Evening star., 1946-11-20

The literary liberals and a few
publicity-seeking politicians have
been forecasting the sgravest conse-
quences" If Mr.. Truman does not at
once appoint q committee or put a
couple Of Republicans in his cabinet
or-best of all, they insist-resign.
Constructive Action Possible.
ALI of which is nonsense particu-
larly the loud calamity bowling. The
reality is that with Mr.. Truman in
the White House and the Republi-
cans In full control Of Congress, the
prospects for constructive action are
very much better than they have
been at any time in the last three
years. The reasons are clear. For
one thing they could not be worse
than they we're.
Except on war measures and for
eign policy, Mr.. Roosevelt, because
Of the combination of Republicans
and conservative Democrats, had
lost control of Congress on every
essential issue two years before he
died. Certainly Mr.. Truman had no
control In the last session. 1t was
impossible to legislate on labor; 1t
was impossible to halt waste; 1t
was impossible to do a lot Of things
that should have been done.
The reason for Mr.. Truman's In
ability to get his program"
through last session and for the
inability Of Congress to legislate on
labor and really cut the size and
cost Of the governmental machine
was not because Mr.. Truman was a
Democrat and Congress control was
taken over by conservative coali-
tion but because after Congress
and the country had become sick
Of the so-called Roosevelt policies
and disguised with his labor alli-
ances, Mr.. Truman felt compelled
to insist on both. Futility and
Illustration certainly followed. Then
came the election, In which the
voters emphatically repudiated the
Roosevelt policies" the Truman
Administration, the CIO, the radi-
cal group and the Democratic party
as now controlled.
Position Unchanged.
AS a result, the Republicans have
gained q majority In House and
Senate. But Is Mr.. Truman any
worse Oh? Certainly not. He did
not have control of Congress be-
fore and he has not got 1t now. So
far as that Is, concerned, his posi-
ton is unchanged. But he has been
most convincingly told by the re-
turns that the Roosevelt policies"
are no longer in favor; that the
CIO-PAC Is In the doghouse;. that
he will not be elected in 1948, and
that the Republicans will gain the
presidency.
What, then, should he do? Re-
sign? That is silly. Put couple of
Republicans in his cabinet? Where
does that get him-and whom would
he put? And how would they be
confirmed? There is no soundness
In such suggestions and practical
men do not take them seriously.
Actually. Mr.. Truman has 1
perfectly plain course, which al
ready he has given some indication
he intends to follow. This is just to
look the realities fully in the face.
accept the fact that he now has no
political future; second, recognize
that the election has released him
not only from all obligation to per-
sist in the Roosevelt policies in
which he never really believed, but
also from any obligation to the
special interest and groups with
whom Mr.. Roosevelt was allied
such, for example, as the CIO.
Voters Point Way.
Thus, free from personal political
ambition, MIR. Truman is left in
position to think, speak and act with
complete independence of politics,
politicians, pressure groups and
parties. His would be a rare posi-
tion in the history Of the prcsi-
dency. The opportunity to serve
the country would be great.
And in no other way could man
get, as much personal qualification
out of the two years in which he
still will be President. All he need
do'is make it clear to the American
people that he accepts the election
result as eliminating himself from
the l94S picture and intends to be
himself from now on. This is the
best course for Mr.. Truman to fol-
low-best for him and best for the
Nation. 1t is, in fact, the only sensi-
bic thing for him to do--and he