Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-14
'sarkIey Could Make
Case for Democrats
Before Election Day
Many Delegates Wish
Senator Headed Ticket;
Stimulated by Speech
By David Laurence

PHILADELPHIA, July IA. -
Many of the delegates to the Demo-
cratic National Convention are
wishing that somehow they could
be voting for Senator Barley for
first instead of second place on the
ticket.
Only when the Kentucky Senator
delivered his keynote speech did
many Of the delegates realize that
there was a case that could be
made before the American people
In the debate between now and
election day.
AS majority leader, later minority
leader OF the Senate and the man
who has really led the party in the
legislative branch of the Govern
ment for more than decade, Sena-
tor Barley is the logical choice
for first place. But his age-71
years-and the fact that Presi-
dent Truman, aged 81, wants the
nomination are barriers.
So this convention has already
decided before the balloting begins
that the ticket shall be Truman
and Barley. There is always the
chance that at the last minute Mr..
Barley may decide not to run.
As for White House acceptance OF
the Kentucky Senator, this now
has been cleared in a comment by
Senator McGrath, Democratic ma
tional chairman.
Silence Led to Reports.
Mr.. Truman didn't want to be In
the position Of picking a vice-presi-
Dental nominee before he himself
had been given the presidential
nomination, so he kept discreetly
silent. This led to reports that
maybe he was still angling Tor
some one else. 1t is an open secret,
however, that he personally pleaded
with Justice Douglas to leave the
bench and run for Vice President, so
in a sense Mr.. Barley is second
choice. This was no reflection on
the Kentuckian, for it was natural
for Mr.. Truman to seek younger
man and some one identified with
the young New Dealers.
Senator Barley went down the
line for President Roosevelt. accept
ing orders for legislation which often
were not to his liking. The Senator
Is popular on Capitol Hill with both
parties and would make good Pres
ident If fate ever gives him the OPP
portunity. He is fair-minded and
experienced. Few men know ma
tional legislation as we'll as he does.
The principal benefit to the ticket
in the immediate future is the SEN
ators ability as a campaign speaker
He will be able to handle much OF
the debate and rebuttal that arise
In national campaign.
The keynote speech was, Of course,
partisan but the delegates wanted
that kind Of an address. Until they
heard the Kentucky Senator, they
were listless and reflected defeat
ism that did not augur well for the
campaign. The Barley speech
stimulated the delegates as sales
manager arouses his statesmen. The
Importance Of the speech was not
80 much what impression IL made
with listeners over the radio but the
impression 1t made on the delegates.
It gave them a ready made text
book with chapter and verse that
they could use in the campaign.
Error Corrected.
There was one rather interesting
error In the Barley speech as the
advance copies were given to the
nress. It was corrected when the
Senator spoke to the convention,
though many newspapers printed
the advance text and did not learn
about the correction. 1t related to
the Taft-Hartlev labor management
law. Mr.. Barley, in his advance
text, said parts of the law already
had been declared null and void by
the Supreme Court OF the Unlteo
States" This is not correct. The
Supreme Court in the only case be-
fore it chose to dismiss complaint
as being without foundation under
the law as written and chose not II
pass at all on the conStitutlonalltJ
of the statute.
The Democrats may have been II
a blue mood during the early day!
of the gathering here last week ane
this week but they are picking W
on morale, and it looks as II thu
campaign will be hard fought afte'
all. It certainly will not 60 by de
fault so far as argument Is con-
cerned. The echoes of the Barley
speech will be heard throughout TIT
campaign-for the very good reason
that there are some good points II
1t on which the Republicans ART
plainly vulnerable.
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