Evening star., 1948-07-28
On the Record
Third Party Convention, Although Over
Still Has All Qualities of Nightmare

they reveal a curious state OF psy-
Ghosts and mental insecurity such
as you find in people looking for
signs and portents and their fates
in stars. I have seen before, In
other places-in one place in par
ticular--the powerful psychic hold
that a neurotic personality can have
on a neurotic community.
However, there were two people
in my immediate vicinity who did
not seem at all neurotic. These, in
response to our introduction Of our
selves, revealed themselves as Mr..
Alexandrov and Mr.. Morev, Rus
slams Of the Soviet Tass Agency.
Mr.. Alexandrov's eyes and mouth
revealed sense of humor which
he had superbly disciplined. An
occasional dimple indicated that
he, like my colleagues, found Sena-
tor Taylor's antics very funny
the red smear" on the painted
for -television lips really was funny.
And Mr.. Alexandrov's suppressed
merriment was not, like our own, en-
bittered by embarrassment. When
Paul Calico asked, DO you have
shows like this in Russia?" he
answered with a twinkle. Not
not quite so personal" and could
be drawn no further
Mr.. Morev was ferociously dour
and industrious, obviously contemp-
tuous of everything-of the show.
the crowd, and his colleagues" in
the press box. Both followed the
speeches closely, checking utter
snces against scripts and making
notes.
Cables to Moscow.
And thus they were able to cable
to Moscow-later no doubt to be
confirmed there with television and
sound effects-that 10000 people
cheered wildly while candidates for
The American presidency and vice
presidency charged that Gen. George
C. Marshall, chief of staff of the vic
/ torious American armies of World
War II, Gen. Lucius D. Clay. COM
mander of the American army OF
occupation In Berlin, the present
President of the United States, and
the most likely next President OF
the United States are nothing but
tools of intriguing national bankers:
that our troops have no military
right in Berlin; that the object OF
the United States Government is to
turn Germany into q colony and
dominate the whole world; that the
Republicans and most Democrats
are pro-Nazi; that our name is
cursed by the people of the world;
and that, in short, every charge
against us by the Soviets is 100 per
cent true. and not the half Of the
Evillainy; and that, by logical de-
Eduction, every measure taken against
Jus by the Soviets is sheer self
defense, after incredibly long suffer-
ing.
So that before you read this
column the Russian press and radio
will have American authority for
all their propaganda: so that II
they shoot down our planes in the
air corridor, they can claim in the
name of Henry Agard Wallace that
they are only shooting Nazis: so
that obviously Stain is infinitely
preferable anywhere to President
Truman or Gov Dewey. So around
we are. full circle:
Il would rather see Hitler in the
Champs Elysees than Leon Blum y
All this the industrious and re-
served Tass correspondents noted as
fully as we American journalists
noted it. When glanced at MI.
Morev he tried most insolently to
} stare me down. And my whole
contribution to the honor of my
country was not to turn my eyes
away first.
i But inwardly did turn away first.
NY heart was dropping in shame.
Mr.. Alexandrov and Mr.. Morev never
had heard their people ereveling
cNSeniy before the United 6tatSk