Evening star., 1948-01-17
The Political Mil
PC. A. Strategy Outlined
At Chicago Convention
Wallace's 'Gideon's Army Out to Sink
Truman and His Foreign Policy
By Gould Lincoln

DJ U0M0 LtnC0tH
CHICAGO, Jan. 1.-THE p. O. A. part al
Henry A. Wallace's "Gideon's Army" meeting
here in national convention, gave every evi.
dence Of a desire to sink President Truman
and his foreign policy and to impress the
world with an idea that the American people
are committed to peace no matter what it
costs. Its leaders figured that even II Mr..
Wallace failed to be elected President, both
the Republicans and Democrats, whichever
won. would in the future hesitate TO take any
action which might lead to war. With almost
fanatical zeal they laid their plans.
So far as the sinking Of Mr.. Truman is con-
cerned, Bob" Kenny, former Attorney Gem
eral Of California and now virtually head Of
the P. G. A., is working along two lines. The
first Is enter Mr.. Wallace in the Democratic
Presidential primaries Of California and Ore
gon against Mr.. Truman-where the vote will
come directly between the two men. II BY
any ehance-and it Is remote in the extreme
that Mr.. Wallace defeats Mr.. Truman-Mr.
Kenny figures that the Democrats will shift
to some other more acceptable. candidate for
President And even If Mr.. Truman carries
these primaries. should the Wallace vote
approximate that of the President the Demo-
Gratis also would be SO discouraged over True
Kenny's Second Line.
Mr.. Kennys second line, Of course, Is to
run Mr.. Wallace as an independent candi-
date for President on a so-called third party
ticket. The fanatics here insist that Mr..
Wallace will roll up 100000 or 100000
votes in the November election. Obviously II
that were true, Mr.. Truman could not hope
to win-for admittedly Mr. Wallace will draw
more votes from those who would ordinarily
go for the Democratic ticket than for the
Republican.
Elmer A. Benson, former Governor Of Mime
sofa and vice chairman Of the p. G. A., is
also shooting at Mr.. Truman from the hip.
Mr.. Benson is intent upon electing q Wallace
delegation from Minnesota to the Democratic
National Convention. He insists 1t can be done,
since the progressives, he contends, will con-
troll the State convention of the Democratic
Farmer-Labor Party which will elect the dele
cation. If his deep-laid scheme works out,
then President Truman not Mr.. Wallace, will
have to run as an independent" in Minnesota.
Mr. Benson was the last Farmer-Labor Gov
ernor OF Minnesota. Since then, In the inter-
est of the late Franklin D. Roosevelt, the
Democrats and the Farmer -Laborites united in
one party. The Democrats cannot now, Mr..
lot OF this Is wishful thinking on the part
of both Messrs. Kenny and Benson-but the
fact remains that should Mr.. Wallace get on
the ballots as an independent candidate In
many of the States of the North and West.
and roll up considerable vote, Mr.. Truman
will have no chance Of election. So this Wal
lace drive has a tremendous nuisance value
so far as the Truman Democrats are concerned.
Menace to Others.
Not only Is the Wallace third party move
ment threat to Mr.. Truman; it is also a
menace to some of the Democratic candidates
for congressional honors-like Prof. Paul Doug
las who Is being groomed to run for the Sen-
ate against Senator Brooks, Republican, in
Illinois, and like Mayor Humphrey of Minne-
apolis, who is the Democratic white hope in
the race against Senator Ball of Minnesota.
Prof. Douglas has always been considered a
liberal but the Wallace supporters have their
knives out for him. He has, they say, gone all
out for Mr.. Truman's foreign policy and that Is
Just too much. Mr.. Benson Of Minnesota in
sists that Mayor Humphrey is NaA or
Fascist at heart, and that If he Is nominated
by the Democrats Bensons wing OF the liberals
in Minnesota will put an independent candi-
date against him.
on the part Of the Wallace supporters should
result in making certain the reelection Of
Senator Brooks in Illinois and Senator Ball in
both Of them are anathema to
the great mass of liberals