Evening star., 1948-03-25
The Political Mil
Truman Still Could Halt
Democratic Party Panic
Handling of international Situation and
Coal Strike Might End Desertions
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
The Democrats are going through another
panic-this time panic of their own. It Is all
due to the brickbats that have been thrown, at
the present head of their party, President
Truman, by Southern Democrats and by partv
bosses IN Northern and Western cities. Mr..
humans stand on civil rights" and on pales.
Tine have given them case of jitters of ths
hrst water. The roster of Democratic members
OF Congress deserting Mr.. Truman Is amazing.
southern Senators are being Joined In this
wild scramble by Senators and Representatives
from the West and North-fearful of running
on ticket headed by Mr.. Truman next
November.
Senator Murray, Democrat, Of Montana is q
case in point He Is up for reelection this
year. He has not said he was against Mr.,
Iruman's nomination, but, significantly, he has
said that the time to discuss such matters
is at the national convention Gin July)." He
clearly has declined to stand and be counted
for Mr.. Truman.
Another Democratic Senator from the West,
speaking off the record, said: They are all
running like rabbits. Some day they will wake
up to the fact that any other candidate thev
might put In Mr.. Truman's place would have
to take stand on the civil rights and the
Palestine issues. Furthermore, the candidate
would have to take the same stand as Presi-
dent Truman Mr.. Truman now has the
Southerners against him, the party bosses in
cities where the Jewish population is large, the
followers OF Henry Wallace and the Republi-
cans. Only the people are back of him."
Must Look to Own Jobs.
Ihere Is another item that may have its
effect later-when some of the runners have
caught their second wind The deserters havs
high-ranking places in Senate and Housa
standing committees They may stop to con-
slider what their position will be If they con-
tinue to bolt their party leader
Admittedly Mr. Truman today looks to be on
the skids. There seems no possibility of his
being elected President, with Henry Wallace
heading third-party ticket against him, and
with the Southern States offering an inde-
pendent Democratic candidate, as they promise
to do So the pack, in a headlong rush. is
demanding that Mr. Truman step aside, and
II he doesn't that the Democrats in national
convention push him aside and nominate
another candidate for President
Whom do they mention? Democrat7 No:
Gen. Eisenhower, whose politics no one knows,
or Gen. Macarthur, who is favored by Mayor
Curley of Boston and former Gov. Ely of
Gratis pick on Gen. Eisenhower is they believe
the general, as war hero, would have special
appeal to the voters. He certainly would have
no appeal as a Democrat for no one knows
him as Democrat. or knows anything of the
policies and principles of government he would
espouse.
Here and there is mention, but only in a
minor way, of Chief Justice Vinson of the
Supreme Court, of Associate Justice Douglas,
or OF Senator Barkley of Kentucky, minority
leader of the Senate, for the Democratic
presidential nomination. The Chief Justice
has shown no inclination to cut his own throat
by leaving the bench and seeking q presi-
d.ntial election. Justice Douglas would Of
course, support Mr.. Trumans civil rights pro-
gram. Probably he would have to 60 along on
the Palestine issue with the President, for
the good Of the whole country no matter what
the Jews In New York had to say about It.
Senator Barkley would be II years old before
he could enter the White House Hale and
hearty as he Is, this is a bit on the old side 10
take the job Of President. Like Mr.. Truman,
he comes from a border State, and II he fol-
lowed President Truman on civil rights he
would lose the South. too. If he did not, what
could he hope for in the North?
Fortunes Could Shift.
The Truman fortunes are at their lowest
ebb-up to date. 1t is possible that by his
handling of the international situation, and
by his handling Of John L, Lewis and the coal
strike, the President may stage comeback in
popular esteem. If he does. the present frantic
desertions will cease.
1t is a difficult thing to deny President in
the White House a nomination to succeed
himself. Theodore Roosevelt tried 1t once,
when William Howard Taft was President He
couldn't make the grade, popular as he was
So he started the Bull Moose Party thereby
bringing about the sure defeat of Mr.. Taft.
But he could not take the nomination away
from MIR. Taft. No substitute for Mr. Truman
would be as strong politically as was Theodore
Roosevelt In 1912.
The Democratic panic Is on and the Repub-
licans are enjoying 1t.
H,@.x:> J A