Evening star., 1947-04-06

millions at home and abroad, despite
In the months that have elapsed
the legatee has learned all about
the ups and downs of the presi-
dency. Probably more in a shorter
time than any of his predecessors
Mr.. Truman entered the White
House with America at war and CO.
operation the watchword. Every
body wanted to help. 1t was an
other era Of good feeling.
Critics Had a Field Day.
Then suddenly the Axis collapsed
and the country was thrown into
the turmoil of reconversion, with
out any advance planning worthy
of the name. Labor took walk
and the industrial machine slowed
down. Congress-nominall Demo-
cratic-ignored the Presidents legis-
lative program. Party loyalty was
out the window. Within six months
after Mr.. Truman was sworn IN
nothing he did was right, accord
ing to his critics, who were vast
majority, and his "inadequacy" was
mouth-fllling topic for the bleed
ing hearts Of the New Deal era.
The 32d President was making
some headway in the field of foreign
affairs, despite the Russian intransi-
geance, but domestically he was
drawing blanks.
That was the picture as Mr.. Tru-
man ended his first year and the
situation got no better. He was
forced to make concessions on prices
and wages at the expense of the
wartime stabilization Zine"
Lewis Got His Way.
While he won the plaudits of the
Nation for slapping down a strike
by engineers and trainmen that tied
up the railroads for "a hours, by
threatening to keep trains running
with the Army, the victory was
quickly offset when John L. Lewis
got his own price for ending a So
day mine strike.
Then "OPA trouble" bobbed into
the picture in big way, highIghted
by a meat famine that forced re-
moval of controls and sent prices
skyrocketing. Shortages of clothing
and automobiles were other prime
irritants. The congressional elec-
tions were coming along and from
every billboard Republicans were
shouting: Got enough?"
The Democratic campaign plan
was less than vague. First the
President was going to make some
speeches and then he wasn't: he was,
he wasn't. In the end, he didn't.
Roosevelt recordings were employed
to bolster fading Democratic pros
poets. A voting turnout of IS ,000, 900
way below Democratic hopes
gave the Republicans the expected
House majority and a surprise con-
troll of the Senate.
On His Own.
Mr.. Truman's State of Missouri
went in the sweep, and in his jack
son County home, the Republican
congressional candidate, Albert l..
Reeves, jr.. in startling upset, de-
feated Enos Axtell, the Presidents
choice.
The Democrats were so thoroughly
whipped that Senator Fulbright of
Arkansas, suggested they abdicate
the presidency, proposing that Mr..
Truman name a Republican Secre-
tary of State and then resign so
the appointee could succeed him.
Just how much the President was
surprised at the outcome is an open
question. Returning to Washington
by special train on election day,
after voting at home, Mr.. Truman
expressed confidence in Demo-
cratic victory. Surprise or not, he
obviously reached certain conclu-
sions without delay. They were
summed up in about these words by
close friend, as the full force of
the defeat was borne home:
From here in, he's on his own.
It's his show and he can run 1t as
he pleases. He owes nothing to any
one" In a briet post-election state
ment, which was his sole word on
the subject. the President spelled
out his own view:
"As President of the United States,
! am guided by a simple formula:
To do in all cases, from day to day,
without regard to narrow political
what seems to me
to be best for the welfare of all our
people"
Defeat at Polls Helped.
He conceded that with Repub.
licsn Congress in control differ
ences were inevitable. but he asked
and pledged-good will.
Five months afterward, it is stat
ing a fact to say that Mr.. Truman
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