Evening star., 1946-12-27

bad humor.
His course in the last few weeks
notably in the coal strike-has been
that of a man no longer hesitant
or afraid but resolute and clear
headed. In consequence, he, con-
cededly, has gained in public esteem.
The most encouraging thing, how
ever, is that he seems no more
exalted by his partial friends, who
tell him he is making great politi-
cal comeback" than depressed by
his political enemies who short
time ago were insisting he must re-
sign.
According to Felix Belair, jr., In
the New York Times, Mr.. Truman
has told his intimates ito forget
ali about 1948 and the nominating
convention 18 months hence, and
concentrate on doing the best nom
political job of which they are
capable" ...
No Dragging.
This really sounds wonderful. Per-
haps it will not last, but there Is
concrete ground for believing that
Mr.. Truman not only means 1t at
the moment but Is living up to his
words. It Is to his credit that he has
not boasted about his new attitude
nor advertised it. If he goes through
with it, he will not have to. He is
certainly the first President we have
had in good many years who ever
tried to do completely nonpolitical
Job with no thought of nominating
conventions, and if the American
people do not appreciate that kind
of President then they deserve the
other kind, which is what they
mostly have had.
Besides relieving him of the cor
roding effects of personal political
ambition, the election results gave
Mr.. Truman freedom in other ways.
For example, they relieved him
from what he deemed an obligation
to dedicate himself to the so-called
Roosevelt policies" and the notion
that 1t was necessary to appease
the extreme left-wing element of
the New Deal formerly so potent in
White House councils, Certainly,
the voters rendered an unmiStaka-
bly, adverse verdict both against
those policies and that element.
UnshackIed From Labor.
In the second place, he was freed
from the interminable pressure by
advisers of the Chairman Hanne-
gan type who constantly insisted
that he must not "alienate labor"
BY labor, of course, they meant
the labor bosses of the CIO and
their Communist-satu allies. Of
the American Labor Party.
Two things combined to make the
freedom from these COM
plete. One was that they and the
candidates supported by them suf-
fered the most crushing defeats OF
any in oil parts of the country.
The other was that these labor
bosses have been personally ana
openly so vindictive and vitupera-
tive toward the President that no
man with any self-respect at all
could either appease or ally him.
self with them.
Thus for the first time in 13 years
we have a President in the White
House who is not politically hitched
up with these labor bosses, COM
mitted to their support. It is diff
cult to contend that this Is not
good for the country.
Considering all these things, the
new liberty of the President be-
comes really impressive. He is not
only q much freer man. but he
ought to be much happier one. He
does not now have to trim, trade,
equivocate or compromise for any
political reason whatever. Extreme
ly few of his predecessors have been
In 50 fortunate a position.
Undoubtedly, there are tough
times ahead Of him. He cannot
and probably does not expect to
escape criticism. He will be the
target not only for the Republicans
but for some of the sore and soured
relics of the Roosevelt regime still
around and for the left-wing labo.
bosses who lose no opportunity te
disna rape him