Evening star., 1948-03-13
The Political Mil
South Still Out to Block
Trumun's Nomination
Northern Democrats in Congress Also
Fear for Themselves
By Gould Lincoln

Fear for Themselves
By Gould Lincoln
President Trunlan's announcement that he
would be candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation at the Democratic National Convention
next July has fallen on deaf ears so far a.
most of the Southern Democrats are con-
cerned. They still intend to do their utmost
to prevent his denomination.
But that Is not all. The most worried
Democrats in Congress hail from the North
and West-for they are the men who must
run for reelection next November on the
same ticket with Mr.. Truman, If he is the
party nominee. Some of them are frankly
saying they fear for themselves and for the
Democratic tickets in their States under such
circumstances. Frankly, they do not know
what to do about It, They realize that If Mr..
Truman persists in seeking the nomination,
he can probably get it.
In the next few months, however, tremen-
dous pressure, it Is said on Capitol Hill, will
be exerted on Mr.. Truman to step aside There
has been no specialization on any substitute
candidate for Mr.. Truman. HoweI er the gen.
eral feeling Of panic which has overtaken
many of these Democrats who come up for
reelection has concentrated in their minds
just one objective-to get rid Of Nr. Truman.
Except that the feeling Is stronger, the desire
not to be hooked in with Mr.. Trui aan in the
coming election is reminiscent Of the scramble
which took place in 1916, when the plea was
to keep Mr.. Truman from making speeches
in the various States.
Popularity Ebbs and Rises.
The fall of 1916 saw the President at a low
ebb, so far as his popularity with the voters
was concerned. High prices and scaat sup
plies Of all kinds OF goods and food, and con-
tinued bureaucratic controls Of things In
everyday life had left the voters irascibls.
to say the least. Mr.. Truman, although 1t was
advertised from time to time he would make
a swing across the country to speak for the
election Of Democratic Congress, stayed
away from the hustings. He did 30 because
the Democratic candidates said frankly to the
Democratic National Committee they did not
want him. The Republicans carried both
houses OF Congress, surprising themselves a.
we'll as some Of the Democrats.
The year 1947 saw what was claimed to be
an upsurge in the Truman fortunes. How
much justification there was for reports that
Mr.. Truman had gained in popularity is doubt
ful-especially In retrospect That was the
report, in any event It would have been
better for him had the upsurge taken place
this year.
Just why Mr. Truman was supposed to have
gained has not been entirely answered. But
he got lot OF praise when he cracked down
on John L. Lewis and his coal strike. He was
praised, too, when he became firmer in his
policy toward Russia and the Communists here
and abroad, and rid himself and the cabinet
of Henry Wallace. The bouquets which were
thrown him came from the Right, not from
the Left Whether those who spoke kind words
of Mr.. Truman then would have ever voted
for him will never be known. For when 194S
came in, 1t found the President moving straight
to the Left. Indeed, he had started to move
in that direction in mid-1947, when he vetoed
the Taft labor bill.
Apparently Mr.. Truman and his advisers
had been frightened by the Wallace threat
and by the hostility of the CIO. So his
message on the state of the Union at the
opening of Congress was 100 per cent New
Dealish. His next bid was for support of the
Negro vote in the North and West-his civil
rights message. This has aroused the Demo-
Gratis of the South, almost to q state Of
frenzy. They had been angered earlier by his
vetoes Of the labor bill-and had voted with
Republicans to override the veto
Pressure to Be Stronger.
No one, at this time, expects Mr.. Truman
to back down and take himself out Of the
presidential race particularly after announcing
he Is a candidate for the nomination. He is no
gutter But unless there is a material change
in the tide Of Truman fortunes, the pressure
to bring him to withdraw will be intensified,
Democrats on the Hill are predicting.
So strong is the feeling in the South
against Mr.. Truman that predictions are made
by Democrats from that section he will lose
States like Virginia North Carolina and Texas
to the Republicans, unless an independent
Democratic presidential nominee is put in the
field.
Only two of the six Vice Presidents who have
succeeded to the White House following the
death of President have been nominated
and elected President thereafter. The two
were Theodote Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge
Roosevelt had been Governor of New York
and Coolidge, Governor Of Massachusetts,. Mr..
Truman, before he was elected Vice President,
was a Senator from Missouri.
1t is within the bounds of possibility that
Mr.. Truman may, because Of some act on his
part, or stupidity on the part of his opponents.
regain some of his lost ground. But that way
is not clear today.
N,aes:on~ rnJ Aneu.Are