Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-07
Truman Appointments
Keep Middle of Road
Vinson Not Conservative, But
Not Left-Wins, Either

Vinson Not Conservative, But
Not Left-Wing, Either
BY David Laurence
All three major appointments just
made by President Truman may be
classified as middle of the road" so
far as radicalism or conservatism Is
concerned.
The new Chief Justice, Fred Vinson.
is by no means a conservative. He has
played along with the New Deal in Con-
gress. In the post Of Secretary Of the
Treasury, however, he has not allowed
the left-wingers to formulate national
policy.
Nobody, of course, can foresee how
the new Chief Justice will line up on
questions of constitutionality, but he
will probably tend to 60 along with the
thinking of Justices Jackson and
Frankfurter rather than Justices Black
and Douglas.
Can't Classify Judges.
In sense it is not fair to classify
amy Of the present justices as radicals
or conservatives-for seven are Roose-
welt appointees- their decisions at
times reveal, nevertheless, certain
political animus which causes many
observers to think they are still living
in the atmosphere Of party politics.
Maybe Mr.. Vinson will be able to
harmonic the Supreme Court and keep
it from making SO many split decisions,
but this may be doubted. In the end
there will be grouping in the Court
consisting of Justices Frankfurter, Jack
son, Burton and Murphy along with
the new Chief Justice to constitute
group, but he became so imbued with
the viewpoint Of the administrative
side of the Government when he served
in the executive agencies that he almost
always sides with the Federal agency
or department as against the citizen.
Broadly speaking, the basic issue in
America is the encroachment Of Govern
ment on the rights and properties Of
the citizen. The trend toward con-
fiscation has been growing. Maybe Chief
Justice Vinson will head a new majority
in the Court to re-establish the rights
of those who work through the years,
save their money and expect to have
their children enjoy the benefits Of it
without disturbance by an arbitrary
Supreme Court which seems to change
the rules at will.
If new justice had to be chosen from
Washington's ofhcialdom, it was better
that the selection be made, as it was,
from the ranks Of former members OF
Congress. It will be recalled that the
late Chief Justice White was formerly
a United States Senator. Also several
members of the court have been chosen
from congressional ranks.
1t is unfortunate, of course, that the
Court now has eight Democrats and one
Republican These members serve for
life. 1t would have been better If Mr..
Truman could have selected Judge John
J. Parker or some other eminent Re-
publican with background of juristic
experience.
AS for the new Secretary Of the
Treasury, John w. Snyder, his appoint
ment is not surprising. 1t has been be-
lieved ever since Mr.. Truman took Office
that Mr.. Snyder would eventually land
in the Secretary of the Treasury post.
He has been much maligned recently
by New Dealers. A systematic smear
campaign has been directed against
him, though his only offense was to give
to the President Straightforward adj
vice which the New Dealers didn't like.
Mr.. Snyder, therefore, remains not
only an adviser to the President but
he becomes the head of an important
department. This is Mr.. Truman's way
of answering those who have been snip
ing at John Snyder.
Sullivan Appointment Backed.
With respect to the new Undersecre-
tary OF the Navy, John Sullivan of New
Hampshire, the President could not
have made better appointment.
Mr.. Sullivan is a Democrat of the
liberal school and served as Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury under the
last Roosevelt administration. He is an
able administrator and conscientious
public official and this correspondent
suggested at the time Of the Pauley ap-
pomtment that the selection of Mr..
Sullivan would have been much wiser
choice. especially since he is we'll liked
In the Navy Department where he is
now serving as Assistant Secretary for
Air.
He is one of the younger officials who
have made good in Washington and
when Secretary Forrestal evacuates the
Navy job it Is certain that Mr.. Sullivan
will succeed him,
LIBERALIZATION Rinhts RaseruaaA