Evening star., 1946-03-04

the war saved the situation for the
Democrats both times. Now the
change is so long overdue that all
the laws of politics and the prece-
dents OF 80 years seem to make II
hescapable.
The accumulation of resentments
against a party so long in power is
very great. The feeling grows that
the only way to clean the Govern
ment up and clear the bureaucrats
out is to put one party out and the
other in. Usually this results in nc
great change in conditions but after
a too-long incumbency the idea has
popular appeal. But, even if all this
were not true, there still would be
foundation for the Democratic dis
couragement that concededly ex-
lists.
Strange Combination.
For example, the extraordinary
and incongruous combination which
supported Mr.. Roosevelt in three
campaigns shows unmistakable signs
of coming apart. He had welded
behind him the Democratic South
the Communists and radicals gen.
orally in other sections, the big city
bosses and the almost solid Negro
vote in the pivotal States.
A more absurd political setup
would be hard to imagine. 1t made
no sense for the conservative Demo-
Gratis of the South, the Negroes of
the North and the radicals every
where to be fighting under the same
banner for the same candidate. Yet
that Is what happened in 1886, 1910
and 1914.
1t is doubtful that any man other
than Franklin Roosevelt could have
held these widely separated and
clashing groups together. 1t was a
political feat that reflected great
credit on the cleverness of Mr.
Roosevelt and his aides as politi-
clans, though it was no tribute to
the intelligence of certain of the
constituent elements. The effort is
now being made by the Truman
administration to keep the combina-
ton intact, but it is obvious that
full success Is not obtainable. Per-
haps the chief reason is that Mr..
Truman is not Mr.. Roosevelt.
Strikes Color Picture.
It is true he pursues the Roose-
velt policies. 1t is true the radical
groups have no place else to go.
But it is also true that Mr.. Truman
does not appeal to them with any,
thing like the force of his predeces-
sor. And, with the two really indis-
pensable groups, developments have
contributed to diminish their value
as Democratic assets. Certainly that
is true Of union labor.
The wave of strikes with which
the country has been afflicted,
coupled with the arrogance and self
ishness of the professional labor
leaders, has stirred popular indig-
nation to such an extent that their
Endorsement easily may become a
political liability.
AS to the Negroes, who for so
many years were the basic asset of
the Republicans, no one believes
their Democratic solidity will be as
great in 1948 as before. For one
thing, Mr.. Roosevelt will not be run
ming and no one else in either
party has his attraction for them.
For another, reports from various
States indicate that the Negroes
have begun to drift back home" I"
The net of all this is to make the
Democratic outlook pretty dim.
Candid Democrats here freely ad-
NIT it.
COP without a Program.
OF course, 1t is possible the stu
alton may be saved for them by
great national prosperity and great
Republican stupidity. But when the
above reasons are combined with
Mr. Truman's mistakes, it is not
surprising Republicans exude con-
fidence.
Their prospects seem far better