truman remain
in office or, if pressure should become
too great for him, step out in favor
of Secretary of State Byrnes.
This of our is all hypothetical.
Mr.. Truman accepted the responsible
ties of the presidency when he was
thrust into the office by President
Roosevelt's sudden death. Whatever
blunders he may have made, it cannot
justly be charged that he has sidestep-
ped those responsibilities. The Star be-
lieves Senator Fulbright and Mr.. Mar
shall Fields Chicago Sun are out of
order.
Otherwise, the election returns are
producing some interesting results. This
is especially notable in the program ac-
credited to the republicans. 1t is re-
ported they propose to cut individual
income taxes 20 per cent next year and
hope to reduce federal spending by ten
billion dollars. No person who has
sweated under a heavy income tax load
or secretly rebelled against the govern
ment's waste and extravaganza will fail
to commend both proposals. 1t is not
for laymen to say that it can or cannot
be done but even though it would mean
a continuation of a heavy tax burden,
reasonable person would wish to have
the national income reduced so greatly
that necessary public works and i'm
provements would be halted. If ten bill
lion dollars worth of waste is discovered
certainly ought to be stopped. At the
same time the republicans will have to
watch their step to see that their pro-
posed economies do not become sheer
perjury. Progress does not lie in that
direction.
A balanced budget, which thew pro-
pose to effect, and the removal of the
Presidents wartime powers, are items
in the republican legislative program
which everybody can endorse.
Christmas Coo1c