Evening star., 1948-01-01
Wallace Race Cuts Ranks
Of Roosevelt Supporters
Candidacy Plays Into Hands 81 Soviet
and Communists in America
By Gould LincoIs

By Gould LincoIn
Henry A. Wallace exploded an expected bomb
when he announced himself candidate for
President on third party ticket. It's too early
to say whether the results will be great or
small. Much will depend on how well the pro-
posed new progressive party Is organized, how
well 1t is financed and how drawing win be its
peace platform.
But two things may be said Of the wallacs
call for . new party peace party strongly
opposed to the Truman doctrine, the Marshall
European Recovery Program, and the present
bipartisan foreign policy Of the United States
First, It drives wedge into the ranks Of the
great mass Of voters who elected Franklin d,
Roosevelt President four times
Second, 1t plays into the hands Of Soviet
Russia and the Communists In this country
making 1t appear that the American people are
strongly divided over the firm policy which this
Government has more recently maintained to.
ward Russia and her aggressions in Europe and
Asia
Had Fervor Of Evangelist.
Mr. Wallace, in announcing his political
plans. had all the fervor Of an evangelist. His
plea for policy OF peace will drag at the
hearts Of many who heard him. He hooked In
with 1t promise Of prosperity. But that will be
taken with grain of salt. Mr. Waliaces only
recipe for prosperity 80 far has been to take
by Government action from the hsves and
give to the have-nots: A Rooseveltian policy
but one which never got this country out of
vast unemployment and huge relief lists II
took war to do that.
Insofar as he is able, Mr. Wallace is max.
ing the Marshall plan of European aid
direct issue in the campaign. It is his con-
tention that this plan will lead to war. He does
not argue that this country cannot afford to
turn over billions Of dollars worth of materials
and foodstuffs to help war-torn European
countries-as do some other opponents of the
plan He argues that the restriction of this aid
to Western Europe, for the purpose Of combat
Ing communism, Is In reality blow at Russia:
That Russia so recognizes 1t and will retaliate.
The claim made by some Democratic lead
ers that the Wallace third party will not hurt
President Truman's chances OF reelection is
whistling In the dark. They recognize that for
every Republican vote he may draw to the
third ticket. he will draw nine Democrats-even
though they don't admit it publicly. It is true
that some of the left-wingers have determined
to throw in their lot with Mr.. Truman, realiz-
ing that third ticket headed by Mr.. wallace
is likely to bring about Republican victory at
the polls. But MIR. Wallace will have his full
allotment. Also, the more Mr.. Truman in his
effort to belittle Mr.. Wallace, turns from the
left to the right, the more left-wingers he will
drive into the Wallace fold. Indeed the DEM
ocratic campaign will be compelled to walk on
eggs-in It's effort to hold the conservatives and
not disaffect the radicals and the so-called
liberals.
Truman's Chances Not Bright
Er Pry,,y~
not too bright. With Mr.. Wallace In the race,
they are not bright at all. However, II the Re-
publicans are foolish enough to take the posi-
ton that they can win with any candidate and
don't pick one Of their strongest the picture
may change radically. The clear hope Of the
Democrats is that the COP will now nominate
their easiest mark,
In some quarters 1t has been suggested that
the wise thing for the Republicans to do Is to
help finance the Wallace campaign. This could
be boomerang. Certainly the Republican
organization will stay as far away from such
a program as possible. It would not be sur
prising, however, If some Republican dollars
did find their way into Wallace Golfers.
MIR. Wallace now begins the long, hard row
OF getting his name on the ballots in many
States whose laws make 1t difficult to start
new political party 1t looks as though he can
get into three key States-New York, California
and ulinois-and a good number Of Others If
the CIO and its PAC, whose darling Mr. Wal
lace was IN 1874 had stayed with him as an
organization, Mr.. Wallace would have been
FAR more formidable. As 1t Is, he must put his
main reliance on the Progressive Citizens of
America-an organization which has already
split to some extent over the Wallace cand-
dacy. BY no stretch of the Imagination is it
possible to think of Mr.. Wallace as winning,
or even winning a single vote in the elec-
toral college. He may, however, have very
real effect on the outcome Of the election.