Evening star., 1948-04-27
The Political Mill
Truman Appointments
To Face 6. 0. P. Hostility
Nominations for Terms Beyond
January May Be Held Up
By Gould Lincoln

January May Be Held Up
By Gould Lincoln
The scent of the Federal patronage pasture
Is reaching Republican nostrils, as election
day approaches. Figuring, as they do on
the election OF a Republican President, they
look askance on any appointments by Demo-
cratic President Truman to offices whose terms
carry beyond January 2o-the date when they
hope Mr.. Truman will step out Of the White
House to stay out. That is one reason why
Senator Taft OF Ohio has suggested that the
recent appointments of Chairman David e,
Lilienthal Of the Atomic Energy Commission
and the other commissioners be held up. There
is another. Of course. Mr. Taft was opposed to
the original appointment Of Mr.. Lilienthal and
fought 1t strongly when It was before the
Senate.
1t Is Mr. Taft's contention that Republican
President-he is trying to become one himself
should not be saddled with Chairman Lilien-
thai at the head Of this tremendously impor-
tant commission for the entire four years of
the presidential term. That is what would
happen, since President Truman has appointed
MIR. Lilienthal for a five-year term Certainly
II Mr.. Taft should happen to be elected Presi.
dent, the situation-from his point OF view
would be unfortunate.
Question Of Policy
There is point involved beyond mere parti-
san politics. 1t is question of policy. Mr..
Llilenthal Is 100 per cent Roosevelt New
Dealer. He and the other atomic energy COM
missioners may have lot Of decisions and
recommendations to make regarding the future
development and use Of atomic energy-for In
dustrial and power purposes. Mr.. Taft and
other Republicans might find themselves en-
tlrely at odds with Mr.. Lilienthal and the
other commissioners, particularly If it was .
matter OF Government operation,
When Mr.. Lilienthal was appointed chairman
OF the Atomic Energy Commission in 1946, he
was bitterly opposed by Senator McKelar, Dem
ocrat, OF Tennessee-but he was supported by
number OF Republican Senator's including
senators Vandenberg Of Michigan and Hick-
enlooper OF 1owa-and eventually he was con-
hrmed His reappointment now has entered
the Ohlo Republican presidential primary. For
Harold E. Stassen, who is running against
senator Taft for % Of Ohio's SO delegates to
the COP national convention, has come out
lor Mr. Llllenthals conf1rmation-unless some
thing new is developed unfavorable to Mr..
Lilienthal If Mr.. Taft should lose consider
able number of these delegates to Mr.. Stassen.
-A~ AZ AAoo AAhSAy W COule DdCk 10 washington
with any more pleasant thoughts about Mr.,
Lilienthal and his appointment.
The Lilienthal case however is a foretaste ~
what may happen to other Truman appointees
between the present day and the November
election. The Republicans, having been de-
prtved for Is years Of all Federal patronage
are hungry for fat jobs. They are not willingly
going to allow Mr.. Truman to place other
Democrats in hiph
works. They have resented strongly the fact
that during nearly all these years President
Roosevelt appointed Democrat after Democrat
to the Federal bench, generally ignoring Re-
publcans. They will, therefore, view with
aversion any such appointment of Democrat,
from now on, hoping to fll any judicial
vacancies after the coming election.
Practice Isn't New.
Holding up presidential appointees when a
political party Is about to 60 out of of1ice Is not
new. The Republicans did 1t in l920-2l when
the Wilson administration was on its way out
The Democrats followed suit In 1928. In
those days there were the so-called lame
duck" sessions Of Congress, following a ma
tional election. They began in December and
ended the following March 4. when 4 new
President was inaugurated
III ASo|-alter MT HooSeVelts defeat OF Her.
bert Hoover-the Republicans still retained for
the short session. majority in the Senate.
They might have been able to confirm Hoover
appointments to Federal ofnce-but the Demo-
Gratis. with the power OF filibuster in their
hands, gave notice they would not permit ap-
pointments to go through for any office which
extended beyond the beginning OF the Roose-
velt term in the White House. They held up
some 1,7O0 appointments. They did permit
however, the confirmation of cabinet officer.
Secretary of Commerce Roy D. Chaplin, on the
ground MIR. Hoover was entitled to have any
one he wished in his cabinet Also Mr..
Chaplin was to go out of office when Mr. Hoover
did.
Democratic appointments after the 1920 cleo
ton Jared no better at the hands of the Re
publicans.