Evening star., 1946-09-27
Democrats Putting
President on SPOT
Speaking in Michigan, Wallace
Can Say What He Pleases
By David Laurence g


President Truman has been put on
the spot by the Democratic National
Committee management, which is ap-
parently planning to schedule cam
paign speeches by former Secretary
Wallace.
Mr.. Wallace. 1t is announced, will
speak in Michigan. This is the State
from which Senator Vandenberg, Re-
publican, halls. He is candidate for
reelection but Is unable to make an
extended campaign because his pres
ence is required in Paris by Secretary
OF State Byrnes to support the bipar-
tisan foreign policy Of the United
States.
1t Is being stated that Mr.. Wallace
is not appearing in Michigan under
the auspices OF the Democratic Ma
tional Committee but under other spon-
sorship. Since MIR. wallace is no longer
member of the cabinet, he can, of
course, say what he pleases. He can
speak on foreign policy II he wishes and
nobody can object. But If Mr.. Wallace
appears under the auspices Of the Demo-
cratic National Committee anywhere
in the congressional campaign and dis
cusses foreign policy or foreign ques-
tions In such way as to reveal devi-
alton from the administration policies
or attitudes, it will mean that the White
House will be taking full responsibility
for what Mr.. Wallace says.
For the chairman of the Democratic
National Committee is Postmaster Gen.
eral Hannegan, who is a member of the
Presidents cabinet. As such, he is
amenable to the wishes Of President
Truman, who is the titular leader Of
the Democratic Party.
Would Embarrass President.
If Mr. Wallace makes speeches any
where under the Democratic National
Committee auspices, whether In Michi-
gan or elsewhere, he will be embarrass-
ing the President once more. Mr.. Tru-
man will then face the necessity Of ex-
planning why, as party leader. he per-
mits Republican candidates to be at
tackled on issues of foreign policy for
which he Is claiming bipartisan sup
port before the world
1t may well be that Mr. Wallace will
spare the President embarrassment by
refraining from the discussion of any
foreign policy questions during the cam
paign. 1t is really the only way out of
the dilemma but, on the other hand,
it looks as If the Democratic National
Committee managers have been solicit
ing the stump speaking of Mr.. Wallace,
SO their requests presumably will be
granted on conditions laid down by the
former Secretary Of Commerce.
President Truman, however, cannot
disassociate himself from the Democratic
National Committees action in putting
on speaker with whom the President
has announced publicly that he dis
agrees.
There are, to be sure, plenty of domes-
tic issues which can absorb Mr.. Wal
lace's time on the stump and he could
find things to argue about In Michigan
with reference to Senator Vandenberg's S
stand on domestic issues. The question
is whether Mr.. Wallace will care to be
confined to that sort of strategy, since
foreign questions are at the moment
close to his heart. -.
Vandenberg's Seat Assured.
Michigan is q Republican State and
Senator Vandenberg would seem to be
assured of reelection, for he has made
an outstanding record in the United
States Senate. But it would be natural
for MIR. Wallace to select Michigan as
stumping ground and to oppose Sena-
tor Vandenberg because only recently
Senator Taft in a campaign address
said that the Michigan Senator had been
instrumental in persuading Secretary
Byrnes to adhere to firm policy toward
Russia. Mr.. Taft omitted to mention
that Senator Connally, Democrat, Of
Texas. also happened to think the same
way, so that what Mr.. Byrnes decided
with reference to the so-called tough"
policy toward Russian demands and en-
croachments on the Potsdam Agreement
was really policy of the leaders of both
political parties in the Senate rather
than Of any one man or any one party.
Secretary Wallace will draw crowds on
the stump. But he will also antagonize
those Democratic voters who are vehe-
mently anti Communist and who do not
feel as Mr.. Wallace does toward Russia.
The Democratic committee would be
wiser if they didn't schedule any WAL
1arA snaecheS in this campairp either