Evening star., 1946-09-23

WLCAAllil6 IOliuChAldtlOlk VI lll'
words and actS-the retention o
this man would have paralyzed tht
administration and promoted chaos
After admitting his first mistake
like man, it is distressing that Mr.
Truman did not more quickly grasr
the situation; that he had to wait
until it was made clear that Mr.
Byrnes could not stay under the
conditions created by the Truman
Wallace truce; that it jeopardizeG
the American position, greatly
diminished our power and was
strongly condemned by public opin-
ion, regardless of party.
OF course, the trouble Mr.. Truman
has had from the start in dealing
with Mr.. Wallace is politics. This Is
not an especially creditable explana-
ton of his conduct, but it is an un-
derstandable one.
Pictured Left-Wing Leader.
Ever since he became President
there has been a campaign, vigor-
ously participated In by Mr.. Wallace
himself, to picture him as the power
full. liberal" leader of the left-wing
labor element whose support is es-
sential to the administration and
the Democratic party. This is a
fictitious picture and a false idea,
but such is the power of the CIO
publicity machine that it has been
convincingly portrayed.
Certainly, 1t has been accepted by
the somewhat ootuse Chairman
Hannegan of the Democratic Com
mittee, who almost hysterically has
insisted that Mr.. Truman could not
afford to let Mr.. Wallace 60, but
must at all costs keep him "in the
family"
Now that the President has been
forced to put aside the Hannegan
advice and make the break, it is
to be expected that the CIO pub
licity and the journalistic guns OF
tho pro-Wallace group will be
turned upon him personally. All
the professional liberals will spit
At him. And the Republicans will
light bonfres and blow trumpets.
He brought it on himself and he
will just have to take it, But, so
far as both he and the country are
concerned, there are some consol-
ing reflections. One for him is to
recall that the late Mr.. Roosevelt
at the last minute deliberately
ditched Mr.. Wallace in the 1914
Democratic convention, despite the
terrifying demands of the CIO
leaders, because he had been told
by Mayor Kelly of Chicago. Mr..
Hague OF New Jersey, and others
Of the big city bosses that MIR. Wal
lace. as his running mate, would
cost the Democratic ticket millions
of votes.
II this ditching, or, as some refer
to 1t. double cross" lost Mr.. Roose-
welt 4 single vote. 1t was not ap-
parent in the returns. Nor did he
lose either Mr.. Wallace's friendship
or the CIO support. 1t should, also,
be relief to Mr.. Truman to throw
of this CIO-Wallace obsession and
get rid of q degrading subservience
incompatible with the Office he
holds and the interests of the people.
SO far as the people are con-
cerned most OF them will be glad
to see Mr.. Wallace 60. Most of them
never. thought he should have the
job in the first place. Nor will the
believing Of his leather-lunged
friends that with Mr.. Wallace goes
the last Of the true Roosevelt mem
in the Cabinet convince them that
this Is Z calamity.
Wanted TO See Wallace Go.
When the present excitement sub
sides, - it soon will, it may be found
that the net results of the Wallace
episode are good and not bad. For
one, q convincing demonstration OF
popular support Of Mr.. Byrnes and
the policy he has pursued will have
been given. For another, the trouble
making Mr.. Wallace will no longer
be in position where his utterances
will be significant or important. For
a third, the impression that the ad-
ministration is divided, with two
groups pulling in different directions
and the President unhappily in be-
tween. will have been dissipated. For
q fourth, an opportunity will be
given Mr.. Truman to strengthen his
Cabinet and acquire a badly needed
counselor-such, for example, as Mr.
William Clayton.
Finally, there Is some reason to