Evening star., 1948-12-07
Truman, Dewey 10 Sit
Al Same Head Table
In Griidiron Dinner
Victor and Vonquished
To Give Off-Record Tolks
In American Tradition
By David Laurence

By David Laurence
President Truman and Gov.
Dewey will sit at the same head
table next Saturday night at the
dinner given by the Gridiron Club,
an organization of newspapermen.
and both will make off-the-record
speeches.
Unless the speakers themselves
choose later to tell the public what
was said, only those present will
know the thoughts expressed there.
But the occasion serves to en-
phasize the American tradition in
which victor and vanquished can
sit down together for an evening OF
good -natured banter over current
events.
Ever since the election. Gov.
Dewey has maintained remarkable
silence. 1t Is remarkable because
the press has contained no intima-
ton of alibis or excuses or disap-
pointed feelings or Illustration such
as might possibly be expected to
come from a man who felt he had
the presidency in his grasp only to
find that by a small margin Of votes
he lost the prize.
Soon Adjusted Himself.
Inquiry among close friends OF the
New York Governor reveals that he
adjusted himself to the situation
much more rapidly even than did
his associates Not a word of COM
plant came from him-not a word
OF blame for any one on the un-
expected turn of events. Many a
man would have been floored for
a long time by such reverse. But
Gov. Dewey was soon cheerful
and natural in his demeanor.
Those around him say they could
not notice that the election result
has left any scars or changed his
mood.
Only a deeply religious man. one
friend said, could so quickly make,
such an adjustment. What was
meant by this is the readiness OF
God-guided men to accept their
fate whatever 1t is. believing that
the destiny of the individual is set
by the Creator and that it is mans
duty to accept the vicissitudes OF
life without rancor or mental de-
preston. There are disappoint-
ments in everybody's life, but they
are easier to bear if one has con-
Quoted himself honestly and exerted
his talents and energies to the ut
most to attain given goal.
1t is pertinent here to ask
whether Gov. Dewey felt that
he pursued the right type Of cam
paign and whether in the light OF
what occurred he perceives the mis-
takes in strategy. Again, close
friends say that he has no regrets
for having failed to slam out
speeches in old-fashioned campaign
fighting style, for he and his man
ayers were convinced that the
unity" idea was too important to
be abandoned If a man were to try |
to keep harmony in the country in
the critical years that lie ahead.
Being convinced that the Republi-
can nominee would become Presi-
dent, it was necessary to think Ct
what forces could unite the country
on the threshold of possible war
or a possible upheaval in the entire
economic structure.
It Is conceded, however. among
Gov. Dewey's friends that he might
have made more speeches amplify-
ing his farm program and that this
might have turned the tide in the
farm areas. 1t Is not conceded that
Gov. Dewey might have spoken out
on the conservative-radic issues
without splitting his own party wide
open, thus making difficult any
reconciliation or even any substan-
tial advance on the progressive side
had he been elected.
Split on Basic Issues. /
Those who today complain that
Gov. Dewey didn't speak out" forget
that the Republican Party contains
o substantial humber of ultracon-
servatives who still think social
security and collective bargaining
and Government aid in various
fields is Just a lot of nonsense and
that the country would be better
of by letting nature take its course
even if unemployment and distress
were to follow. There are also IN
the Republican Party progressives
who feel that the voters expect
economic security and that eco
nomic controls by any group must
be vigilantly observed by the Gov
ernn1ent acting in the public in
tereSt.
The Republican Party is as badly
split as the Democratic Party on
the basic issues. Gov. Dewey
had the choice of starting his con-
troversy inside the party before or
after election. Ironically enough,
he will have another opportunity
now-and perhaps free from any
such restraint as might have come
If he had been President-to set
forth what should or should not
be Republican policy. He certainly
will speak out. For whether he Is
titular leader or not, Gov. Dewey Is
Progressive Republican and he Is
young enough to play vital part
in the history of his country. Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster, John c. CAL
houn, william Jennings Bryan,
Elihu Root, George Norris, Wendell
Willkie-strong men of divergent
philosophies-never became Presi-
dent but each in his time played
an influential part In shaping the
policies of the United States. 1t
was Clay who said, Il would rather
be right than President"
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