Evening star., 1946-07-12
Truman Says No Politics Rule
Applies Only to Primaries


The Capital speculated today on
Truman's role in the No
vember elections, after his qualified
Of an often repeated
'nonintervention" policy in cam
paign maneuvering.
The issue was raised at Mr.. Tru-
mans news conference late yester-
day when reporter wanted to
know if the aid he had given Sena-
tor Wheeler, Democrat, Of Montana
in a heated race, represented a
change of front, in view of the Pres
ident's earlier statements that he
was staying out Of politics, except in
his home State.
The President said that rule ap-
piled only to primaries-that In poll
tics he dealt with every State in
the Union.
Equally as significant was his ad-
mission that he had talked politics
with Paul E. Fitzpatrick. Democratic
State chairman for New York. who
was White House visitor Wednes-
day.
Decision Reserved on Mead.
On earlier occasions when Mr..
and other party leaders
have come to the White House, the
President has answered questions
about the conversations by saying
they talked politics and he listened.
Mr.. Truman refused, however, to
commit himself on the prospective
entry into the New York gubernato-
rial race of Senator Mead, who is
expected to furnish the Democratic
opposition to Gov Thomas e. Dewey
Asked If he was ready to indorse
Senator Mead, the President told
his euestioner to wait a while.
The new conference political dis
cussion came at the end of a day
which saw the. National Farmers
Unions surprise break with the ad-
minisIation. and further repercus-
sions In the Montana situation
where the President went to bat for
Senator Wheeler when the latter s
opposition tagged him as an enemy
to rail labor.
Third Party Move Discounted.
The unexpected and unequivocal
severance of political relations be-
tween the administration and the
Farmers Union came In a Denver
announcement yesterday by the Or
ganization's president, James G
Patton. Capitol Hill, however, dis
counted any third party movement
as a result.
Mr.. Patton told reporters his group
had lost confidence in the Truman
administrations doing anything
about the legislation we consider
He added that Presi-
dent Trumans veto OF the OPA ex-
tension bill while he was asking for
labor draft powers de-
Inconsistency"
This sharp break away from tn;
Truman camp was all the more
to Capitol Hill Democrats
because they recalled that the Farm
ers' Union. which claims a member
ship of 400, ,000 had been the one
farm group to support the admins
tration on issues where the larger
agricultural organizations had taken
opposing stands
Mr.. Patton apparently left the
way open for a third party move
ment by asserting that his group
was not migrating toward the Re
adding I'VE have lost
faith in Congress as q whole as
well as the administration"
Senator Mead told a reporter he
doesn't think the time is ripe for
any effective third party movement
and believes most of those who may
be dissatisfied with the ma jor politi-
cal orga nizations In some respects
recognize that fact.
Aiken Secs COP Advantage.
Senator Aiken, Republican, OF
Vermont, said he holds the same
view, but he thinks the split will
work to the advantage of the Re
publicans even if the Farmers
Union doesn't formally join the
COP ranks.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Ilh-
nois, chairman OF the Democratic
Campaign Committee,
said he degraded the cleavage as
negligible.
There were some Democrats. how
ever. who conceded frankly-if pri-
the death of Sidney
Hillman may present them with a
problem in maintaining future rela-
tons with the CIO-PAC, which the
labor chief headed.
From their standpoint the situa-
ton is most acute in New York,
where Mr.. Hillman also headed the
Labor party. Democrats
think they need the ALP votes, plus
the doorbell ringing campaign of
the CIO-PAC to win in what looks
like close senatorial and Governor
ship races in that State.
To keep Mr.. Hillman's policies
intact, Senator Mead and others
in the New York situation
repeatedly are urging CIO President
Philip Murray to take over chair
of the PAC, at least until
after the November elections.
Senator Mead and Senator Wag-
ner. Democrats, of New York re-
portedly agree that it might be
to hold all Of the ele-
ments in line and keep the CIO-PAC
strongly active in the campaign If
any lesser light is named to the post.