Evening star., 1948-07-06

needed and worked on by sincerely concerned
legislators was pushed to the end Of the ses-
sion, some of it was rushed through during
the last few weeks after President Truman's
tongue lashings; much needed legislation (such
as Federal aid for schools was left untouched.
Despite the clear imperative to help our
neighbors both here and abroad, isolationists Of
varying degrees were numerous in Congress-
Mr.. Truman last year urged flood control
legislation Nothing was done until the floods
deluged us. Mr. Truman two years ago warned
that We would be on our way to infation if
controls were removed. Our businessmen
assured him that supply and demand would
pull down prices to normal levels. I know
from our hard pressed budget as well as from
published facts how pfices have sky-rocketed.
Mr.. Truman has urged attention to housing,
yet no relief is in sight. Mr.. Truman has
stressed the need Of our neighbors overseas,
and his request for help for them has been
granted only in part. Mr.. Truman has urged
civil rights for all-life liberty and the pursuit
of happiness for all-and his program has been
resisted Il am not Negro, my ancestors for
generations back have been Southerners: but
regard a respectable Negro as not one bit diff
ferent in qualities or rights from white per-
son). Mr. Truman begged that taxes not be
cut because they are the fairest way of MAIN
tanning our national income in these times.
Yes this is just reminder Our President
has tried sincerely. If his endeavors have been
merely political, they also have been amazingly
wise. LUCRECE LONGFELLOW.
A Filipino's Convention Impressions
To the Editor of The Star
My outstanding impression after seeing my
first American political convention is that the
. &I,n
That is the only thing that distressed this
foreign Observer Filipino reared under the
United States style of democracy and who be-
lieves in our kind Of democracy as the best
the world has to offer. Abraham Lincoln
would not have stood a chance in the party
campaign that has just reached its climax. He
could not have afforded to run and he likely
would not have attracted the kind of friends
who could afford 1t. The amount of money
spent on behalf of the candidates before and
during the Republican convention makes the
eyes pop for q Filipino when he compares it
with the. entire Philippines national budget.
1t took money, and plenty OF it, to get Thomas
E. Dewey nominated. 1t took q terrific buildup.
1t took lot Of money to maintain an efficient
machine for travel personnel, publicity, and
other items, not to mention the wealth OF
nylons, whiskey, food, ETC., given away during
the convention.
This is not to say that the nomination was
or could be bought. Neither the Rockefellers
nor the Fords could buy it even If they wanted
it or were foolish enough to attempt to buy 1t.
1t Is much more subtle than that. 1t does
mean that you have to have money or hackers
with money to provide the machinery neces-
sary even to be candidate. The Pennsylvania
Railroad. for example. had 15O-foot bar for
y9farfo INN ant ~ oil aud ,ie
with other expenses was estimated to cost the
railroad over $4,000 daily. Two Texas oil
men engaged a room in the Harvard Club for
entertainment, for which they were prepared
to spend $4,000. The money was spent two
days before the convention closed.
In the United States they call the famous
Ringing Brothers Circus the biggest show on
earth" have seen that, but I am inclined
to think that this national political conven-
ton was even bigger.
Practical Democracy in Action.
think 1t is something else. too. You might
call 1t the most practical demonstration of
American democracy in action. We have
American customs and traditions in the Philip
pines, and we know how well they work. But
you've got to see something on this scale to
appreciate it.
To me, Filipino, perhaps the most impress
sive thing Is the way the great men of this
country-great political leaders, candidates.
Congressman, delegates from every State and
territory, newspaper men whose byslines are
familiar all over the world. and correspondents
for the foreign press and the Negro press
are living, working. talking together on plane
Of complete equality.
At party given for all candidates by the
old and distinguished Union League Club Of
b; a;IA1 1nIa{~ -,;3I
buttons, Taft buttons, Stassen buttons, Warren
buttons-buttons the size of saucers bios
soming on their chests-talking and laughing
with one another just as If they weren't all
arch enemies straining every nerve to get
their own men in and defeat the other fellows.
I don't think you could find any such carefree
display of potential political throat-cutting in
any other country in the world.
AS information officer and former news
paperman, was naturally interested in the
way information facilities and press arrange
ments were handled I learned that no less
than $3.50 people-aside from correspondents
radio motion picture and television men them
selves-were employed just to handle this
phase of the operations. Television Is the new
est thing here. Instead Of being classed as
radio orators or movie idols, candidates are now
being weighed for their telegenic qualifications.
In spite of the 094 t. 0 vote, personally
got the impression that Mr.. Dewey could not
be described with 100 per cent accuracy as
the peoples choice" think at least several
thousand people in the convention hall and
probably millions in the country feel that Mr..
Taft or Mr.. Stassen. or Mr.. Warren or Mr.
Vandenberg would have been at least as cap
able. Mr. Dewey was the choice OF the conven-
vention-there was no doubt about that. He
was the man of the hour. But Mr.. stassen
easily could have been the man of the hour. As
it turned out, he was the man of the moment,
and it was indeed . glorious moment. Even
in defeat he looked magnificent
Mr.. stassen had been identified by his de-
tractors as an earnest young man who was
going no place. But the ovation the delegates
gave him, even in defeat. indicated to me. be-