Evening star., 1947-01-17

tics (and some political thought Is
inevitably, ,he is giving a pretty
fair imitation of a man who has
risen slightly above politics, who is
under no political illusions about
himself, who is making no calcu-
lated effort to promote himself po-
litically, who is just trying to do
the best he can.
OF course, this is highly intelli-
gent of Mr.. Truman. 1t is exactly
the way some of his friends hoped
he would react to the 1916 Novem-
Der defeat and the poor 1948 Demo-
cratic prospects. For him it is the
clear road to personal serenity and
national respect. How long he will
continue to travel it, remains to be
seen, but that he is on it now seems
rather conyincingly attested by the
fact that though, since Congress
met, he has delivered three i'm
portant messages, sent number
Of major appointments to the Sen
ate and expressed himself on sew
eral highly controversial matters,
there has come neither from the
Republicans nor the hostile Glib
eral" groups in his own party any
serious allegation that Mr.. Truman
is playing politics; that anything he
has said or done has been politically
inspired.
No Charge of Politics.
Neither his words nor deeds have
been entirely acceptable to all
groups and both parties. His budget
message has been properly assailed
and he has by no means been free
of criticism in other directions. But
the point is that there has come
no real charge of politics or parti-
sanship from any source, which Is
little short of remarkable.
In the matter of curtailing gov
ernmental expenditures he did not
60 nearly as far as many had hoped
and his budget proposals unques-
tionably will be slashed. On the
other hand, he was concrete and
uneouivocal in his opposition to
any further tax reduction at this
time. That cuts straight athwart
Republican plans but certainly is
anything save the orthodox posi-
ton of the political demagogue.
On the prickly issue of labor legis-
alton he was not nearly as forth
right in his recommendations as had
been hoped by many and as would
have been justified by his personal
experiences of the past year. Never
theless, he left no doubt of his con-
viction that restrictive measures are
essential to protect the national in
terests, and certainly he made 1t
clear that he had consulted no labor
leaders as to what he should say.
Reverses Roosevelt Policy.
This reverses the policy of MIR
Roosevelt, who never failed to con-
suit and agree with them. In conse-
ouence, Mr.. Truman's labor utter
ances pleased no group and neither
side. Sometimes that Is the best
test of sound idea; but, in any
event, 1t is not political.
OF course, the outstanding dem
onstration that however much he
may think about politics the Presi-
dent is not behaving as politician
is in his appointment of Gen
George Marshall as Secretary oil
State. Not only is there no con-
ceivable trace of politics in the
selection of Gen. Marshall, but 1t
does seem that If Mr.. Truman were
in any way trying to use his power
as President to rehabilitate himself
along normal political lines, that Is
the very last thing he would have
done.
For, sincerely as he deplores specu.
lation on the subject, Gen. Marshall
is certainly a presidential possibility
who cannot be ignored His appoint.
ment as Secretary of State was gen.
orally recognized as making draft
Marshall" movement in 1948 more
likely, and 1t was followed by an out
break of Marshall-for-President
stories in all sections of the press.
Believed In Marshall.
Some suggested that Mr.. Truman
personally anxious to retire, was
deliberately building Gen. Marshal
up for the 1948 nomination. Other:
think that regardless of Mr.. Tru-
mans ideas, in another 18 months
Gen. Marshall will have gained ir
stature to such an extent that ht
inevitably must be drafted. Others
point out that II anything happens
to Mr.. Truman now, Gen. Marshal
will automatically become President
Still others had other notions.
The truth seems to be that Mr.
Truman named Gen. Marshall solely
because he believed him to be the
best equipped man in the United
States to carry on the vital work
so we'll begun by the retiring Secre-