Evening star., 1948-06-05
The Political Mill
Both Parties Candidates
Are Busy Seeking Votes
Truman Risks 'Pass-a.Law' Labelj
Dewey Again Has 6. o. p. Edge
The Political Mill
Rv Gould Lincoln

President Truman Is out beating the bushea
on . non-political rush across the country
in which he talks little but politics-while
Republican presidential candidates are equally
busy, rushing about seeking support for the
nomination Of the g. O. p. In Philadelphia two
weeks hence.
In his first main speech delivered in Chicago,
Mr.. Truman aligned himself with Gov. Dewey
Of New York In opposition to the proposal to
outlaw the Communist Party and communism
In the United States His answer to the com.
munist threat, however, was to pass laws carry.
ing out the paternalistic New Deal social pro.
gram he recommended to Congress Laws, he
said, that will provide American citizens with
the homes they need with medical care with
an equal chance for jobs ut fair wages and with
Q brake on imitation. He runs the risk Of being
called "Pass-a-Law' Truman, Notwithstanding
his opposition to . law outlawing communism.
In the past Americans have had equal chances
for Jobs-and those who have had the greatest
ability have gone farthest on the road to sue
cess. The government, under the Truman pro-
gram, Is to take the place Of hard work.
Personal Gamble.
The Democratic President is taking personal
gamble, with this transforming trip q month
before the Democratic National Convention. If
he fails to stir enthusiasm among the Demo-
Gratis on this long swing. he may face a real
fight for . presidential nomination to succeed
himself. Just before he left Washington, News
week published the results of q poll Of nifty
political writer's. representing major daily news
papers and periodicals-and not one Of them
believed that Mr.. Truman could be reelected
although all but one believed he would obtain
the nomination. Further, none Of them be-
lieved. they said, that the Democratic Party
would win the Forthcoming election.
Almost ut the same time, the Three Mus.
keteers Of the Dewey-for-President camp,
Herbert Brownell jr., Edwin r. Jackie and J.
Russell Sprague, came to Washington and
predicted the nomination Of Gov Dewey and
no deadlocked Republican National Conven-
tion. These are three wise political gentlemen
the same three that engineered q trtumphal
Dewey convention in 1914. Notwithstanding
the hopeful predictions Of other presidential
possibilities in the Republican paddock, Mr..
Brownell said he was confident Gov. Dewey
would win without the necessity Of making any
deals or Of any meetings In smoke filled rooms.
Mr.. Brownell, who was chairman Of the Re-
publican National Committee when Gov. Dewey
made his 1914 bid for the presidency and re.
manned chairman for . year or more after
that campaign has considerable basis for his
belief. The New York governor, always .
strong hnisher in any tight and frequently
winner after he has appeared to be hopelessIy
defeated, won the last big fight in the pre-
convention primaries-in Oregon. He's the
champ to date.
No Chance to Cut Prestige.
The unfortunate part for other aspirants
is that there will be no other test Of strength,
no opportunity to break into the Dewey pres.
tige, before the convention assemblies on June
81. The millions Of voters who heard Mr..
Dewey outdebate Harold e. Stassen Of Minne-
sofa on the subject Of what to do about
the Communist Party are not likely to forget
that victory within couple Of weeks victory
which was followed . few days later by Gov.
Deweys defeat Of Mr.. Stassen at the Oregon
polls. The edge is again with the New Yorker,
as it was when the race for the presidential
nomination first got underway.
All Of this, however does not prevent Mr..
Stassen and Senator Taft Of Ohio from doing
their utmost to garner delegate support in
the few remaining days. They are hard at
1t. Mr.. Stassen has gone west and returned
again. Senator Taft is invading the South
where in the past he has been strong with
Republican leaders. But the picture has
changed vitality since Oregon. And the rift
between Senator Taft and Mr.. stassen has
lessened the chances Of frm combination to
stop" the New York Governor.