Marion progress., 1948-11-04
CAMPAIGN POST-MORTEM


The end of the Presidential campaign brings
Ito close the partisan oratory with which
American politicians attempt to win high
office
Without disparaging the men who seek tc
lead the voters in their thinking, it is just as
we'll that the speech making is over. There
will be, perhaps, a more sober appraisal OF
public issues and less direct effort to say things
to get votes.
The election campaign has been somewhat
different, in that Governor Dewey and his ad
visers early in the race considered the election
'in the bag and, consequently, the New York
Governor waged a rather conservative cam
pign.
Not so, however, with President Truman
who began his campaign behind the eight
ball" The President waged vigorous, emo
tion-raising series of speeches, quite clearly
designed to win the votes of racial and relig-
ious groups and to stir up the emotions of the
country.
One of the developments of the 1948 contest
was the steady decline of the Wallace threat
The former Vice-President failed to hold the
support of the labor organizations and his plat
form of peace with Russia" failed to carry
popular appeal, largely because of the sus-
picion that it played into the hands of the Com
munists.
Another unusual feature of the Presidential
race was the candidacy of Governor ]. Strom
Thurmond, of South Carolina, representing
discontented Southern Democrats opposing the
Presidents civil rights program.
Not since the election of 1923 have the
Southern States failed to support the National
Democratic ticket but, this year, the national
nominee was sabotaged by the Solid South.
Mr.. Truman and his advisers, in their quest for
the vote for minority elements in larger cities,
went the limit to "out-Wallace Wallace" and,
as result, lost much of the Souths support.
It appears probable that the Wallace organi-
zation will fade away, but, in it's place, there is
likely to arise strong Labor Party.
It is more difficult to mind-read the future
insofar as the States Rights group is concerned.
The group had no political chance outside of a
comparatively few of the States, but, unless
one of the older parties veers away from the
pronounced trend to super-Federal State, the
chances are that the idea represented by the
Turmond movement will play part in future
political campaigns.
In general way, one may observe that there
seemed to be rather limited Offences between
the Democratic and Republican Praties, and
their candidates, on most major issues
The bipartisan foregn policy was espoused
by both parties, even if the candidates made
some furtive attempts to win the favor of
special groups. On the domestic front, the
position of the parties and candidates in 1913
may be termed somewhat New Deal-ish. The
few differences related to method rather than
to principle.
Regardless of what the presidential candi-
dates of the winning ticket may have said, the
policies of his administration depend largely
upon the cooperation, lack of cooperation
that comes from Congress- No Chief Execu-
tive enact legislation or pass appropriation
bills. These must come from Congress and as
Ia result, the views of the majority party, in
both Houses, determine the basic laws by which
the people live
With many new faces in the new Congress
lit is not possible to state, with much definite
ness, the trend of Congressional action upon
controversial issues. About ali that we can dc
as people is to be patient and wait until the
machinery of government gets underway ir
January.
The best thing that can happen for the ben
eft of Marion is a little close harmony among