Evening star., 1947-12-18
The Political Mill
Uncertain Wallace Plans
Obscure Picture of 1948
Has Not Answered on Candidacy but
Democrats Fret, Republicans Smile
By Gould Lincoln

By Gonid Lincoln
Democrats are profoundly disturbed over the
probable third-party presidential candidacy Of
henry A. Wallace. Republicans. although they
claim the COP can win the presidency next
year over President Truman even If there Is no
Wallace third ticket in the field are regarding
the Wallace-for-P President movement with COM
placency. Most of them are taking it for
granted that Mr.. Wallace will permit himself to
be nominated on progressive" ticket.
However, there are few-and some Of the
shreWdest-Repubcans who contend that the
Truman Democrats will capitulate to the left
Wlngers now threatening to put the Wallace
TICKET IN the field, in the matter of policy and
SC avoid disastrous split in the ranks of voters
who supported Franklin D. Roosevelt If the
administration and the Democratic national
organization move far enough to the left"
they may at least have the effect of weaving
away enough Of the Wallace following to make
the Wallace vote-if the former Vice President
ooes run-almost negligible. Already, it is
pointed out, nearly all OF the union labor
leaders, who would be delighted to have Mr..
Wallace for President, have indicated thev will
string along with Mr.. Truman They frovn
on third-party movement which would make
1t easier for Republican victory
Wallace Must Act Soon.
Mr.. Wallace, it seems, will soon have to fish
or cut bait. While he has repeatedly declared hs
would favor third, progressive party and that
ne would oe willing to accept its nomination for
President If ne were called, Mr. Wallace has vet
to announce his candidacy. The Progressive
Citizens OF America, under whose auspices Mr.,
Wallace has travelled about the country making
speeches denouncing the Truman administra-
tlon-partlcularly its foreign policy-is now
moving in on him with demand that he run.
Its executive committee has adopted resolu-
ton urging Mr.. Wallace to accept presidential
nomination. The board of directors of the
organization Is expected to ratify this resou-
+" ton when 1t meets in Chicago January 16 The
national convention of the Pea, which meets
also In Chicago, January II and 1S, is expected
to follow suit
If finally the organization Democrats find it
impossible to win over Mr.. Wallace and his
followers to support Mr.. Truman they undoubt-
edly will seek to plaster Mr. Wallace with a
Communist label-or make 1t appear that only
the Communists and fellow travellers" are
backing him. Mr.. Wallace and the Pea for
their part, will continue to denounce Mr.,
Truman. charging he has forsaken the old
Roosevelt policies and is proceeding on a course
that Will eventually take this country into war;
They will make their appeal to all paciists in
the country-and to those who devoutly oppose
any step that might lead to another war.
Moves Unpredictable
Mr.. Wallace Is as unpredictable as spring
shower. However, he has gone so far in his
attacks on Mr.. Truman 1t does not appear he
could support him for re-election-no matter
what kind Of olive branch is held out by the
Truman supporters Further there is plenty
Of reason 10 believe that Mr. Wallace would like
very much to sink Mr.. Truman without trace
And this he may very well accomplish by run
ming himself on third-party ticket
Except for the Bull Moose Party, headed by
Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, third-party move
ments have been singularly ineffective In their
influence on presidential elections in the last
half century. The late Senator bob" La
Toilette OF Wisconsin, in 1924, running as an
independent progressive, made the biggest
splash. but really had no effect on the Coolidge
election that year. Senator La Toilette re-
ceived total popular vote Of 1922 1856 votes for
President, while President Coolidge, Republican
had 15,725,0l6 and John w. Davis, Democrat
had only 1885, ,586. Senator La Toilette carried
one State, Wisconsin. Yet at the time dire pre-
dictions were made that the La Toilette vote
might make 1t impossible for the electoral
college to choose President and the decision
would be thrown into the House.
In 1886, Representative William Lemke of
North Dakota, with the backing Of Father
Charles E. Coughlin, was the presidential cam
didate Of the Union Party His total popular
vote was ss1.s58-a drop in the bucket COM
pared to the 100000 cast for Franklin d.
Roosevelt, which gave Mr.. Roosevelt an
100000 lead over his Republican opponent,
All Landon. Mr.. Lemke. however, had no real
following throughout the country. Mr.. Wallace,
1t Is urged, has. But no one knows for sure.
The one way to find out is to have Mr.. Wallace