Evening star., 1947-07-31
The Political MM

New York Scans EIigibIes
For Truman Running Mate
Forrestal or Hartman Held Unlikely
To Strengthen Democratic Ticket
By Gould Lincoln
NEW YORK, July 31.-New York Demo-
Gratis take it for granted that President 'Tru-
man will be renominated next year-and some
of them are wondering whether he will turn to
the Empire State for running mate; either
the new Secretary of National Defense. James
Forrestal, or Averen Hartman, Secretary Of
Commerce. Neither of these gentlemen has
any political .it" in New York; neither has been
elected to public office by votes OF New Workers.
and both are known only to New Workers as
members of the Presidents cabinet. Therefore
1t is' difficult to figure how much strength.
If any, either would add to the Democratic
national ticket
1t is possible that Mr. Forrestal's new ap-
pointment-raising him from Secretary of the
Navy, a job he had held since the death OF the
late Frank Knox-was intended to help build
him up for the 1948 campaign. Mr.. Forrestal
made an excellent head of the Navy Depart
ment, however, and 1t was logical for the
President to place him at the head Of the new
department which comprises Army, Navy and
Air Departments.
As OF today, however, II the Democratic vice
presidential nomination were to 60 to Mr.. For
restal or Mr.. Hariman the name Of the
latter would bear more weight in New York.
The Harrimans have been prominent family
IN the State and in the city for many years.
No Others in Sight.
Outside of Mr.. Hartman and Mr. Forrestal
there seems to be no New Yorker who might
fill the vice presidential nomination bill. From
geographical standpoint Democrats consider
it would be highly desirable to have New York
represented with Missouri on their national
ticket. They recall that the ticket in 1914 was
a New York Missouri tieket-Roosevelt and
Truman. If they could have elected Demo-
cratic Governor last year in place of Governor
Dewey, he would have been natural for the
vice presidential nomination. But they
couldnt-not by some 100000 votes which was
Gov. Dewey's lead over former Senator Mead.
Speculation in political circles here reaches
out to Gen. Eisenhower, who Is soon to become
president of Columbia University. His transla-
tion from military life to civilian-and to be
head of a great institution Of learning-is
held by some to be highly significant with
bid for draft" by the Republican Ma
tional Convention next June 1t is pointed
out that although Gen. Eisenhower has said
he was not candidate for a presidential
nomination, he has not said he would not
accept.
The majority Of opinion here, however, Is
that Gov. Dewey will be nominated for Presi-
dent. 1t is admitted he still has hght on
his hands. But New Yorks big electoral vote
and the fact Republican candidate must be
able to carry the State If he is to be elected
are considered impelling reasons for the non1i-
nation of Gov. Dewey. Furthermore, some Of
the best qualified observers Of New York
politics insist that Gov. Dewey can defeat
President Truman in this State. They figure
it this way: To win, Mr.. Truman must have
not only the Democratic nomination but also
that of the American Labor Party and of the
Liberal Party. But if the President receives
the Endorsement and nomination of the Ameri-
can Labor Party he will lose 100000 or more
Democratic Irish Catholic votes.
That would sink the Truman ticket in New
York. The loss Of these 100000 votes would
he due to the hostility of these voters to COM
munism and anything tainted with 1t. The
American Labor Party. some Of these Demo-
Gratis insist, Is Communist dominated or hews
to the so-called party line.
ALP May Pick Wallace.
Doubt is expressed in some quarters, too,
that the American Labor Party would nominate
Mr.. Truman for its presidential candidate,
because Of his firm attitude toward Soviet
Russia and against the spread of communism
in Europe. There is the possibility that the
ALP might nominate candidate OF its own
for President-for example. Henry wallace,
should Mr.. Wallace agree to run and head
a third party. Any way you look at 1t, II
these speculations are we'll founded, il, appears
that Mr.. Truman cannot carry New York next
year.
The Wallace-for- President drive-as the can
didate of the Democratic Rarty-took body
blow In California last week. when the Demo-
cratic State Committee voted overwhelmingly
to indorse President Truman's foreign policy
and ignored the protests Of Bob" Kenny, for
mer State Attorney General, who Is heading
the Wallace movement. Mr. Kenny has sug-
gested that If Mr.. Wallace is denied Demo-
cratic presidential nomination, he may be
entered as an independent candidate for
President in California. II he were, 1t would
undoubtedly lose California to the Democrats.
Mr.. Wallace has often threatened that
third party would be launched next year II
the Democratic Party fails to mend its ways
and return to "RooseveltiSm" 1t now seems
he must go through with such a program or
politically sink out of sight.
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