The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-07-12
News ~
BEHIND,
THERE|@|lz!$|Z||IEI!5
Released by Western Newspaper Union.
SHIFT OF VTNSON TO COURT
WEAKENS TREASURY POLICY

Released by Western Newspaper Union.
SHIFT OF vINSON TO COURT
WEAKENS TREASURY POLICY
WASHINGTON. - Senate reluc-
lance about the Vinson-Snyder shift
at the top of government is some
what difficult to explain, but it has
symptoms Of soundness behind it.
Mr.. Truman had been searching
for the best available legal mind in
the judiciary to straighten out the
complete tangle in the Supreme
court. He embarked upon this
course in resistance to pressure at
the death of Republican Chief JUS
tice Stone that he elevate one of
the sitting justices, all of whom are
involved in factions in the strife
which has confused court decisions.
He had plenty of time as the court
is finishing now until fall. Then sud-
denly, within "a hours apparently,
he decided to name one of the best
men from his own cabinet, Mr.. Vim
son, and push his old friend from
Missouri, Mr.. Snyder, into the treas
ury post thus left vacant.
Why he stopped searching for
judicial talent has not been
made clear. He could have af-
forded to appoint nonpartisan
or even Republican as chief
justice. The court was already
to l Democratic, Justice Bur-
ton being the lone Republican
left.
The best politics, indeed, might
have called for a Republican to re-
place Republican, as an appear
ance OF one party unanimity makes
the court look somewhat like Rus
sian election in this respect. It
weakens the judicial front of the
court, by increasing its political one
sldedness, and thus delays the pur-
pose of unity or stability of law
which Mr.. Truman apparently is
striving for.
FINANCIAL POLICY PERILED
But he weakened himself more,
by this effort to furnish the court
leadership for reformation. An at
tack upon his treasury department
is being conducted by former Treas
ury Secretary Morgenthau. Quite
evidently the associates of Mr.. Nor
genthau are attempting to break
Truman policy in the department,
which is of utmost Importance in the
presence of infationary threats.
ME-. Snyder has not previously
sought to distinguish himself by
standing up against attack. AS the
flrst Truman appointee from Mis-
souri,, Snyder is loyal, sincere and
earnest friend, but in the reconver-
sion his economic leadership has
not been especially clear. What is
needed in treasury is someone of
experience with the 'know-how'' of
politics, economics and finance, to
stand against imitation.
Now Mr.. Truman no doubt
figured he would send his best
available experienced man next
to State Secretary Byrnes)
upstairs to try to straighten out
the court, and run the treasury
himself through an old friend
but what he may have done is
to open up the financial policies
which were being rather care
fully established, to new pres
sures and possibilities of change.
What to do about it? Don't ask
me. The above is only a report
of the factors, difficult to explain
precisely, which have animated the
senate'S reluctance to confirm the
hasty step. Chairman McCarran of
the senate judiciary committee i'm
mediately announced consideration
OF appointments would follow the
usual course and be held over a
week in order to give interested wit
nesses due notice and opportunity
to be heard. Certainly the senate
will hardly choose to let the appoint
ments slip through without any
analysis of the deeper and greater
policy possibilities behind the
change. By at least going into
them, knowing them and consider
ing them, the Democratic leaders
OF the legislative branch will be
able to raise some bulwark repre-
senting their own viewpoint, and
prepare their own pressure for fu-
ture use.
MIDWEST WELL FED,
PROSPEROUS
While the East hears so much of.
and pays such great attention to the
Go, the Midwest numerically, DO
litically and economically is still the
small town village of the dirt farm
er, whose first concern is the
amount of moisture distributed
through this area by unprecedented
rains. He is watching the clouds
for corn growing weather, and has
seen his son come back from the
war. What State Secretary Byrnes
is doing in Paris or the clio in De-
troit is of only Incidental concern
to him. He wants to raise food for
man and beast, and get his help