Evening star., 1948-07-10
Sympathy for Fighter
Likely 10 Win Many
Voters 10 Truman
President Is Called
Brave Against Odds
In Sway Party Split
Ry Frank r. Kent

potent influences In American poll
tics is sympathy. Certainly there
lie a disposition among the voters
Of the country to feel for the
"l,nderdog' he is de-
cent sort of 'underdog" making ss
good fight as he can without
soueals or squawks.
This is exactly what President
Truman, who in all probability will
be nominated here, is doing. To
regard his performance as q neglig-
1ble political factor easily may be
foolish. It is notable that neither
Governor Dewey nor Governor
Warren seems to be making that
mistake. Recently they issued o
warning against too much opti-
,nisna. There Is, they think, danger
in overconfidence. Certainly good
MANY candidates have gone down
the drain for that reason. The out
look for the Dewey Warren ticket
IS exceedingly bright, but lot OF
things can happen in four months
and the Truman stock goes up as
quickly as it goes down. Right now
any change at all must be up. Mr..
Truman's plight Is concededly bad,
Probably no presidential candidate
ever started off under less auspi-
cious conditions.
Party Split Ways.
His party is split three ways
from the lack" Mr.. Wallace has
7aken away the Communists, the
more violent crackpots, the Lett
wing labor leaders and part o. the
Northern city Negroes. All these
contributed heavily to the Roose-
Welt success In three elections. On
the other hand, Southern Demo-
Gratis are in open revolt because OF
Mr., Truman's snti-racial segrega-
ton and discrimination program,
though all he has done is follow
the Roosevelt example in this ss
IN most other things.
But the most savage thirst Tor his
blood comes from the so-called
Americans for Democratic Action
and their city boss allies. This Or
gsnization Is largely composed OF
old New Deal jobholders and pro-
fessional liberals" Tt Is operated
by gsrrulous Left-wing adherents OF
the late Mr.. Roosevelt who have
conducted y bitter campaign OF Tru-
man disparagement for more tnan
two years. Unlike the Southern
Democrats, they do not disagree
With his "civil rights" pol1cy-ot
sny other policy. Actually, their COM
plants against him are small, mean
and vindictive. without real poll
tical Importance but adept in publ
city and utilizing the exceedingly
bumptious and not overly bright
Roosevelt brothers as window dress.
ing, they are the chief sponsors OF
the "He can't win" propaganda.
Though Gen. Eisenhower, as was
expected, kicked to pieces the at
tempt of these politicians to use him
for their own selfish and sord1d
purposes, the effort to drive Mr.. T'ru-
man out of the convention picture
raucously continues. Some still snout
for Eisenhower, but the real canoi-
date of the ADA now emerges-to
wit. the ineffable MI. Justice w. o.
Douglas, whom the most recent CAL
Iup poll shows the choice OF two per
cent of the Democratic voters as
contrasted to 67h per cent Tor Mr.
Truman. Gen. Eisenhower's name
was not used in the poll. For OBJ
vious reasons, the revolving South
will not cooperate in any Douglas
movement.
A lot Of this Truman opposition is
pumped up, but it is none the less
damaging to political morale ana
prospects. Tt is the sort OF situation
under which many q man Wolllo
crumble. 1t Is easy to be cheerful
and courageous when things are
going well. But the real test OF a
man, in politics as In everything
else. Is how he stands up under ao-
vers1ty.
Meets Test Well.
It must be conceded that Mr. Tru-
man meets this test well. He STANDS
I'D to adversely like man. He looks
the untoward facts in the face with
unshakable serenity and unalterable
determination. He refuses to be
scared or ratified or bullied or pushed
around. He has made up his mind
what Is the self-respecting, right
thing for him to do and he is going
to do it. If he must take lick
ing he will, but he is not going to
quit or run away.
Moreover, why should he? With
"Ike" removed as 8 possibility no
other man whs could be named
would have any better chance than
Mr.. Truman-and most OF them
less. The show here will be noisy
and bombastic. The press and air
will be laden with the great "Ditch
Truman" Crusade. But when 1t Is
over the convention will 60 ahead
with the Truman nomination as
scheduled. At least that is the view
of the most experienced politicians
in both parties. Sometimes these
sre wrong, but not often. MIR. Tru-
mans closest friends say he Is
going to make the best fight he
can. Nor will he give up unth the
counted ballots show defeat If
they do. With the odds so heavily
against him there Is a certain gal
lantry about the Truman attitude.
The spectacle Of battered fig
ure with his back to the wall,
scorning the idea Of surrender, re-
fusing to let adversely oyerwhelm
him, fighting with everything there
is in him, is moving one. Perhaps
1t will not be moving enough to
transform defeat into victory. But
1t is not one whose appeal should
be lightly dismissed. A brave man
fighting against great odds is sure
to attract some support. That Is
exactly what Mr.. Truman will be
doing If he comes out of this con-
vention as his party's nominee.
His situation somewhat recalls the
lines in the old Scotch ballad, which
run as follows:
"Y an, ,pounded," Sir anthony
Barton cried, "but I am not
slain.
"Y'u lie me doaDn and bleed a.
n L