Evening star., 1947-08-26
New Wallace Tour Seen
As Third Party Stimulus
CLIO Move in California Is Called
Answer to His Prayer
Rv Gould Lincoln


By Gould LincoIx
Just as Henry A. Wallace, former Vice Presi-
dent and thorn in the side Of the Truman
administration, Is about to set out on new
transforming circuit, word comes from Califor-
mia that leftwing CIO officials and organizers
have launched movement for third party
"The Independent Progressive Party Of Cali
ornia." A purpose of the new organisation is
ito make sure Henry wallace carries California
in l948"
Mr. Wallace, writing In o recent issue or his
New Republic" described the needs Of the
liberals as follows: I'VE need organized. inde-
pendent political action. We need liberal DEM
ocrats fighting within the party to make 1t,
If possible. once again the party Of jackson,
Wilson and Roosevelt. We need independents
who will meet the varied legal requirements Of
the different States for q third party as hedge
against the complete sellout OF the present
Democratic leadership"
May Be Answer.
1t looks as though this third party move
ment in California may be an answer to the
Wallace prayer. Earlier In the summer, former
Attorney General Bob" Kenny staged q wal
lace-for- President meeting In Fresno. Calf
Its avowed purpose was to win for wallace
tional convention next year. The Kenny move
turned out to be fiop-and was slapped down at
subsequent meeting OF the Democratic State
Committee, headed by Jimmie" Roosevelt. MIR.
Wallace is not going to have the Democratic
delegation from California.
The sarcastic Mr.. Kenny, who roasted the
Truman administration to O turn In Fresno,
held out the threat Of an independent Wallace
candidacy for President. So far 1t has not
appeared that Mr.. Kenny Is mixed in with
the. CIO movement for third party-but that
might crop up later, depending on which way
Mr.. Kenny will jump when the time comes.
The move for the new party was launched in
Los Angeles under the auspices Of the Joint
Trade Union Committee, with Hugh Bryson.
San Francisco, president Of the National Union
Of Marine Cooks and Stewards, CIO, and James
L. Daugherty, Los Angeles, regional director
OF the CIO Utility Workers, playing the i'm
portant parts. The movement Is just another
evidence of the chaos in the Democratic and
so-called liberal ranks in California Democratic
National Chairman Hannegan. who has been
in the State recently, has still q lot Of spade
work to do there, although he is reported to
have said he did not fear Mr.. Kenny.
Mr.. Wallace starts his new tour of speaking
engagements with an address in Detroit on
much of his criticism Of the Taft Hartley labor
law. Why shouldn't he3 His principal source
of political support is in the CIO ranks. A few
days later he is to speak in Madison Square
Garden, New York That Is the forum from
which he delivered his now famous appease-
Russia speech, which lost him his job in the
Truman Cabinet as Secretary OF Commerce.
Actions Unpredictable.
James A. Farley, in his new book said that
the late President Roosevelt once told him he
never knew what Henry Wallace would do next
or words to that effect Outside of going
right along with the old New Deal policies, It's
impossible to predict exactly what Mr.. Wallace
is going to do in his coming speaking tour-or
in 1948 He might be found, after ali, in the
Truman camp-strange as that would seem
after all the criticism he and his friends have
hurled at the President. Bob Kennys quip in
his Fresno speech-that the Democratic Party
"is not the party Of Truman and the Missouri
Wallaceites have said
But unless Mr.. Wallace has been speaking
with his tongue in his cheek 1t may be ex-
pected he will foster third party movements,
such as that now started In California, in
various States. If these third parties 90 for
Mr.. Wallace next year, Mr. Wallace will have
more than a nuisance value-he will effectually
sink the Democratic national ticket.
1t will be remembered, however that Mr..
Wallace campaigned vigorously in 1914 for the
Roosevelt Truman ticket-after he had been
sold down the river at the Democratic National
Convention-which is further evidence that one
never knows which way Mr. Wallace will hop.