Evening star., 1948-03-01
Truman BIan1es
Campaign Year
For Many 5nar|s
Candidates Cannot
Take Unbiused
Stond, He Says
By Joseph A. Fox
Sfor StoH Correspondent

KEY WEST, Fla, Mar. 1.-Elec-
tion-year politics was blamed
today by President Truman for
holding up settlement of i'm
portant international and do
mestic problems. He refused to
discuss his own candidacy.
Mr.. Truman said there were SC
many presidential candidates in the
Senate and on the outside that they
could not approach matters with an
unbiased attitude. He said he
couldn't blame anyone for this
natural circumstance, but that it
does make a difference.
Meeting with reporters on the sun
drenched lawn of the Naval Base
commandments quarters, the Presi-
dent would not be drawn into a
controversy over the threatened re-
volt of Southern Democrats.
Steers Clear of Palestine.
He even suggested that Virginia's S
Gov. Tuck, by seeking law to strike
Mr.. Truman's name from the ballot
this year, was attempting to apply
the old constitutional approach to
election of delegates.
The President steered clear of a
discussion of Palestine develop
ments, but in connection with the
European situation, said he would
be glad to meet with Prime Minister
Stain of Russia if the latter would
come to Washington.
Attired in white suit, Mr.. Tru-
man asked reporters to be seated IN
lawn chairs while he stood up so as
to see them better. q.
Lesson on Constitution.
When asked about the intention
Of Gov. Tuck and other Southern
Governors to deny him the electoral
votes in their States next Novem-
ber, MIR. Truman read little lesson
on the Constitution.
Any State has a right to do as
Gov. Tuck proposed, he said, ex-
planning that it was intended when
the electoral college was set up that
the electors should be free agents
and vote for whom they pleased
That prevailed until 1886, he con-
tinued, then States began binding
their electors.
Virginia, he said, seems to be pro-
posing to return to the old system
and that, he added, didn't work out
so we'll.
Asked if he was ready yet to "an-
swer the $64 question" namely, to
announce his own intentions regard
ing the presidential race, MIR. Tru-
man laughed and said he had been
so busy with international matters
that he hadn't had time to give il
a thought.
Pleasant Visit With Cox.
Mr.. Truman said in reply to an.
other question that he had very
pleasant visit yesterday with James
M. Cox, 1920 Democratic Presiden-
tial candidte, who was his luncheon
guest. He said it was the only time
that he had seen Mr.. Cox, except
during the 1920 campaign, and thai
he himself wasn't very deep in poll.
tics then.
He and Mr.. Cox were discussing
the problems that a presidential
year poses in handling affairs o1
state, the President said, adding
that his visitor remarked that thing.
now were like those of 1920. 1t wa!
then that the President gave per-
mission for his remarks to be di'
rectly quoted.
A reporter asked just what mat
ters had been interfered with. Th'
President said foreign affairs gen.
orally and on the domestic scene
housing in particular.
Asked if the appearance of Jane!
A. Farley at the Jefferson-Jacksor
dinner in Washington meant th'
former Democratic national chair.
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